Antelope Island State Park.

Today we visited Antelope Island State Park; at 28,000 acres Antelope Island is the largest island in the Great Salt Lake. The entrance fee was $9.00, after paying the fee we drove over the causeway to the island and then drove along the east shore to the former Fielding Garr Ranch. Later we visited the west side of the island, stopping at the Buffalo Point Overlook for lunch and a hike up the Buffalo Point Trail.

 

The view of the island from the causeway.

 

One of many Bison we saw during our drive.

 

We were lucky to spot this Antelope along the road.

 

The island has not been developed, there are great views like this.

 

 

The Fielding Garr Ranch was active under a number of owners from 1848 until 1981 when it was purchased by the State of Utah. The ranch is located at Garr Springs that is one of the strongest and most consistent springs on the island; archaeological findings show that there has been human activity at the springs for at least 1,000 years. The ranch was founded in 1848 when the Mormon Church assigned the task to Fielding Garr, the church operated the ranch until the mid-1870s. At the turn of the century businessman John Dooly Sr., bought the entire island and focused on sheep ranching, he also brought 12 Bison to the island. In the 1950’s when sheep ranching proved unprofitable the ranch was used for cattle operations until 1981.

 

The ranch house is claimed to be the oldest Anglo-built house still on it’s original foundation in Utah.

 

The sheep shearing stations on the 2nd floor of the shearing barn.

 

Sandy checks out a Ford tractor like the one she operated on her father’s farm.

 

The view east from the ranch corral.

 

This wagon was used by sheep herders as a camp to travel with the herds at certain times of the year.

 

The inside of the sheep camp, it could sleep 4?

 

After our visit to the ranch we drove back along the east side of the island, past the Visitor Center and up to the Buffalo Point Overlook. We ate our picnic lunch while the gnats tried to eat us, they didn’t bother us at the ranch but they were out in force at the overlook.  After our lunch we hiked up the short but steep Buffalo Point Trail from the parking area to the top of the hill where we enjoyed great views of the island and the Great Salt Lake but we had to fight off the gnats as we retreated back to the CRV.

 

Looking down on the Buffalo Point Overlook from the trail.

 

Looking out over Bridger Bay.

 

The Great Salt Lake.

 

White Rock Bay.

 

Upon returning to the car John noticed that it was 2pm which is his “quitting time” so we headed back across the causeway and south to Pony Express in North Salt Lake. The weather is predicted to be hot tomorrow so we may head into the mountains.