White Grass Dude Ranch
Wyoming | Posted: February 15, 2008Community Outreach Events
The Western Center for Historic Preservation (WCHP) hosted two events in FY 2007 to make the public more aware about the work of the Center and plans to preserve the historic White Grass Dude Ranch in Grand Teton National Park. The first event was held for the Teton County Historic Preservation Board and the Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum on June 11 and included a visit to the woodworking shop in Moose followed by a tour of preservation work in the Park.
In August, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Park hosted an event to introduce potential donors and members of the preservation community to the project. The National Trust hopes to raise $950,000 in private money to match funding provided by the Park Service for the rehabilitation of the remaining 13 White Grass cabins so that the facility can be used to house and train National Park employees, volunteers, and contractors in the preservation of historic log buildings. After a tour of the site, the group enjoyed box lunches in the Main Cabin where former Dude Ranch Manager Rachel Trahern shared stories about what it was like to work and stay at White Grass.
Grants & Funding
In the spring of 2007, Grand Teton National Park received a $25,000 grant from the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund to rehabilitate White Grass Ranch cabin #15. The grant was matched by the Park Service resulting in a total of $50,000 in matching funds to complete the project. Cabin #15 was one of two cabins to be substantially rehabilitated this year and will become the handicap accessible cabin for the Western Center for Historic Preservation.
Early in 2008, the National Trust received two gifts totaling $210,000 that will be used for the project. If you are interested in becoming a donor to the White Grass Project, please contact the National Trust at the Mountains/Plains Office, 535 16th Street, Suite 750, Denver, Colorado 80202 or call 303-623-1504.
Report on White Grass Cabins
White Grass Cabin #15, HS-1155
White Grass Cabin 15 #1155 This cabin was completely rehabilitated during the summer. The cabin was lifted, new foundations poured; deteriorated wall logs and roof purlins repaired, windows and doors were replaced with reproductions fabricated in the preservation shop, and a new roof installed. Additionally, a new floor was installed and the main door widened to provide handicap accessibility.
White Grass Hammond Cabin & Bath House The bath house and Hammond cabin were completely cleaned out and stabilized for the winter. Vegetation causing deterioration on the sides of the buildings was removed. A temporary metal roof was added to the bath house to help protect the building from strong winds and heavy snows until a full roof replacement can be completed. Non-historic materials such as added walls were removed from the interior of both buildings.
White Grass Site Utilities A $360,000 Utility contract was awarded to construct a water system, a new well house, waste water system and primary electrical system. By the end of summer 100% of the waste water system was completed and 50%of the electrical/water system was constructed. A contract for the completion of design and construction documents was also awarded to A & E Architects to be completed in the spring of 2008.
White Grass Cabin 1154 A new concrete foundation was poured for cabin 1154. A continuous foundation was used for this cabin and a new technique was implemented with inserted 'I'-beams underneath to temporarily support the cabin while the foundation was being poured.
Other Preservation Work Underway in Grand Teton National Park
The park received $236,000 in project funds from Park Service Cultural Cyclic and Recreational fee dollars this year for the treatment of 8 park historic structures. Cyclic funds provided funding to re-roof three historic structures in Beaver Creek, the Manges Cabin, and the Estes Cabin at the Murie Center. Additional funding from park entrance fees went towards preservation treatment for Bar BC Carncross Cabin, and the main lodge.
Bar BC Ranch
The Carncross Cabin and the main lodge were stabilized. Work at the Carncross Cabin; included removal of debris from the collapsed roof and stabilization of the four walls and masonry chimney. The main cabin received a temporary roof to protect the existing walls from further deterioration and the east wall was removed to clean up previous demolition of the east wing initiated back in the 1980's.
Manges Cabin
A deteriorated roof at Manges Cabin was replaced in-kind. Work required the replacement of two 32" roof purlins. Repairs were made to the rest of the purlins with epoxy-filler patches. Deteriorated, roofing boards, and roof caps were replaced where necessary or repaired in-kind.
The Murie Center
The back porch at the Estes Cabin was restored which corrected a sagging floor and deteriorated sill logs had caused the porch to slope dramatically. Work included replacement of sill logs and the installation of new concrete piers to correct settling deficiencies.
The Brinkerhoff Lodge
Three new screen doors were fabricated and/or repaired on the north and west elevations. Log steps on the north elevation were repaired to correct a safety hazard.
AMK Ranch
Design, compliance and planning were completed in consultation with engineers from University of Wyoming for replacement of the wood roof, electrical rehab and installation of an alarm system at Johnson lodge. Work for these three tasks began this fall with the partial replacement of the wood roof and will continue next spring when the facility reopens.
National Register Nominations
The Menor's Ferry National Register Nomination was updated to include more accurate historical data concerning the use and history of the buildings. A determination of eligibility was also completed for the structures within the Menor's Ferry Historic District that had not previously been included in the 1969 nomination. Similarly, determinations of eligibility were also completed for the Luther Taylor Cabins and for cultural landscape features at White Grass Dude Ranch. An evaluation and determination of eligibility for Lower Berry Creek Patrol Cabin was also completed.
Work with the staff in the Park Service Intermountain Regional office in Denver resulted in improved and updated entries for the Grand Teton's List of Classified Structures (LCS) that will help frame the park-wide historic structures management plan currently in progress. Records for Jackson Lake lodge, 4 Lazy F Dude Ranch, and Wolf Ranch (among others) were added to the database, bringing Grand Teton National Park's number of properties on the LCS from 269 to 324.
For more information about any of these projects contact: Craig Struble, Manager, Western Center for Historic Preservation, Grand Teton National Park, Moose, Wyoming. Craig_Struble@nps.gov
More on White Grass
White Grass Dude Ranch Fact Sheet
The National Park Service manages 388 national parks throughout the country, many of which were designated by Congress to protect significant prehistoric and historic resources. However, the Park Service is often unable to provide these resources with adequate protection due to the chronic underfunding of the National Park System.
Western Center for Historic Preservation at the White Grass Dude Ranch
National Trust for Historic Preservation partnership with Grand Teton National Park to rehabilitate the historic White Grass Dude Ranch to become a center to train park staff, volunteers and contractors in the preservation and reuse of rustic structures.
