Southern Idaho TravelCast: Oregon Trail in the Magic Valley

Help Gary Restore the Hansen Mural

Back in the 1970's, the Daws Family Market sported a cool looking Mural of, and Map to the South Hills, on the western side wall at the corner of US 30 and Rock Creek Road in Hansen Idaho. After they sold the market in the late 1990's, the new owner painted over the mural, which caused an uproar throughout the community.

Idaho Artist Gary Stone is working with Angie and Stace Campbell, who recently purchased and remodeled the market, and are now working to restore the former icon to their building.

Gary has been in his studio working on prospective renderings, so he can create a NEW & IMPROVED version of the South Hills mural in his unique woodcut art style, which he will attach to the building. We are currently soliciting businesses, attractions, and local ranchers who would like to be forever immortalized on Gary's Mural.

If you would like to be part of history, please call (208-481-0312) or send us an email (bknopp1@yahoo.com) and we will discuss how you could be included in this project.

We are excited about Reviving, Repairing and Restoring this important Landmark to Hansen and the Magic Valley Community!

Community Garden

Over the past summer, I have been participating with about 10 families in a community garden, and we held a barbecue and "harvest feast" on Monday. We enjoyed homemade salsa, jalepeno dip, squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, corn on the cob, potatoes and other items fresh from the garden. The steaks were deliciously prepared by Virg Johnson, and although he does raise cattle for beef, these were not from his steers.

Since we are in Idaho, and not far from Preston, it reminded me of the scene in "Napoleon Dynamite" where the farmer shot the cow in front of the kids on the bus!

Anyway, here is Taylor, a grand daughter of one of the members who worked in the garden, with a giant pumpkin ready for harvest!

Cowboy Poet Event

Went to the little town of Shoshone today for the Lost-N-Lava Cowboy Poets and Musicians Gathering. Since it was "open mike" time, I got on stage and read a story about Old hoss thief Dowdle Bill and his demise at the Rock Creek Station and Stricker Ranch and showed everyone the painting that Gary Stone made of Dowdle Bill in chains on the porch of the old store..which is the last original building still in existence on the Oregon Trail.

Just reviewed the latest video produced by the Twin Falls Chamber. Its a Travel Cast video of the Oregon Trail, with Gary Stone as the narrator...it should be up on the Twin Falls Chamber Website soon...in the meantime, check out the STricker Ranch and other great videos at www.twinfallschamber.com

Magic Valley Community Mural

As a member of the Twin Falls Chamber of Commerce, every new business gets to hold a ribbon cutting ceremony. Although Stone by Stone Enterprises is not so "new" anymore, we held a brief event at the Magic Valley Airport in Twin Falls to "re-introduce" Gary Stone's History of Idaho Aviation and Community Murals to the public to remind them of these very interesting and historical aspects of our area.

Membership Chairman Bobbi Pyle helped to coordinate the activity and was wearing her "split allegiances" shirt in honor of the cross town football rivalry between Twin Falls High and two year old Canyon Ridge High, and cheerleaders from both teams were there to support our efforts.

Dan Olmstead from Idaho Power gave a nice testimony of Gary's efforts on both murals as he pointed out that his company was well represented, as was his family farm. He stated that Gary took a lot of time interviewing him and his family members to assure that their family history was acurately portrayed.

In addition, Bobbi gave away a prize to the first person who could identify which of the planes in the Aviation history mural was from Dans family....which was easily concluded since the plane has the Olmstead family name written on it, albeit in small print.

We at Stone by Stone Enterprises wish to thank all of the Chamber ambassadors and friends who came out in support of our endeavors, and also welcome Kyle, the newest member of the Chamber team to Twin Falls.

Fright Night Tours

We held our final Fright Night tour of Old Town Twin Falls tonight until October, when we plan to return with more ghostly tales and stops in some more haunted places in Downtown Twin.

Here Emma Jean and daughter Jaykel (looking frightened!) pose in the Dry Cellar at Stricker Ranch, where we caught some Orbs on camera, especially when Crystal was around! We decided to call her "orb girl" since she seemed to attract more than her share on her camera.

Over the past few months we hosted a couple of hundred guests on our tours, and everyone had a great time learning more about the history of the Oregon Trail, Stricker Ranch, and the haunted spots around town.

Thanks to everyone who came along on this summer's Fright Night Tours, and join us in October for more spooky fun!

Gary Stone Creates Woodcut for Glanbia Foods

On Monday Augus 16th, Gary Stone presented a special Woodcut piece he created for Glanbia Foods during their annual Golf Outing at Blue Lakes CC, to celebrate their reaching ONE MILLION DOLLARS in Charitable donations.

Pictured here is Gary with just 2 of the 3 panels, which features the Blue Lakes Country Club, host of the annual Glanbia golf outing, with 2 Glanbia trucks crossing the Perrine bridge, and "Thanks a Million" written in the mountain tops of panel one.

