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Show TN" August , iin Thursday, Auguat 1, 1171 Utes Opem Lodge in Historical Canyon Setting outlaw trails, and breathtaking scenery. petroglyphs the red dirt road Its all there-aloCreek Florence to Lodge. leading If you're a passenger in a vehicle and not the driver, one doesnt have time to notice the occasional ruts and dust along the 120 mile trek. Centuries of history are lurking between those canyon walls and its takes a keen eye to observe it all The caravan which made the trip into Desolation Canyon last month to dedicate the Utes newest development, took its time and reminisced of the country's pajst, each adding bits of information he had read or heard about Moqui cliff dwellers and the outlaws who found the canyon a perfect recluse til things cooled off. Occasional rain showers didnt dampen the spirits of the wet and chilly group who docked in rafts at the Lodge after running the last seven miles on the river. The cheery atmosphere of the smartly decorated Lodge and aroma of barbecued beef made the trip worthwhile. Moqui cliff dwellings, Among the i otorcade which arrived at e before the river rats" were Mr. and rs. Budge Wilcox and two ng Photo by COLORFUL CANYON SETTING And historical intrigue of Desolation Canyon add to the inviting atmosphere of the new Florence Creek Lodge. An orchard surrounds the old homestead buildings of the days when the Wilcox family ranched in the area. The road leading to the lodge was built in the last decade by the Tribe and BIA range department. The Lodge is also accessible by river with Ute Trails and River rafts making the daily runs from Ouray. Budge told, He hired a lot of as hands in the summer months. Said most of them were looking over their shoulders. The McPherson family homesteaded in place, the lodge a granddaughta pkce where sounded like novel. PEHSONABU passers-b- y Budge's tales of the spent most of his life ages out of a western . HISTORIAN In dry wit yo could listen to for hours, Wilcox told d finding moccasins in the Moqui grained s and shelters built into the canyon disprogJhfir findings ved tribe was a small ptujflfriidgiVaaid the mocassins fit him fine, ft theorized the tribe only used the cliff ft ellings for storage and to hide from eneg ies but lived and worked the narrow di of land on the canyon CvioQui floor. Outlaws wer probably the next inhabitants of the i ea. Utahs most famous. Butch Cassidy i id the Wild Bunch, found hideout plenti ul in the rocky terrain. The lari oft e bunch was still around when my fithe homesteaded this -- n-law Al Parriette Desolation Canyon at the mouth of Florence Creek in the 1880s. They raised four girls and a boy in the isolated canyon bringing in their modern conveniences by mule and river raft. An organ once floated the Green River destined for the living room of the old stone house. Farm machinery was brought in on the backs of mules. Wilcox told of mules toting a wooden boat down the trail to the ranch. Took four black mules to bring the boat in, he said, and then we nearly sunk it getting it across the river!" Hesitant as where to begin talking about the ranch when speaking to the dedication group, the elderly gentleman ill! m i jgiP . ifr 10 f $7 ypv-v-.- ' preferred to answer questions. When asked about the wildlife in the canyon he said the rocks were once full of mountain sheep but the last 18 head were cleaned out by one boat outfit. What hunters didn't get, the wolves and lions did", he said. He also told of timber wolves who ran in packs and killed as many as 20 head of calves a night. An ocasional wolf may still be seen in the area, Wilcox said. ABOUT THE OUTLAWS The oldtimer said the area was one of the main trails of Butch Cassidy and his bunch. A resident of those parts, Show Walker, joined the Wild Bunch on the Castlegate holdup. Walker was an ornery one, but a good friend if he liked you. He once shot a cow and ate the liver rather than coming in ' for dinner, Wilcox reminisced, Said he shot it cause he didnt like the guy who owned it. Later he found out the cow didn't belong to that man at all so he paid the rightful owner. When asked how Florence Creek was named, Wilcox related the story of a southern-speakin- g cattle queen from Colorado who joined up with the Taylor ranch in the Canyon. Jig Taylor named the creek for her. (Continued on Page 8) Photo by Al Parriette for a short run Chandler Creek RIVER RATS Boarded the large rubber rafts at the for and Rivera guides down the rapids to Florence Greek Lodge. Ute Trails trip were Wallace river and sporadic the braved Tabbee and Kent Thompson. More than half of the dedication party in wet but and two hours amazingly good humor. An rain showers arriving at the lodge chilly, later, occasional bucket of water thrown from the nieghboring raft added to the excitement. SEVEN-MIL- E Y FINISHING TOUCHES - On the lodge complex were added last month by several Iw d BIA pwrusnri who p A -pntin and planting mt Florence Creek. The exterior of the cinder-bloc- k structure is painted a pink to Mend with the canyon setting. irawinf Trihsl COFFEE BREAK - Is enioyed by Bfl Freeman of the BIA Central Office and Dennis Mewer, asrhing on doughnut with feet in ? coffee thermos ndij Mrs. Wilcox back to camera knows the trail to the Ledge lie the back of her hand and intrigued the caravan with hUbrical comments along the route where petroglyphs and Mstpi cliff dwellings may be found. j FIFTY-MIL- STONE SKELETON - Of Wilcox home is part of the intrigue offered at the Lodge. Irregular stone bricks were cut from the canyon walls to build the home where Budge Wilcox, his wife and two sons lived until 1941. The home burned sometime during the 50s leaving the walls and chimney standing. However, two log structures, used as blacksmith shop and grainery, are still in tact to the rear of the modern lodge. - I ? W', : - : E wil 9 : i". the U A O Reservation. Members of the dedication party stopped just before the turnoff to Tewsve Rooervofr enroute to Florence Crook to look at a stone bake ovon bnOt into the side of a UL Recently reinforced with a smtal piste, the oven was earn used to boke bread by Ute families who lived and fanned in the area years ago. CRffsrd Duncan third from left explains method to foam left Jim Peltier with back to camera. Manager of Bottle Mow Resort, Baldwin Duncan, 8 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. CBfferd Duncan; Fkeemaa, BIA Central ofBea, Washington DjC.; Mrs. Pettier md member of the Governors Beard an bdlaa Affairs whs Hampton at the dedication. OUTDOOR COOKING - Is nothing new on CASUAL COMFORT - Of the Lodge's main lounge features carpeting and draperies in tones of orange and rusts with beamed ceilings and wagon wheel chandeliers. Perfect for conferences aa weD as casual guests, the tables are of weathered pine edged with hob nails and chairs are the always comfortable captain style. A large fireplace at the opposite end of the room extends into the smaller card room which features a small bar. Meals are served buffet style from steam tables at the far end of the RUSTIC AZTEC martly decorated rooms. woven into the the weathered , Tonef of bedspreads comfortable. The Lodge has doubles two ne off lmgEiKLXi the river water. nr tW , d?COr fa d complin m COavniat roo,ni and two Other tlree 8OWer a tails to rinse concluded the farfcrnml dedication July 19. |
