On Our Own, Again... Part 1

Idaho Falls Power Generation Project

 

  This post will be multi-locations as each visit was interesting and informative but not enough to warrant
its own post. 

  Departing Twin Falls, Idaho we backtracked along I-84, thru Pocatello, for a brief two day stay in Idaho Falls. Idaho Falls is a charming city with a population nearing 65,000 and plenty of character. We availed ourselves for a pleasant walk thru the park along the Snake River on a warm but pleasant day.

Aftermath of Accident

  In 1949, the Atomic Energy Commission opened NRTS (National Reactor Testing Station in the desert area west of Idaho Falls. For the first time in history a nuclear reactor produced useful electricity on December 20th, 1951. Ten years later, in January NRTS would become the scene of the only fatal reactor incident in U.S. history. Due to poor design and flawed maintenance procedures three military specialist lost their lives while working atop the SL-1 reactor vessel.   

  Reactor operation has since become a precise science, suffice it to say a reactor designed for a 3MW output suddenly exceeded 20 GW (Yes, Giga watts) in a split second... the accident details and resulting deaths of the three service members is too complicated a discussion for this venue and not for the faint of heart.

 We spent an extremely warm afternoon visiting the local Idaho Falls Zoo known as Tautphaus Park Zoo, tucked away in a rather unusual otherwise urban area of the city. Due to the heat the animals on display were understandably very lethargic. None the less it was an unexpected find, oh a whim, at a reasonable cost.

  

 Our next destination was the quaint town of Dillon Montana and the really nice Southside RV Park the onsite owner/manager was a real character and very helpful with ideas for travel, food and sightseeing.

Abandoned Homestead by RV Park

  

 We spent four wonderful days in Dillon, enjoying fine dining at a local Steakhouse, some excellent handmade pizza in town and dinner at a quirky restaurant with a garage/gas station decor... most excellent quality and very enjoyable.

  One of the tourist attractions suggested by our host was the Bannack State Park. Bannack was the first Territorial Capital of Montana founded in 1860. The area of Bannack became a destination for those seeking their fortunes after gold was discovered in Grasshopper Creek. When the gold ran out and other discoveries were made (think Comstock in California) Bannack quickly became a ghost town. Bannack State Park was designated a National Historic landmark in 1961 and over 60 structures have been preserved in original configuration.

  Although Bannack was not on our bucket-list it is, by far, the best ghost town anywhere. The preservation and history were enthralling... every building is open to walk through and take in the feel of the old west and what it took to live in this God forsaken environment. I don't think I would have had the fortitude to survive that life... Heck, we are Glampers... I require full hook-ups if we are to stay anywhere more than a single night.


  If you are looking for solid, unvarnished, frontier history Bannock State Park must make its way onto your destination list.