Colorful Balloon Rising

Lake Havasu City, our home town for 32 years has just successfully hosted our second “Havasu Balloon Fest” with incredible success. Abner and I hosted “The London Bridge RV Group” at the Balloon Fest Official RV Site on the Island just next door to the Nautical Inn, the site for all of the festivities.

Havasu Balloon Fest photo courtesy of Ed Wheeler

Up, Up, and Away!

We enjoyed spending time at our Furniture booth Michael Alan, seeing many of our old and new customers. Michael Alan with Desert Floors sponsored a balloon called “Tequila Sunrise“.  Needless to say it was one of the most colorful balloons in the skyline.  Our manager Vanessa had her first hot air balloon ride and this is what she said.

Sushi Hot Air Balloon Rising

Thanks go to the organizers Constant and Bob representing both the Kiwanis and Rotary Club.  I can’t imagine the number of hours they with their wives have freely dedicated to make.  Thanks to Ed & Rosie Wheeler, Wagonhammer Hosts for many years, for photos and your many hours of dedication to this event.  This annual Havasu Balloon Fest is a family event for our community and a tourist attraction for Lake Havasu City.

Humpty Launches

Everyone is welcome to attend the The Third annual Lake Havasu Balloon Fest – January 2013   Enjoy their web site at www.havasuballoonfest.com

Just a reminder, if you are planning a summer or fall RV trip or camping trip.  Wagonhammer RV Park in North Fork Idaho offers a delightful RV destination park if you like scenic beauty, pristine park settings, and lots of outdoor adventure including ATV trail rides, Salmon River fishing, hiking, horseback riding, famous White water river rafting or smooth scenic floats.

Night Glow

We hope you too will discover why so many of our Idaho RV Park guests become regular “Be Backs” at Wagonhammer RV Park.  We strive to offer the comforts of home including on-site laundry facilities; excellent restrooms, great selection of Idaho wine, a cozy gathering place in our community room highlighted by a magnificent stone fireplace where our guests enjoy meeting new friends, playing games or creating beautiful jewelry from Shirley’s collection of unique beads for sale and even shopping for treasures in Shirley’s gift shop.  Come one, come all the coffee’s on from May through early November! Give us a call at 208-865-2477 to reserve your spot today!

It is always interesting to me to find out what those wives do in their rigs while their men are on the Salmon River fishing for hours at a time. Of course we have good visits in the lodge and are even known to have a few good games of gin rummy, swap recipes or just chit chat about our family, careers and interests.

Gina Ellis, Utah is an accomplished seamstress and quilter and just happens to have a sewing machine with her. While at Wagonhammer Campground she created and sewed a Halloween Costume for her granddaughter and popped it in the mail. What a lucky grandaughter to have an original Halloween costume made with love.

Mrs. Ellis costume designer

Mickey Bruce from Rexburg, Idaho is also a talented quilter who while she is here has been creating some beautiful handiwork with her linens which will be part of a masterpiece quilt. Mickey several years ago presented me with a treasure wall hanging quilt which is hanging in our lodge for all of our guests to appreciate.

Mickey Bruce Quilter Sewed Wall Hanging for Wagonhammer

Karen Jahn usually accompanies her husband Bud but this past week Bud went on a guided Steelhead trip with North Fork Guides.  This trip was an early Christmas gift from Karen and was very successful.   Bud had wonderful stories to tell over next morning’s coffee. He was able to land several fish, thoroughly enjoyed his guide Shawn who was very knowledgeable and was a great chef to boot.
Karen who is a creator of beautiful jewelry worked with her beads during the day and shared with Deena and me her magical results.

Karen Jahn Jewelry

It is always of great interest for me to visit with our Wagonhammer guests and I never cease to be amazed by their many diverse backgrounds and varied careers throughout their lifetime. Last weekend we had a couple from Tasmania who were determined to land their first steelhead which they accomplished.
They left with happy smiles commenting that we will “Be Back”.  We were glad they discovered our Wagonhammer RV Park on the internet.

