The Manti-LaSal National Forest personnel hosted a grand re-opening of the Stuart Ranger Station in Huntington Canyon. Along with this celebration was the re-opening of the Huntington/Eccles Scenic Byway. Darren Olsen is the district ranger for Ferron. He thanked everyone for coming to the program held at the Stuart Guard Station. “I appreciate the work that has gone into this as we celebrate this beautiful area and public lands.”
Bill Broadbear worked on the original scenic byway 25 years ago. The forest service at that time he said became aware of the opportunity to establish a scenic by-way with ISTEA funds. These were federal highway funds made available. With the availability of these funds Broadbear said they were spurred into action and applied for this special funding through an application. They were awarded $750,000 initially and they were responsible for 20 percent matching funds. The matching funds were provided by a variety of local groups and businesses. A byways committee was formed. PacifiCorp, Utah Fuel, Cypress Mine, Genwal, Travel Council, Questar, Energy West Mining and the Utah Department of Transportation to name a few jumped on board with the project.
UDOT helped to establish the pullouts along the byway where the informational signs were placed. With the cooperation of all these partners the 20 percent match was met. The interpretive signage was developed and placed along the route in 1994-95. In 1999 a management plan was developed. The area was named a National Scenic Byway. This designation is very special to be recognized nationally as being a unique and special place.
Broadbear said during that same time the Stuart Guard Station was slated for decommission. They then realized in pursuing this byway designation that the guard station would make a great visitor center.
In 1995-96 the visitor center was restored and rebuilt. They went in and took off lead paint from the outside of the building. Now the inside of the visitor center houses the information about the early years of the forest service and the garage houses information on the CCC camps.
Broadbear said the Seeley wildfire came very close to the guard station. It burned 48,000 acres. He worked with the fire crews to help save the guard station. They lit back burns to divert the fire away from the guard station. He told them to save the guard station if they could and the garage if possible, but the metal shop building way out back could go if need be. Luckily all the buildings were saved.
Broadbear said the spring the CCC developed has been re-developed and they have drinking water at the guard station now for public use.
Over the years they have worked on the campsites in Huntington Canyon and developed group use areas. The forest has been the site in 2000 of the 100 year commemoration of the Scofield-Winterquarters mine disaster. There were people there from Finland who had family members lost in the mine disaster. In 2004-05 the Arapeen Trail system was completed and continues to draw ATV users to the area.
In 2006 winter staging areas were developed for the huge number of snowmobile users to the area every winter. Kite boarding has also become very popular. UDOT did the dirt work for the staging areas. “There has been a lot of people working together,” said Broadbear.
“In 2015 it was determined the by-way information was outdated and the signs were getting worn. Information on trails was outdated. We took some of the funding and new signs were prepared. It looks great. Take a look at all the new signage. The timbers were a donation from Skyline Mine. We have had a lot of partners on this project. A lot of partners sustaining the byway. Thanks to all of you,” said Broadbear.
Jordan Leonard, the Emery County Economic Development Director said the scenic byway is a big deal that connects Carbon, Sanpete and Emery counties. It is a tool for economic development and for bringing people into local businesses. It helps the restaurants and motels. “We are happy it’s here and want to lend support from the Emery County side,” said Leonard.
There were a number of representatives from the travel and tourism councils from Carbon, Emery and Sanpete counties. As the team members worked on the project, it became very important to them. The new panels are easy to understand and very interesting. The information can be easily understood by all ages. The panels along the corridor detail the history of the area including mining, mammoth, energy, ghost towns, etc. The project does a lot for the area and creates a great experience for all visitors to the byway. Rosann Fillmore from the forest service has been an integral part in overseeing the project and helping push it through to get the new panels in place for visitors.
Rosann prepared a quiz about the Energy Loop: Huntington and Eccles Canyon’s National Scenic Byway. Jackie Wilde from the Emery County Travel Bureau was the participant who was asked all the questions and she would answer them with help from the audience. Name three sources of energy found on the energy loop? coal, electricity and water. How did Sanpete settlers capture water that would normally drain east and make it run west? A series of tunnels. What is the most common raptor found on the Wasatch Plateau area of the byway? the big horned owl. Which coal mine disaster caused the most deaths; Wilberg, Castle Gate or Pleasant Valley. Pleasant Valley with around 200. How long did it take for grass to begin growing on the fire scar after the Seeley fire? It started right away. What are the two most common industries found on the forest during the early settlement days; timber, ranching and dairy cows.
