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Show f I SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS - Thursday, May 2, 1985 - Page Seven Lake Powell Ferry to be Launched Tourism will get a big boost in southeastern Utah when the long-awaite- d John Atlantic Burr Lake Powell ferry is launched May 4 at 11 a.m. at the Bullfrog Marina. Following a welcome by Governor Norman Bangerter, Mrs. Colleen Bangerter will christen the Burr. The ferry, with a capacity for two buses, eight cars and 150 passengers, will make its inaugural trip from Bullfrog to Halls Crossing at noon followed by a 2 p.m. luncheon for the 700 invited guests only. The 3.1 mile journey will save up to 130 road miles for visitors to the Bullfrog or Halls Crossing marinas. Cost will be $2 for adults, $1 for children over 5, $7 per car, van or truck and $30 per bus. The May 4 launch is a culmination of a two-yea- r cooperative effort by the Utah Department of Transportation, who owns the ferry, the National Park Service, who built Burr and Sarah Sloat on board the S.S. Brooklyn, which was sailing near Cape Horn in the Atlantic Ocean. He was christened on deck a few weeks later by Elder Samuel Brannan. The Burr family landed in Yerba the ramp and access roads, and Del E. Webb Recreational Properties, who will operate the ferry. The Department of Transportation arranged the $1.5 million financing for the boat through the Community Impact Board. With the aid of the ferry, bus travel to the southeast corner of Utah is expected to increase. According to a study conducted for the Utah Travel Council by the U.S.U. Institute of Outdoor Recrea- Buena, California, where they stayed for two years before making the long and arduous journey to Utah. They arrived in Salt Lake City in the fall of 1848. They remained until Brigham Young directed many Mormon families-t- he move Burrs among them-- to south. For 16 years the family lived and worked in Payson, where Charles operated a sawmill. Burr Mill Flat in Payson Canyon was named in his honor. The next move took the Burrs further south to Grass Valley where they established the community of Burrville. While in Burrville, Charles worked as a dairyman, raising cattle. John Atlantic also became involved in the cattle business, but he faced a problem-ho- w to get the cattle from winter to summer range and how to run them to and from market. With this in mind, John Atlantic set out to find a better route to run the cattle. Using his trailblazing skills and his familiarity with the rugged country of southern Utah, he established the Burr Trail, opening up southern Utah to the tion and Tourism, motorcoach travelers spent $32.7 million in Utah in 1983-84- . John Atlantic Burr was an early trailblazer in the rugged country of southern Utah. As a cattleman he was instrumental in cutting the Burr Trail. John Atlantic Burr was born on February 24, 1846 to Charles Clark well-know- n -- T f' cattle market. CHAFFIN FERRY, first to run across Colorado The Burr Trail lead through some rough and twisted land, and met the mighty Colorado River at what is now known as Halls Crossing. Crossing the Colorado River had been a problem for centuries. Early explorers, such as Father Escalante and the Mormon pioneers, each came up against this formidable barrier. The first settlers of southern Utah used the impractical and dangerous route through The disadvantages of that particular passage led to the search for a more convenient River sank in late 1940s. trail. Scouts from Escalante, Utah, found that the Colorado could be approached without much difficulty at the mouth of Halls Creek. The Hall brothers, who had been running a ferry at moved their operations to the new site. After a few years, however, the upper Fremont Valley and Abajo Mountains were attracting a number of settlers, many of whom did not want to make the long trek down to Halls Crossing to traverse the Colorado. Gradually, more northerly routes were developed, including Hite and some that went around the Henry Mountains via Green River. By 1885, travel through Halls Crossing diminished to only a few wagons a year, and eventually the ferry at this site was abandoned. For a long time very few changes took place in the transportation system in southeastern Utah. It wasn't until the 1950s when major alterations started to occur. A group of citizens from southeastern Utah, including Calvin Black, Hyrum Black, Lynn Lyman, BULLFROG John Atlantic Burr will offer car, bus and THE LONG AWAITED 100-foe Powell beginning May 4, saving passenger ferry service across as much as 130 miles. The ferry route between Bullfrog and Hairs Crossing marinas is shown by white dots. Black dots indicate the Burr Train, on which Improvements have begun and paving funds are being sought. Completion of the trail, named after Utah pioneer rancher John Atlantic Burr, will save West Coast motorists up to 110 miles. ot mid-Lak- 3.1-mi- Lynn Palmer, Clarence Rogers and Zeke Johnson were leaders in an effort to upgrade the roads in this region. It was their collective dream to have southeastern Utah connected w ith the rest of the state through an improved highway system. In the mid 1950s, the passage of the Upper Colorado River Development Plan opened the way for the develooment of roads in this area of the state. As construction on the Glen Canyon Dam progressed, state and local officials, contemplating the actual completion of Lake Powell, started searching for creative ways to finance needed road improvements. With the developments taking place in southern Utah, Calvin Black thought a ferry would be an excellent means to transport people across the soon to