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!