It’s the people, our guests that make Wagonhammer a very special Idaho destination.

Kick off the Christmas Season with the High Country Trail, Friday and Saturday, November 4th and 5th from 10:a.m. to 5:p.m.
The High Country Trail starts just before 4th of July Creek Road ending at Gibbonsville on scenic Highway 93 North.

Woodland Santa Collection at Wagonhammer Gift Shop in North Fork

Oh Christmas Tree

There are 5 wonderful and unique shops, each with it’s own ambience and special treasures just waiting for you to discover. We have handcrafted gifts, Christmas decor and ornaments, western art,  jewelry, custom embroidered items, custom floral arrangements, hand crafted steak and carving knife sets and much more. You will find many speciality gift items with something unique for everyone.

Come see us at Diamond Creek Company, Wagonhammer RV Park Gift Shop, Mountain K Cutlery, River Lodge Interiors, and The Broken Arrow.

Rosemarie at Broken Arrow will be serving her special Mexican lunch with margaritas and as you are travelling the trail you will be treated to special treats and incredible finds.

It is a wonderful way to catch the holiday spirit by visiting these speciality shops on the Scenic High Country Trail!!!! Get together your friends to enjoy a special day together and get a head start on your holiday list or just spoil yourself with special treasures.

If you have any questions just call Shirley at Wagonhammer (208) 865 2477

The Good Sam Club began in 1956 when a group of RV owners put Good Samaritan bumper stickers on their rigs so fellow members would know they could get help on the road. In the early days, Good Sam members spread the word at RV parks and other Club events. Soon everyone wanted to know how to get a Good Sam “smiling decal”.   The Club grew and grew.

Today, the goal remains the same as from those days: to make RVing safer and more enjoyable, and save members money through Club endorsed benefits and services. The Good Sam Club is now over 1 million members RVing families strong and growing! Members have fun, stop to help one another and meet our responsibilities to the environment, highways and parks.

Wagonhammer RV Park and Campground is proud to qualify as “An Official Good Sam Park” which in turn saves the good Sam Members a discounted rate. We find that many of our guests use The Trailer Life Directory as their Bible and Guide in selecting their Destination Park as the rating system is very reliable.

Wagonhammer RV and Campground is very proud of a 2011 Award of Excellence for outstanding achievement and commitment to excellence as one of the TOP 300 rated RV Parks in North America. This was a crowning moment for both Abner and I as we take great pride in our park.

Mike & Donna Oliverio, Marketing Consultants - Good Sam Parks

As an Idaho destination RV Park we are a favored choice for RV Group Outings. We were pleased to have two Good Sam Groups select Wagonhammer for an Outing.

Eagle Rock RV Good Sam Group, Idaho Falls came to visit us for several days in August with their favored area being Wagonhammer’s River Front Sites. They enjoyed the camera ready shots in their very own front yard of elk and deer crossing the river and our Bald Eagle swooping over the Salmon River.  Salmon City and the River Road are always points of venture for the group and of course they enjoy the camaraderie with both great sharing food and lots of chit chat and laughter. Thanks to Chuck Dawley, Wagonmaster for putting together a great rally.

Wagonhammer welcomes Good Sam Eagle Rock RV Group

The Bitterroot Good Sam Group hailing from the Hamilton, Montana area chose mid September to return to Wagonhammer for several days of fun and relaxation. They rafted the river, played golf in town and some of the gals made jewelry in the lodge. They treated themselves to gourmet dining at 100 Acre Wood, a very quaint and excellent dining experience just 5 miles from Wagonhammer. Jon and Nancy serve food which is a feast for both the eye and the stomach. Also I must mention that the men of the Bitteroot Group prepared 2 full breakfasts for their ladies.   This group enjoys River’s Edge as their gathering spot.

We are pleased to say that both groups are “Be Back”.  We welcome Good Sam Groups to our Park to enjoy our beautiful grounds and the surrounding area rich in pristine wilderness, an abundance of wild life, shopping and dining. Just call us at (208) 865-2477 to arrange your date and I will forward a packet of information to make your stay enjoyable for all.

