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Show irnr SUN CHRONICLE, August 1 - 'T U - U ' " I'm ' 9, 1 976, Page 2 I ckdo from 26th St. and Adams, lower right, and picturesque rocky "Malans Heights" reached by way of Taylor Canyon at left or up Waterfall Canyon at LOOKING EAST is right. Note the number of trees and the lack of houses on Ogden's east bench in this early day picture, Interesting story goes along with hike to Mala n's a Gm lamjEGfl to MS by Glen Perrins and Charles Lockwood, the to Malans Heights and to Malans Basin just south of the peak has become an adventure for Boy Scouts and other groups of young Old-Tim- er A hike people, but it once was a flourishing bit of old Switzerland in Utah, thanks to Bartholomew Malan and his family. When Malan brought his young family and wife to Ogden from the Italian Piedmont Valley in.L Italy fflB OLD TIME "wagon buggy of early 1900 s, driven by starts out with passenger tb.e late Lawrence M. Malan, up Taylor Canyon on way to Malan Heights. tiffnof the century, he brought with him a dream which was realized as a unique chapter in the history of Ogden. His experience in the Alps of Switzerland and Austria gave him the idea that perhaps the high mountain range east of the city could be an ideal spot for a Swiss-typ- e mountain resort similar to the ski lodges of Europe. Malan Family Starts Switch-Bac- k Road up Taylor Canyon to Heights With his sons, Bar- tholomew Malan selected what is now known as Taylors Canyon and set about to construct a road up the steep mountainside to a basin on the slope atop the where heights they planned to build a lodge and cabins to attract the tourist trade. The Malan family had almost no equipment and no machines other than the few implements which they had carried with them on their trek across the country after leaving Europe. However, with shovels and picks and the help of teams of horses and wagons, they cut a roadway through the thick underbrush and up the g fashion mountainside, with- road Letter Z style to the peak, and then an easy road to Malans Basin. The Malans removed huge rocks from the zig-za- roadway and leveled the grade sufficiently to allow wagon traffic to the basin. They finally secured the roadway and made it a safe route to the site for their new home . and business venture with a large resort building and several cabins for overnight guests. horse-draw- n The family, then persons, lived in the top floor of the lodge, and the mother of the family Malan numbering 16 did the cooking for the tourists as well as for her own family. Bartholomew Malan was determined to provide visitors with a beautiful setting and lovely facilities in his beautiful mountain environment. Passengers from Ogden A special guest, Mrs. Alida were carried to the "heights will lead the Romero, children in a Mexican by buggy wagons which Funtime. She will tell the were equipped with special and demonstrate the locks on the wheels to keep history them from rolling back down La dances Raspa, the slopes. The meals served Chiapanecas (Clap Hands had La Dance), Bamba, at the Malan Heights Inn the reputation of being some Chihuahua, La Cucaracha, La Jesusita, and La Burrita of the most excellent (The Little Donkey) and available in the area. Jarabe Tapatio ( Mexican Hat Chicken, raised by the Malan family, was the specialty. Dance). Guests at Malan Heights No mexican festival is also enjoyed programs in the without a jarabe. complete Children will participate lodge and played baseball in the dances. Come and join and enjoyed other games in the beautiful mountain basin the fun. setting. The resort flourished for years. Pure water was supplied by the natural springs and a stream in the canyon above Malans peak. The Malan family also built a sawmill in the canyon not far from the inn. The mill cut lumber for use in constructing the buildings and for firewood. The large boiler of the mill is rusted but it and other ruins are still there -- f who vandals although trekked to the resort in the winter when the inn was Mexican funt'me set at library . job to gma WSSamn -- ?. SV ' - ' V - . ' !'' ' " 4 A." ' V - . ' N . f, jk '1 "Lookout Point'' at top ot first "Z" switch-bacon road to peak. That's Ogden in the disane at the right of buggy on "Z" bend. HERE'S k w v & b tl. i)iIIflK)ijiMIIu CALL 92-07- 8AM- 00 - 5FR - closed destroyed the buildings for firewood. Eventually, when Malan sons grew older and left the family to find their own occupations, the resort was abandoned, but the Old-Tim- who has hiked to Malans Heights many times in his youth still dreams that bit of the Switzerland will return to this beautiful spot east of Ogden. g |