![]() Museum of Northwest Colorado-Downtown Craig A second cabin was built down river with the same cut and dimensions as the original and they operated “pleasure boat trips” between the two. During the height of operations the tourist camp included horses, a garden, four motor boats, and even a Texaco gas station. National Parks Magazine/Reginald Gill In order to create interest in their business, the partners hired a local photographer by the name of Reginald “Rex” Gill to take photos of the canyon country that could be sent to newspapers all over the country. Rex had previously surveyed for the General Land Office in the area and jumped on the opportunity. He took two separate trips, one in 1929 and another in 1933. Jim Crozier accompanied Rex on the second trip where they pulled a sled down the frozen Green River until they encountered the first rapid and traveled on foot overland from there. ![]() Craig-Empire Courier With the onset of World War II the partners gave up their claim citing gasoline rationing and difficulty proving their right to the land the camp was built on as the primary factors. Eugene Carr, who had also helped run the original operation moved in and may have also have offered sporadic boat tours. By 1945 Henry Smith and his family moved in possibly also offering boat tours and farming.
By 1950 the cabin was being repaired to make it usable as a patrol cabin for the NPS. It was updated with modern flooring and a kitchen and was used as a ranger residence. The cabin served as the primary contact station at Lodore until the completion of the Mission 66 housing and ranger station you see today. ![]() NPS/George A. Grant |
Last updated: July 14, 2018