For anyone wishing to become a Good Sam Member we sell memberships at our front desk which will immediately give you Good Sam Member benefits.

Mike and Donna Oliveria, Good Sam

Thanks to our hosts, James and Marianne, Deanna and Joe and Sue and Tom we were able to further explore our beloved Idaho for the second time this season.
Our destination was Lava Hot Springs in Southern Idaho. We had always wanted to visit friends David and Colleen Day from the area who had visited Wagonhammer RV Park & Campground in the Spring of 2010. The whole trip came together while we were having our Wagonhammer social hour and discovered that guests Jody and Londa were the owners of The Alpaca Inn, Lava hot Springs.  We made reservations at their lodge for a 2 night stay.

Londa and Jody greet us at their Alpacca Inn

We followed The Salmon River Scenic Byway, Highway 93 South to Arco then highway 26 to Blackfoot. Our usual route is the quickest way so we were able to experience new country on our way to Blackfoot. We then connected to I 15 South to The Lava hot Springs Exit. We were graciously greeted by our hosts Jody and Londa at the Alpaca Inn. They have very tastefully renovated what was once an apartment building to a charming inn. The rooms have every amenity wanted including very comfortable beds. We discovered that Jody had constructed the rustic pine furniture and Londa has used her green thumb to make a very attractive yard. Enjoyable photos of their very own alpaca from their Willow River Farm nearby are found throughout the rooms. I also enjoyed Londa’s gift items which included her very own jewelry and alpaca yarns, sweaters and scarves.

We so enjoyed our two days as we had our personal tour guides to show us the area. David and Colleen shared their farming area and we also toured the Museum and Visitor’s Indo Center. The history of the area was well displayed with the Hot Springs being the main attraction to town. The highlight of our visit was the pleasure of both Colleen and David sharing their talents with Abner and I. Colleen’s intarsia of a magnificet elk was just awarded the best of show at the local fair and she also came in second place at the state fair. Congratulations Colleen !!!

Colleen's Award Winning Elk

David is also quite an accomplished woodworker and has acquired and extensive collection of antique tools.

We all got together for an evening meal at The Wagonwheel Restaurant.

Lava Hotsprings in Idaho

The next morning we visited the Lava Hot Springs. Long before white settlers discovered the natural, odor-free mineral waters in this quiet valley, the Bannock and Shoshone Indian gathered here to bathe, rest and worship. In 1911 The State of Idaho began to develop the hot springs and today it is an incredible relaxing experience surrounded by beautifully manicured gardens.

We decided that rather than return to Wagonhammer via the freeway we would explore Soda Springs and follow The Pioneer historic Byway. We lunched at Alpine and enjoyed the Majestic Teton Mountain Range and the Star Valley area. The Palisades Dam Area and Swan Valley were also very picturesque. We headed on home via Rigby and highway 28 by the Lemhi range and river.
We now have a further appreciation of Idaho and would recommend The Alpaca Inn as a destination for your Lava Hot Springs visit.

It is always good to get back to Wagonhammer and are now looking forward to our fishing and hunting season and the return of our many guests who have become our friends.

Wagonhammer Idaho RV Park is an ideal destination for brides seeking beautiful outdoor Idaho wedding venues.  Our RV Park nestled along the famous Salmon River offers lots of scenic beauty and open spaces for guests and the wedding party.  Have the wedding of your dreams in a scenic wonderland that offers unlimited local recreational activities, unique shopping, and friendly and caring camp hosts.

Mid September we witnessed our First Wagonhammer Wedding as Charity Hodges and Steven Perrenoud tied the knot in front of their cheering family and friends. Their wedding ceremony was lovely set amongst the treed, grassy open area.

