Turn out the Lights, the Party’s over

Labor Day weekend concludes the summer vacation season for the Island Park Caldera. On balance, it has been a good summer. Considering that the entire country west of us was lit up like a group birthday cake at an old folk’s home, not having to deal with fires has made this a great summer.

Local merchants reported an increase in sales this year. Many of those merchants made improvements to their businesses. The Hurds experienced a successful first summer after purchasing and remodeling Robin’s Roost. Connie Funkhauser made it through this summer with grace after moving her restaurant/bar across Highway 20 from Island Park Lodge to Connie’s. Jamie Phillips did well after moving Out Back Reality next to Connie’s and incorporating The Grind Coffee Shop into the location. Apparently loading up on caffeine helps realtors become more successful!  Wendell at Henry’s Lake Station had a full campground all summer and the North end of the caldera didn’t look uninhabited. Do you think the flags helped or was it just The Munching Moose’s tacos?  

Joe Williams got a pretty new wrecker and a new name, Island Park Towing.  Chad’s remodel of the riverside motel along Henry’s Fork and his invaluable assistance in rebuilding the boat launch road at Big Springs improved the appearance of the Mack’s Inn area. Café Sabor purchased their location from Chad this spring and became a permanent member of the community. Locals meet on Thursday’s to rejoice and partake of the “burrito supreme special”.

Other individuals tried their hand at operating new businesses in Island Park. Tim Vorweiller opened a bar in Shotgun and the Shotgun Store reopened this summer. Forgive any unintentionally slight by not mentioning any business and your hard work as well.

As the visitors flee to their lives on the flat, calm once again begins to envelope the pine forests of Island Park. It was overall a good summer. Hopefully the winter that is in front of us will be snowy and successful as well.

Christmas in July

I am always amazed how much time is spent in the preparation for Christmas and how fast the actual day goes by. The 4^th of July is Island Park’s big day, it’s “Christmas”. Months of preparation go into organizing the holiday weekend.

The Chamber of Commerce organized the Sawtelle Stampede. The Boy Scouts spent weeks gathering donated items in preparation for the annual Scout Garage Sale. The Hurds worked hard to wrap up their remodeling of Robin’s Roost and stock their shelves for their first 4^th of July as grocery store owners. Joe got himself a spanking new wrecker. The rebuilding of the Big Springs boat launch road was completed. Lakeside readied for the night’s public fireworks display. The ambulance, fire and law enforcement services were all fully staffed and at the ready for any need that might arise. From Last Chance to Henry’s Lake, businesses throughout the caldera had worked tirelessly to prepare for those visitors who planned to spend their holiday weekend in Island Park.

As the holiday weekend arrived, the line of vehicles driving up Ashton Hill testified that everyone’s work was not in vain. Every available cabin was full of renters or owners. The campgrounds were full and many unimproved camping spots were also crowded. The rivers were fished or floated. The runners ran the race. Everywhere one looked were dust trails created by ATVs. It was as if a multitude of low-hanging jet vapor trails could be seen throughout the forest. Merchants and restaurants worked hard to attend to customers as quickly as possible despite the increased traffic.

Finally, Saturday night arrived and the celebratory fireworks were set off. The occasional strings of firecrackers were lit but the forest made it through another 4^th. Mother Nature put a period on the holiday with a Sunday evening rain, knocking down the dust and letting us know that the weekend had ended.

Just like that, the week that required months of preparation ended and the post-holiday exhaustion kicked in. Unlike Christmas where one has a week to recharge, with a new week brings new visitors to the caldera and the people of Island Park must be on their “A” game. 

Yellowstone Country Safety * Fall is Here*

The summer tourist season is over and the best season in the mountains is upon us. Enjoy!

Well, That Was Quick!

Apparently summer had somewhere else to be this year because it sure left in a hurry. Weather can change dramatically in the mountains. It is the last week of the summer tourist season and preparations for winter will begin shortly. Summer cabins will be winterized shutters installed, summer toys put away and many will migrate to a more hospitable climate.