be Lake Powell and to show off the natural beauty of the red rock canyons as well. Lake Powell, he envisioned, could become a water highway rather than a barrier to transportation. Cal Black approached J. Frank Wright with his idea. They gained the support of the Secretary of the Interior, Stewart Udall. Udalls support was instrumental in gaining authorization for the group to operate a ferry at Halls Crossing. Eventually, a concession contract was negotiated with the National Park Service, and Lake Powell Ferry Service, Inc., was allowed to build and operate Halls Crossing Marina. Several years later, many of the same people involved with the Halls Crossing Marina joined with others to establish Bullfrog Marina on the opposite shore of Lake Powell. The ferry between Bullfrog and Halls Crossing began regular operations in the fall of 1963. Lynn Lyman and his wife, Hazel Bowen Lyman, were the first passengers to drive onto the new ferry operated by Frank Wright and company. The ferry had the capacity to carry only one vehicle. Simultaneously, the Utah Department of Transportation, using special Federal Lands Funds, proceeded to upgrade Utah State Route 95. This route connects the vast expanse between Hanksville and Blanding, 120 miles, and is considered the backbone route for tourism and economic development in the area. In 1966 new bridges over the Colorado and Dirty Devil Rivers and White Canyon replaced the Hite Ferry. State Route 276 to Bullfrog Basin was completed in 1968 using $3 million in special funds from the Economic Development Administration, Garfield County and UDOT. The small ferry connecting Halls Crossing with Bullfrog continued to operate until it was shut down in 1975 because of the effect the energy shortage had upon tourism. By 1976 State Route 95 was completed and dubbed the Bicentennial Highway. State Route 263 was also completed to Halls Crossing. During the next few years, Dean Waterman, a designer and manufacturer of marine equipment in Kanab. The ferry was designed by Alexander Love and Co., Ltd., of Victoria, British Columbia. The new ferry, to be christened the John Atlantic Burr, is expected to make the 3.1 mile voyage between Bullfrog and Halls Cross ing in 20 minutes. The boat measures 100 feet long and 42 feet wide, with the capacity to carry 150 passengers, eight cars and two buses. Once in operation, the John Atlantic Burr w ill unite h.chu av 276 and the lormer IteTway 263. Highway 203 has recently been renumbered 276 to symbolize the completion of the highway with the launching of the John Atlantic Burr. The new John Atlantic Burr will provide even more tourism and economic growth for southern Utah. It is the completion of a dream that has long been held by many people. r ' f h . ite , " j .14 f . - s X a J 1 - i . ?" y x nr v t 04 i REPLACEMENT for Chaffen Ferry. A member of the Sears financial network CORRY REALTY f - 644-268- 4; HERITAGE CENTER IN KANAB Billie Roberts, Shirley Brinkerhoff, Verne Hicks 3 bedroom, 2 bath home on U acre. Circle drive NEW LISTING way, nicely landscaped with timed sprinklers. Two car garage, ished basement, storage, Nice" $79,000 YOU MUST SEE THE INSIDE OF THIS Spanish Beaut bedrooms, 2 baths, double garage, tile entry 4 V COUNTRY LIVING WITHIN THE CITY. Two stoiy bedrooms, 2 baths, 20x30 patio on .936 ac. vacant V V 4$ A V 6 3 '8 interest loan. Vaulted ceJmgs, baths, food storage, corner lot, sodded and ready $( , & t 4 V 4 V 2.950 .n room, 4 bedrooms, 2 V, 5, dOll 2 , ! V t J baths, on SoJyOo orm r La-v-- 3 c50 . . ASSUMABLE V.A. LOW INTEREST LO N. 3 2 brick home, bedroom formal dining, fireplaces - r,s PERFECT LOCATION FOR BUSINESS, 3 bedms, Hwy 89S. Eg family room with fireplace, fruit tree - wth A $5. 950 tor n with! i A MOST TEMPTING BUY. Two huge bedrooms. 2 b screened in patio, large work room, circle drive AJ ASSUMABLE v $ lot w ith V t $5K.75(J 1 OWNER SAYS BRING IN AN OFFER Double wui, on bedrooms, 2 baths, basement under with 2 car garage 2 3 am , 2 $53,100 V MOBILE with 2 sheds, cellar and detached bedroom and laundry. Corner lot, fruit trees and garden $21,000 44 TWO BEDROOM TWELVE ACRES DOWN THE LANE. Owner wants an oiler $35,000 44 RANCH with 40 head of cattle, 30 acres of alfa.ll a, 547 shares of $210,000 4 water, all farm equipment, total of 145 acres :: ::::::::::::::x. dufy Hf,rrfyc. so FIRST RUN of the Bullfrog Ferry with J. Frank Wright. First passengers were Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Lyman, 1963. tri-cit- y BULLFROG TO HALLS CROSSING ferry as It appeared In 1970. unu imm Opening Day ly5D May Minor League Games 4:00 P.M. Major League Games 5:30 P.M. pUsC SupP oft uoUf le9oC Dinner 7:30 P.M. Get your tickets from any NOTE: Opening Day was set back tourism in the area gradually began to return. Bullfrog and Halls Crossing saw increased use as these resort areas of Lake Powell gained in popularity. Calvin Black, a San Juan County Commissioner, former legislator, miner and developer, presented the idea of launching a state operated ferry boat to service this area to Gov. Scott Matheson. Matheson caught the vision of this concept, and discussed it with the director of the Utah Department of Transportation, Bill Hurley. C.V. Skip Anderson was assigned to research the possibility of the state supporting such a projct. UDOT officials met with the National Park Service, the Del Webb Corporation and local govern ment officials. Together 1 L.L. yc7oi thC Baseball Player week due to equipment problems. they procuring an ocean sturdy ferry boat at a cost of approximately $1 5 m.llion The boat was huJt by Mark Steel of Salt Lake City, under the supervision of succeeded in LB. V |