The bride and groom along with their friends and family made this a memorable day from beginning to end. Very early in the morning the pig was roasting for the outdoor feast and was accompanied by delicious Dutch Oven Cooking. It did not take long for the wedding atmosphere to take shape as matching white chairs were set up for the guests with a decorated arbor for the nuptials. Our Salmon  River’s Edge also took on an added festive touch as extra decorations, flowers and twinkling lights were added to the scene.

The groom awaits his bride

Four O’clock was the designated ceremony time. Charity in her beautiful gown appeared with her lovely bridesmaids.  A friend was the seamstress who tie dyed  bright yellow and green dresses for the flower girls and attendants.  The happy couple arrived at the wedding service in a fine antique car ready to walk down the aisle.

Charity and her Ladies in Waiting

The ring bearer stole the show I must say. The ring bearer was Steve and Charity’s Golden Lab attired in a white tie to boot.  The vows were followed by thunderous applause as the new Mr. & Mrs. Perrenoud greeted family and friends.

Ring Bearer & Flower Girl

The evening ended by the Salmon River with a blazing campfire, much chatter and laughter and just good times. Many of the guests stayed at Wagonhammer RV Park in rigs and tents to enjoy the evening.   The next morning welcomed good-bye hugs and further congratulations to Steven & Charity.
Abner and I and our camp hosts thank Steven & Charity for choosing Wagonhammer as their Wedding Venue and wish them a wonderful life together !!!!

The Nancy Humprey Happening arrived at Wagonhammer Campground with quite a posse of jeeps from both Arizona and California.

Rock n Roll

We were delighted they chose our Idaho RV Park destination as their week long stopping point to explore the many scenic trails and vistas in the Salmon Valley.  Their exploratory adventurous spirit was filled as each day they ventured out to sample our geological rich mountain ranges and historical trails of the past.

It's a Jeep Thing

I will only share with you a few of their outings in our immediate area.  They ventured down to the end of Salmon River Road at Corn Creek.  The  MT Saloon which dates back to the days of early mining has experienced no update so you are truly stepping back into a time freeze.  They take pride in offering the coldest beer in Lemhi County.  The owner Mike Tibbitts and Olie only add to the flavor of the old rustic bar.  The group also very much enjoyed the Mother Chucker’s Cafe next to Panther Creek.  The pristine wilderness of the Salmon River Road with the energetic rapids is why Lewis and Clark dubbed it “The River of No Return”.

Lemhi Pass, also part of The Lewis and Clark Trail, takes you by The  Sharkey Hot Springs maintained by The U.S. Forest Service.  Highway 28 via Tendoy  and a visit with Viola at The General Store is a great source of the historical happenings of the area as she has tended to the store for many a decade and she loves to share her knowledge.  Any time, especially in the early spring I call Viola for a road report of the pass for our Wagonhammer guests.  As you cross the pass over to Montana the back way leads you to Bannock, one of the best ghost towns in our area which I talked about in my recent Ghost Town Blog.  You bypass Jackson Hot Springs, a great historical watering hole .  A stop at the Wisdom Cafe will energize you for the rest of your journey which leads to the Lost Trail Pass and back to Wagonhammer.  This trip is a full day of adventure.

The Old Gibbonville Road which was the original Stagecoach Trail leads to the top of the pass on Hwy 43.  The Big Hole National Battlefield is very nearby.  This battlefield memorializes the Nez Perce men, women and children, the soldiers of the 7th U.S. Infantry and the Bitteroot Volunteers who clashed at the Big Hole Battlefield.  You leave saddened but with a better understanding of the past and future of the Bitteroot.  Decending the pass to Wagonhammer is a hairpin experience surrounded by the beauty of the ski slopes.

Too Tired to Travel

Going to the top of 4th of July Road is a shorter jaunt taking you to the top of Stein Mountain.  You follow mountain streams and heavily forested areas to the look out tower.  If you are lucky the ranger will be there and will share with you the the views of the surrounding valley.  You will sight River Road, Gibbonbville. Hwy 93 to Montana and the grassy valley leading to Salmon City.  We like taking a picnic lunch to enjoy at the Mountain Top.

