Restoration brings new life to Fort Hall Replica and Pocatello Junction
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POCATELLO — Visitors can get a glimpse into southeast Idaho’s early pioneer and railroad history at the newly restored Fort Hall Replica and Pocatello Junction, two outdoor living-history museums in upper Ross Park.
The sites recreate two important chapters in the region’s past: the 1834 Fort Hall fur trading post and Pocatello’s early railroad frontier town.
Historian Randy Dixon, who was a Bannock County Historical Society board member at the time, proposed the restoration project in 2025 and has helped oversee the effort.
The City of Pocatello owns the Fort Hall Replica and Pocatello Junction, while the Bannock County Historical Museum is owned by Bannock County and operated by the Bannock County Historical Society.
According to Dixon, under a 2017 agreement, the Society meets annually with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department to discuss needed maintenance and repairs at the historical complex.
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“I have found that creating a positive vision of any historic restoration project is always step one,” Dixon said. “That vision became the road map to the completion of the extremely successful Fort Hall Replica and Pocatello Junction Restoration Project.”
Dixon said that one of the largest undertakings was the restoration of the Fort Hall Replica mezzanine, completed by Donnelly Construction in time for the 63rd annual Fort Hall opening on May 30. The $39,574 project was partially funded by the Idaho Heritage Trust, requiring the work to meet national historic restoration and repair standards.
“Jason Donnelly and his staff clearly met those standards,” Dixon said. “What a pleasure to meet Jason and watch the restoration take place in real time.”
During the project, Donnelly also alerted Dixon to the deteriorating condition of the Fort Hall Replica roofs. Dixon has since submitted a $24,800 repair estimate to Parks and Recreation Director Ann Butler and hopes the work will be included in the department’s 2027 budget request.
Meanwhile, extensive restoration work at Pocatello Junction was also completed in time for the May 30 opening. The site, which features replicas of several early Pocatello buildings and businesses, needed roof repairs, painting and other improvements.
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The city and Bannock County Historical Society invested $8,476 in restoring the replica Union Pacific Depot. Wilson Roofing replaced two failed membrane roofs and repaired three others, with owner Carlo Wilson contributing more than $5,000 toward the work.
Community volunteers also played a major role in the overall restoration. Twenty professional painters organized by Elder Lloyd Hadderlie contributed hundreds of hours, while the local Sherwin-Williams store provided paint and supplies at a discounted rate.
Thirty LDS service missionaries and four service advisers cleaned the Junction and Fort Hall Replica before opening day. Dave Reiland of Rake a Difference and his volunteers have also contributed hundreds of hours of landscape maintenance over the years.
Dixon encouraged residents to visit the Bannock County Historical Complex and learn more about the region’s past.
“Please visit your Bannock County Historical Complex,” he said. “The history of the Complex belongs to you. It is important that you and your family know the complete history of Bannock County and the place you call home.”
He also encouraged residents to support the Bannock County Historical Society through membership.
“By becoming a member of the Society, you are making sure the history of Bannock County will never be forgotten,” Dixon said.
For more information follow Bannock County Historical Society on Facebook.