Historic ranch near Salmon is Idaho’s newest state park
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SALMON – The State of Idaho recently acquired 670 acres from a private landowner, which is now the newest state park.
Twin Peaks Ranch State Park is now open to the public. The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation will be celebrating the park’s grand opening on June 27 with an open house. Public reservations will be available on the department’s website soon.
Ryan Buffington is the department’s East Region manager and serves as the park’s spokesman. He tells EastIdahoNews.com the property at 199 Twin Peaks Ranch Road is between Challis and Salmon, just north of Elk Bend. It sits at the edge of the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness near the Dugout Dick Memorial and below the historic Twin Peaks Mine.
It offers a variety of amenities, including 25 full-service cabins, a lodge, and a restaurant. It also has a disc golf course, a rodeo arena, and an equestrian center.
“We’ll be able to stage horseback tours out of that area,” Buffington says. “We’re working with the Forest Service and the BLM to designate an off-highway vehicle trailhead as well.”
Two campgrounds are in development on the property for future use — one accommodating off-highway vehicles and the other catering to people on horseback.
Buffington says the Moore family sold the property to the State of Idaho in October. They bought it in 2018.
It began operating as a guest ranch in the 1990s, but had been a dude ranch for 40 years before that.
While there is evidence of early settlements on the property in the 1890s, Buffington says its definitive history begins in the 1950s. E. DuPont bought it, built five cabins and ran it as a dude ranch.
It was sold to another private holding in the 1970s and more amenities were added.
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Buffington says multiple Moore family members were involved in the ranch when they bought it eight years ago. Many of them backed out over time, and managing it became “too challenging.” That’s what led the family to list it for sale.
The State of Idaho saw the listing and bought it from them. Buffington says they were thrilled with the idea of it becoming public property that everyone could enjoy.
The Department of Parks and Recreation has been busy preparing the property for public access over the last several months. Buffington says it’s now open to anyone who wants to see it.
“Right now, there’s a lot of construction happening, so it’s (a little chaotic), but it is open to the public,” says Buffington.
The Department is working with the Land of the Yankee Fork Historical Association to provide historical information during public tours at the open house. Buffington says he’s excited to unveil Idaho’s newest state park.
“We see in this property an amazing opportunity to provide another world-class recreational destination to the people of Idaho,” he says.
Additional information is on the park’s website and Facebook page.