Escapees May June 2015 Demo

SKP Stops

SKP Stops Sharing News from the Road

SKP Stops Information • Deadline : Material for each issue will be selected based on location and the migration of seasonal travel . • Words: Short stories of 300 to 500 words are ideal. Submissions that are illegible, inappropriate or considered advertisements may be excluded. Due to limited space, submissions will be edited. • Photos: Photos are accepted and included on a space-available basis. Include the name of anyone who may appear in a photo and also the name of the photographer. • Acknowledgement: The editorial department may not acknowledge receipt of submissions. Submissions may not qualify for payment. A sunny day enhances a visit to Idaho’s Harriman State Park, close to Island Park on U.S. Highway 20. The Rail- road Ranch, which makes up the 15,000-acre park, was once a summer retreat for shareholders and their families and friends associated with the Oregon Short Line Rail- road. This railroad was the first to carry passengers from Ashton, Idaho, to West Yellowstone, Montana. In fact, West Yellowstone became a destination about 1907 when the train began depositing visitors at the west gate to Yellowstone National Park. Many of the old houses, cabins and ranch buildings are standing and open for tours during the summer months. Yet, the ambiance of the historic ranch in any month creates the peace and serenity that summer visitors must have enjoyed back in the 1920s. The Railroad Ranch began in 1902 with the formation of the Island Park Land and Cattle Company, and the ranch spanned 75 years of operations until its official transfer to public ownership. An impressive piece of land, its natural history dates back over 600,000 years. The ranch lies on the floor of Idaho’s ancient Island Park caldera that formed when a massive volcano collapsed, leaving a wide crater-like surface. Over the years, the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River carved its course across the caldera floor, creating a rich riparian habitat for a variety of fish and wildlife. Today, horses grazing in deep grass can be viewed from the lawns and sidewalks of historic cabins and buildings. For hundreds of years, Native Americans used the area as seasonal hunting, fishing and gathering grounds. In the early 1800s, white explorers and trappers entered the region and exploited beaver and other fur-bearing animals. Homesteading started in the late 1800s, but few could with- stand the harsh winters. Swiss homesteaders collectively sold their lands and ranch buildings to wealthy eastern investors. These properties eventually became Railroad Ranch, a decades-old landmark in Island Park. Edward Harriman State Park and Railroad Ranch 3489 Green Canyon Rd, Island Park, ID 83429 208-558-7368 • parksandrecreation.idaho.gov

Harriman, chairman of the Union Pacific Railroad, was not an original investor. In 1908, he purchased one of the five shares and one cabin in an arrangement with a business owner. Mr. Harriman died the following year, never setting foot on the ranch. Two years later, his wife, Mary, traveled with their three youngest children, Carol, Averell and Ro- land, for a visit that turned into an annual summer holiday. The Harriman family and their friends spent weeks on the land each summer. As adults, Roland Harriman and his wife, Gladys, continued the tradition and spent at least six weeks of every summer at the peaceful ranch. Friends who traveled with them, called “dudes,” were housed in rustic houses overlooking the Henry’s Fork. Their horses and carriages were kept in the “dude barn,” separate from the barns used for ranch operations. The name carries over to lodgings today available to the public. The Harrimans eventually bought all shares to the property. Aworking ranch in the days of Eastern visitors, summers were busy with fence mending, building repairs, tending of livestock and hay and irrigation work. The fall cattle roundup and drive was an annual social event for the area, with volunteer riders traveling a distance to participate. After summer guests departed, the number of ranch hands dimin- ished. Their primary winter jobs were snow removal from the roofs, feeding the remaining stock and cutting blocks Send submissions to Escapees Magazine, 100 Rainbow Drive, Livingston, TX 77351, or to editor@escapees.com . Article submission guidelines are available for downloading online at: www.escapees.com/knowledge/ escapees-magazine/tips-submissions . Guidelines and Helpful Hints • Keep your submissions positive, upbeat and short. • Include fun or interesting photos with a brief description. • Share your favorite RV travel destinations, restaurants, museums, off-the-beaten-path locations or unique places to visit. • Keep in mind that the next magazine issue will mail two months from the time of your writing. Identify time-sensitive material.

The Harriman Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Arline Chandler.

76 . ESCAPEES | May/June 2015 | www.escapees.com