The U.S. Forest service at nearby North Fork is always glad to share the many trails with maps and guidance for the new explorers of our scenic valleys.

Planning a trip to Salmon Idaho or North Fork Idaho?  Stop in and see us at Wagonhammer RV Park and Campground.  Shirley, Abner and our camp hosts will be happy to guide you to cool places to see in the area!

Many of our Wagonhammer Guests so enjoy our Salmon Valley area because of our Historical Preservations.  I and our Host Family take great pleasure in helping our guests find the many remnants of a most colorful heritage.  I will only whet your appetite with some suggestions of surrounding interest which are all day trips from our Idaho RV Destination Park – Wagonhammer.

Bannock Ghost Town located just beyond the Bitteroot Range in Montana is a favorite as it is one of the best preserved ghost towns in our area.  Bannock is unique…preserved rather than restored…protected rather than exploited.  You are able to live the past as you explore saloons, the church and school house, jails and stores, the Masonic lodge, cabins and the First Governor’s Mansion.

Bannock Ghost Town incredible restoration amd maintenance

Hotel Meade in Bannock Ghost Town

My choice is The Hotel Meade where you step back in time and envision the elegant dining room and the social activity of the day.  What is most impressive to me is the winding stairway where the ladies would  emerge in their refined Victorian ballroom gowns.  As you walk the streets and boardwalks and explore the buildings that were once filled with laughter, gossip, greed and sorrow, you try to imagine what life would have been like in this early day mining town. It is well worth the 100 mile trip as the scenery and activity enroute are spectacular.

Shoup, just down river from Wagonhammer began in 1862 when placer gold was discovered in the Salmon River.  In one time their were more than 600 people living in Shoup.  At one time there was the normal complement of saloons even an an art gallery and an opera house.  It is always interesting to read the Local Salmon Paper which features happenings of 120 years ago – such as – Everybody should attend the concert at Shoup’s Hall tomorrow night.  Admission is 50 cents  also The Kentucky Mining Co. of Shoup deposited $3000 worth of gold in the United States mint at Boise City recently.  Can you imagine the value today with our present day gold values?

Visit Shoup Store in Shoup Idaho, beautiful drive from Wagonhammer RV Park & Campground

Today there is still evidence of the past at the general store with their functioning gravity gasoline pumps.  Another treat is a chocolate malt or an old fashioned burger.  The walls of the store are full of old black and white photos of the past history.  As you meander down the road you will see evidence of past mining days.

Gibbonsville,  to be considered a Living Ghost Town is still sparsely populated with evidence of the original log cabins in the background.  The original two room school is today a museum and every fall  it is the spot for the Hunterman’s Ball, a social event for the community and also an attraction for visiting hunters.  Cemeteries are a valued source for past history and the Gibbonsville cemetary is a prime example. This is probably the most interesting cemetery I have ever visited ranging from primitive wood markers to huge granite memorials to both pioneers and recent passings.

Visit Gibbonsville Idaho Cemetery just a short drive from Wagonhammer RV Park

Family Plots are surrounded by decorative picket fences. Many of the plots display the evidence of family and friend visits leaving behind flowers, angels, fishing gear and even a Coors beer can here and there.

Gibbonsville Cemetery in Gibbonsville Idaho

Following our visit we followed the trail to Granite Mountain top with a vista of the valleys below.  As we gazed from mountain top to mountain top there is no doubt in my mind that there is a supreme being in charge of our universe.

Jailhouse Gangster at Bannock Ghost Town

Come on over to North Fork Idaho and stay with us at Wagonhammer RV Park & Campground.  Enjoy our pristine scenery and park.  We will be happy to guide you to the many outdoor adventures and interesting places to visit in our area.  Envision Days of the Past, going down memory lane as you read Ghost Towns of Idaho by Bruce Raisch which is available at the Wagonhammer Gift Shop describing many more Ghost Towns in our area.

We look forward to seeing YOU soon!