Lewis Ranch

Last year when we had our Lewis Family meeting at Zion National Park, we attempted to hike down into a canyon that is part of the park so that we could stay on park land and get a look at the ranch that George's Dad once owned. Because of changes to the landscape, that was not successful.  We later learned that even if we had made it down to the canyon floor, the path is overgrown with vegetation and home to many rattlesnakes.  This year we knew that we needed to find an alternative!

Tammy's husband Richard did extensive research and talked to locals in Springdale trying to come up with a way to get the 4 Lewis siblings one last visit to their beloved ranch. Just a few days before the scheduled trip, he was successful in getting permission  and we learned that we would be allowed to follow an employee into the ranch and explore one location - the pioneer house at the ghost town of Shunesberg. George and his siblings were so happy to be back on the ranch.  So many memories of their parents here!  There were even a few tears.

This photo was taken looking back towards the old ranch house.  Unfortunately, the house was recently torn down. 

And this shot is the view they saw everyday from the ranch house.  

This photo looks up both canyons - Shune's Canyon to the right and Parunuweap Canyon to the left. 

George asked me to marry him on a hike up Shune's Canyon. 

Our whole group - Matt, Scott, Me, George, Karen, Richard, Tammy Katherine, and John 

The pioneer settlement of Shunesburg started in the 1862 and prospered for more than 30 years, in spite of Indian attacks and frequent floods.  By 1897 most of the inhabitants had moved to nearby Rockville.  The house was built by Alma Millet and his father Artemus Millet.  Artemus had been a stone mason on the Kirtland Temple - the 1st temple built by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

So glad that we got to share this experience with our sons - Matt and Scott.  They were able to hear lots of stories about their Grandfather Walter Lewis and great uncle George K Lewis, who were both owners of the ranch.  The name that Uncle Georke (nickname for George K Lewis) gave to the ranch was, "Vivid Valley" and it is easy to see why.

We continued our theme of visiting old cemeteries with a visit to the Shunesburg or Shonesburg cemetery.