For those who are leaving after this week or have vacationed in Island Park this summer, I would like to extend a “thank you for coming” from the area businesses. A lot of effort and planning by the residents goes into serving visitors. Local residents enjoy seeing families having special experiences while staying here and consider it a privilege to help make those memories happen.

For those of us who are left behind, life is about to get interesting. 

The season of hobbies that are pursued in the isolation of the mountains is almost upon us.

For me the best month in Island Park is right around the corner. September is bow hunting season, the changing colors of the leaves, the bugle of the bull elk and the crisp fall air. There is nothing more beautiful or majestic than fall in Yellowstone Country. (I’d better stop or I’ll start telling hunting stories!)

So to the summer visitors or residents of Island Park, have a safe and productive winter. May your families be protected and blessed and may you return to us next year.

Best Wishes,

Mike and Sheri Bogden

Life’s Necklace

Life is a series of experiences strung together like beads on the thread of daily life. A full life is built with memorable experiences. A rich life is built by including those you love when experiencing memorable moments, adding to their string of precious beads as well.  The more common beads one holds with others, the stronger the relationship.

Island Park is a wonderful place to share experiences and build relationships. The hike through the pines forest, the float down the river, a four-wheeler ride to the top of Sawtell or heartfelt conversation at the campfire create memories that stay with us forever.

But just like individual preference in jewelry, everyone searches out their own experiences. As relationships mature, less of the experiences are shared. Many of the beads are unfamiliar to others of the group. Like many great necklaces, there is usually a pendant, a special jewel that holds more value. Island Park has created more pendants than any single jeweler.

With the last week of summer visitor season almost upon us, it seems appropriate to give thanks for those we love and those we have met. Things change and this summer’s experiences will never be repeated.

We share new beads with those that we see daily, many that we won’t see for months or years and others that we will never see again. 

That was a Busy Weekend!

If you have ever organized a family reunion, you know that there is uncertainty about how many family members and guests are going to show up. You make preparations based on your best guess and cross your fingers. The Fourth of July in Island Park is similar for the residents. Businesses order inventories according to their best estimates, county and city services staff to meet expected demand and everyone hopes that their preparations are sufficient.

This Fourth of July weekend seemed to tax those preparations as the gathering in Island Park was well attended by visitors wanting to celebrate our country’s birthday in one of its most beautiful locations. Employees worked hard to attend to lines of customers that descended on the various establishments.

The emergency medical services were busy attending to both medical conditions and accidents. Fremont County Deputies worked tirelessly reminding visitors to avoid activities that would injure themselves or others.

I do not want to be accused of exaggerating the size of the crowds but I could have walked the Henry’s Fork from Big Springs to Mack’s Inn without getting wet using boats as stepping stones!

With the end of any holiday comes the recovery. It is a little like coming down from a sugar high. For the businesses and services of Island Park, there is no time to rest. The crowds diminish somewhat, there are many visitors yet to come this summer who have been looking forward to their vacation all year and it is the residents’ responsibility to make sure they are not disappointed.

Let The Preparations Begin!

Every March 19th the swallows return to the Mission San Juan Capistrano and every Memorial Day weekend the tourists and summer residents arrive in Island Park.

It’s May and the calm of mud season has transitioned into preparation for the onslaught of the tourist season. Having spent numerous vacations in Island Park, I didn’t appreciate the extensive preparations that were required of residents to accommodate the influx of visitors.

Residents have a way of gearing up for the visitors while maintaining their calm demeanor just as a duck appears calm as it glides across the water, but beneath the surface it is feverishly paddling. The same hard work is in progress to prepare for the summer season.

Cabins and motels are opened, cleaned and renovated. Winter damage is being repaired. New coats of stain and paint are applied. Inventory is ordered and stocked. Summer help is being interviewed and hired. Menus are being reviewed and grocery orders are planned.

Hard work goes into making a visitors stay comfortable in Island Park and most of it goes unrecognized.

From someone who was the recipient of those efforts for so many years, I want to say Thank You. The more I have gotten to know the people of Island Park, the more I appreciate all that you do.