Sanpete County Commissioner Claudia Jarrett recognized the history of the area and its importance to the people living in the communities today. The hard work of those early settlers establishing the communities in the valleys was recognized. She values the scenic byway not only because it brings visitors to the stores in the communities but for the history and heritage. Many significant events have taken place in the byway. At the Scofield mine disaster 200 men were killed there. The history of the area is dramatic.
There is a ghost town Connellsville, under Electric Lake. The mammoth discovery was historic. The CCC camps and the projects they completed in the canyons during the depression improved the area. There are at least 50 tunnels in the canyon and 18 ditches that supply water and hydro power. The value of the forest to the communities is very important. There are 350 employees that drive the canyons for employment. The Skyline Mine has been very eco-friendly. The sheep, cattle and grazing and the tourists. The harvest of veatrium, the tourism, hunting, fishing, lakes, camping. The forest is enjoyed by thousands of people, many not from our area. There are boy scout camps here, girls camps, and training exercises held in the canyon. This byway is open year-round which makes it unique. You can see this byway in all four seasons. Summer, winter, fall and spring; the snow, the leaves in the fall, it’s all beautiful. It’s part of the Skyline Drive, you can look off and see the Sanpete Valley. The new panels will give visitors a better opportunity to understand all aspects of the byway,” said Commissioner Jarret.
Jessica Wilson the Utah State scenic byway coordinator said the byway is like a driving textbook. The byways connect the counties. “UDOT has been great to work with to help deliver people to the byways. It’s a peaceful place. A step away from technology and so rejuvenating. A new generation will be able to see the history here. The new panels will tell the story for many years from now. This byway encompasses all of that. Road touring is coming back. Millennials like to be out there. They like to recreate and are doing more of it. All agencies working together have made this happen.
Heritage travelers spend more money. They are more respectful of the environment.
Fillmore said when the fire closed the forest, it killed the businesses in the area that depend on those visitors heading up the canyons. Fillmore thanked a variety of people for their involvement in the project. She said the newspapers were of great value in gathering information and pictures of events in the byways. John Serfustini helped with the history of Scofield and Diana Root provided pictures of Pleasant Valley days. The DWR provided pictures of the kokonee salmon. Darren Olsen from the forest service pushed getting the byway signs updated. Jana Abrams, the former by way coordinator has a lot of history and files on the work that went into the project. Scott Holman, councilman from Scofield was recognized for attending all the meetings and being involved. Dale Stapley and Kurt McFarlane from UDOT, Kevin Christensen, economic development director from Sanpete.
Fillmore presented a special recognition to Bill Broadbear. She said Huntington Creek was listed as polluted and Broadbear took on the task of cleaning it up. He worked to harden campgrounds, added fees to camping spots to gather monies to stay at the campgrounds for improvements. “The canyon is very different now. Bill finds seasonal help. He turns on water in campgrounds. This forest is his passion. After the fire, he worked hard on roads and campgrounds getting the canyon open again.”
Fillmore presented a picture to Broadbear. The group gathered on the porch of the Stuart Guard Station for a ribbon cutting sponsored by the Emery County Business Chamber.
Another aspect of the celebration was the Energy Loop Passport Tour on July 15 on the Huntington and Eccles Canyons National Scenic Byway. The tour celebrated the completion of new interpretive panels placed at wayside stops along the byway.
The Energy Loop Passport Tour was an opportunity to enjoy scenery and learn about the byway, a day for kids to get involved in outdoor activities at some of the most prominent panels.
Participants picked up a passport card at the Stuart Guard Station in Huntington Canyon, the snowmobile parking lot at the top of Fairview Canyon, or at the Scofield Town stop. As they traveled along the byway through Huntington and Eccles Canyons, they had their card stamped at the byway stops. A volunteer at the stop led the kids through a fun activity.
When they stopped at seven signs and had their card stamped, they took it to the nearest entry/exit station for a bag filled with freebies and discounts they can use in Carbon, Emery and Sanpete counties.
The byway, which features State Routes 31, 264, and 96, was nationally designated 17 years ago. This year, it has 30 new interpretive signs that can be seen at 16 wayside stops. They tell the history of the byway corridor, guide travelers to attractions, and explain a little about the environment.
Re-opening of Stuart Guard Station/Scenic by-way
ribbon cutting ranger station IMG_2933