Gary's tradition of "hiding" names was put to the test, as he hid within the painting over 50 names of Charitable organizations that have benefited from the generosity of Glanbia over the 17 years of their event.

He also included another unique feature of his paintings, adding a recorded message with sounds of the canyon and a message from Glanbia thanking their supporters.

Pictures do not do justice of Garys intricate Woodcut art style, as he painstakingly carves images into the Cedar wood and creates masterpieces to be cherished. Once you have seen a "Gary Stone creation" you recognize his style and immediately begin looking at the minute detail to find "hidden" objects within each of his artistic treasures.

Gary is currently working on a "surprise" Life History woodcut for a family in Twin Falls, which is destined to become an heirloom for that lucky spouse.

Apple Pie at the STricker Ranch

On Saturday, historian Bev Stone and I visited the Stricker Ranch and met with caretaker Gary Guy and my friends Glen Thorne and Aureila Galvin. We enjoyed hearing stories from both Bev & Gary about the history of the Oregon TRail Pioneers, and got a sneak preview of the new Interpretive Center soon to open there.

Mark Baltes and wife Julie were there to work on the project, which has some great old time photos and stories of the critical role that the Rock Creek Station and STricker Ranch played in

the history of the Magic Valley.

Glen baked one of his famous apple pies and shared it with us on the front lawn of the Ranch, which is a beautiful place for picnics, and of course, one of our stops on the Fright Night Tours.

Funny that Glen should choose Apple Pie, as one of the stories on the tour features Lady Bluebeard, who poisoned her husbands with her "secret ingredients" baked into her Apple pies! Gladly, Glen left that out of his pie, and we thoroughly enjoyed it, with no after affects!

Garys Art wins Blue Ribbons at Jerome County Fair

One of Gary Stone's latest Woodcut art creations titled Rustic Barn by the Stream, took home Best of Show honors from the Jerome County Fair. Two of his Wild Horses themed Sawblade paintings were also awarded blue Ribbons, as was his wooden sculpture of "De Bull".

The Barn Painting is on display at the Days Inn in Jerome, along with 2 of the Sawblades, and more of Gary's prints.

The Jerome County Fair was lots of fun, with a great Rodeo, including a milking contest that had everyone in stitches. Coming up soon is the Twin Falls County Fair at the end of August, which is always a very popular event.

The Beautiful & Scary places of Idaho

Here is a photo of me at Lake Cleveland, which is
on the seasonal road beyond the Pomerelle Ski Resort, located just south of Albion.

The drive up to the Lake is breathtaking, as the horizon stretches endlessly, showcasing the farms and communities in the valley below, and the mountains on the far horizon to the north.

Earlier in the day, we met with Heather Mortenson of Campus Grove in Albion, to discuss the SE ID Paranormal group visiting there in August to do an "investigation" of at least 2 of their buildings, which are featured on their spooky tours offered during the Halloween season.

Our Fright Night tours of Old Town Twin continue to be a hit each Friday and Saturday nights, beginning at Pandoras Restaurant. We share historical stories and tales of ghosts that haunt many of the old buildings in the Historic district, and at Stricker Ranch... and some people have actually seen apparitions, and many have captured Orbs in their photos.

Fright Night Tours getting scarier!

With Ghost Tours being the latest rage, with all kinds of TV shows about Paranormal activity, we have put together "Fright Nights in Old Town Twin" tours, beginning Memorial Day weekend.

The first tour will be for VIP's from the Twin Falls Chamber on Thursday May 27th, following their monthly Business After Hours event at KMVT-TV studios. Stops will be made throughout the downtown area, with spooky stories along the way, then on to Stricker Ranch, where we will watch a video made by the SEIPO (SE Idaho Paranormal Organization) of an investigation they made there.

There is also another Paranormal investigation group (IPRG) here in Twin who have made interesting discoveries and are available to check out "haunted" spots and help people deal with the things that "go bump in the night".

So if you suspect your house or office building might be inhabited by "spirits", either good or bad, let us know, and we can help you deal with them, or just add them to our tour. Its all in fun, and we hope you will enjoy the journey!

Call 208-481-0312 or email bknopp1@yahoo.com to reserve your spot today!

Ready to Launch Fright Night Tours!

Over the past few months I have heard some very interesting stories that involve "spirits" that "haunt" many of the older buildings in the Twin Falls area.. and after working with the SE Idaho Paranormal Organization (SEIPO) in their investigation of the STricker Ranch, we are ready to launch "Fright Nights in Old Towne Twin" tours!

Two weeks from today, On Thursday May 27th, following the Twin Falls Chamber Business After hours event at KMVT-TV, selected guests and VIPs will board a Sun Valley Charter Bus, and we will take them on our proposed tour route in our inaugural run! We will visit places where the owners and patrons have reported "abnormal" (or is it "paranormal"?) activities!

Following the tour we will get feedback from the guests so we can fine tune the trip and stories to make it the most interesting, informative (and perhaps "scary") tour that we can offer.

So be prepared to be "scared", or at least enlightened and entertained!

Critters of Kimberly Idaho

For those of you who may not have yet seen my latest movie, "Critters of Kimberly", the you tube link is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c_xNpByKgw

This is a short, fun movie of my daily walk and the "critters" I meet along the way, including Llamas, dogs, cows, chickens and a Rooster!

Hope you enjoy the journey! and PS... this is NOT all I do all day! Here's George, The Stick Chasin' Dog!

I DO get some business accomplished too!

Idaho Update!

Hey Friends...sorry it has been awhile since I last wrote... recently attended a great seminar at the Magic Valley Advertising Federation, and the speaker reminded me that we need to be consistent in posting...so I am going to strive to do better!

Also... he said the key is CONTENT, CONTENT, CONTENT!

So, I am going to try and offer better and more viable updates for YOU!

In fact, I just finished another short movie, I am calling "Critters in Kimberly"... just a cute look at the many "critters" I encounter along my daily journey.. i will be posting it soon..

In the meantime, I have been hard at work on a number of projects.. One BIG one is bringing Ride the Ducks here to Twin Falls... if you have never heard of it.. check out this link to see how they do it in Seattle... we found a cool Blue Duck in Boston (http://www.bostonducktours.com/) which needs lots of work, but once we get it here to Twin, it will be a big hit!

www.ridetheducksofseattle.com/videotour.htm

another is bring "Friday Night Frights" Ghost tours to Old Town Twin and the Stricker Ranch, which is an old stagecoach stop and Store, and is said to be "haunted".. this Friday a group from Pocatello is coming to film/interview/investigate the place and produce a TV show...

Pictured above is a painting by Gary of Old Bill Dowdle, a horse thief who was killed at the Ranch, and vowed to "come back and haunt" his killers!

In the meantime, we are also promoting Gary STones Art, and one of his best projects was in honor of 100 years of scouting, a Woodcut artpiece he donated to the Kimberly Troop #43, which is shown in the video at this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-iv-_5sFyU

and Bev Stones Stories!....Bev is an amazing Story teller, and writer, and I am compiling her stories into a "book", and plan to publish it on the web... i will put some samples here soon and would love your feedback!

check out the video attached of our tour of the Canyon and finding Chinese Mining artifacts!

Happy Trails, until we meet again! ...

Bill

Howdy from Cowboy Billybob in Idaho

Hope ya'all are doing well back in Michigan, and other fur away parts... this mornin, i walked to Bev and Gary's and along the way saw a hawk, gave a barkin dog a treat, picked some grass and fed a baby bull, petted some calves, fed our horses, and threw a stick to George the dog until he was frothin at the mouth.. it sure doesnt get any better than that here in Idaho!

Duck (Tour) Hunting!

Ever been on a "Ride the Ducks" tour? Well, it is my dream to buy the DUK (a military amphibious vehicle) pictured here, which is ready and available for purchase.

Ten years ago, a consulting group was hired by the Twin Falls Chamber and they recommended this very thing, along with a historical tour of the Snake River Canyon. Having no prior knowledge of the plan, I took one look at the Perrine Bridge, the Base Jumpers, the tourists and the lack of boat tours on the river, and said RIDE THE DUCKS is what is needed here!

I am putting together investors to partner in buying the Duck, I have an outfitter lined up to manage the tours, I am getting my CDL so I can drive the Duck, we just need the funds to BUY the Duck! So, if you know of anyone who enjoys investing their money in a fun cause, and will get a good return on their investment, let me know and I will send them my prospectus!
This is a sure winner, as there are lots of people here in Twin who are very excited about the tours, and are waiting to sign up for the tours. Thanks for tuning in.... Bill

In the Studio with Artist Gary Stone

Went into the STudio with Gary Stone, and he demonstrates his technique for making his paintings have depth, or a 3D look... more excerpts to follow if people show interest!

Happy New Year & a New beginning

Time for reflection and review of the past year, and resolve to do better in the next...

I always look back through my journal from the past year, to review my thoughts and ponder upon the things I did, and the changes I made over the year... WOW... 2009 was certainly a huge year of change for me.

And as I sit here in Idaho, reflecting upon the past few months, I am filled with gratitude for being led here by spiritual inspiration, and for the knowledge that the Lord does have a plan for me being here. Every time that I walk down into the Canyon, I sense the spirit, and hope to share that with anyone that comes to visit here.

I wish for all my friends, family and even you readers I do not yet know, that you will find spiritual and financial prosperity this coming year, and always! God Bless, Bill Knopp