The Story of the Wild Rose (The Good, The Bad, The Ugly):  As a preface to this story, keep in mind that much of what you are about to read is hearsay.  When hearsay is injected, I will attempt to acknowledge it.  I will state what people actually remember and have told me, and maybe sum up an opinion of my own, however you may also make an opinion after hearing the different accounts.  Originally written in 1997.  From this story spawned many news articles.  I later found some of my facts to be flawed, and thus the different newspaper articles, that used this story, have propagated some false information originally written by me.  I will also try to make mention of these changes that were part of the original but I have found information to the contrary at a later time.  Many of the accounts were told to me firsthand, but when you are caught off guard with a visit, you sometimes don’t think to ask some of the most pertinent questions.  Other visits were not with me personally, but with the person behind the counter in the store.  In these instances, I would ask the employee questions, but they could only respond with the amount of information that the people visiting had given them.  Therefore, some of these accounts lack a good deal of information.  None of the visits were expected, so many questions arose after the visit was over.  Some information was gleaned by overhearing converstations, and seeing   Additional information has been added and inserted over the years and some as late as April of 2022  -Kevin Barney

 

The Wild Rose Ranch was founded in the mid 1800’s by a nature loving outdoorsman, William Bowers.  He originally named the property “Bower’s Ranch” and at the time it served as a horse, sheep and cattle ranch as well as public/private fishing resort.  The property back then included two other parcels on the North (mountain) side, North of Highway 87, that are no longer included in the property of the Wild Rose Ranch today.  The water rights that he obtained are still in the Wild Rose files, dated 1898.   The property was irrigated mainly via the presently known Wild Rose Creek that comes down off the Rocky Mountains (specifically down the ravine from Wild Rose Peak) and feeds into Henry’s Lake.  The Lake hadn’t been dammed at this point in time, but the fishing was spectacular.  The Henry’s Lake fishery was used to supply a great quantity of food to the gold miners of Montana (Virginia and Nevada cities).  This also gave way to the stage route (in the 50’s it was called the Redline Stage and went from Monida to West Yellowstone and stopped to change horses at the Wild Rose) that came directly through the Wild Rose Ranch.  Thus large barns were erected to hold the horses, stages, feed, and other supplies.  A blacksmith shop was also built into these large barns for stage repairs and shoeing.  Some of the shops’ remains are still held by the Wild Rose today.

 

Bowers farmed his land (some of the original equipment is still held by the Wild Rose), milked his cows, rode his horses, and fed his chickens, and enjoyed fishing Henry’s Lake which would ultimately be to his demise.  As many know, the conditions on Henry’s Lake get horrific, and these conditions arise without advance warning and many lives have been taken by Henry’s Lake. 

 

The Teton Peak Chronicle of St. Anthony, Fremont County, Idaho on August 15, 1929 Number 20 wrote:  Boat Capsized-Two Drowned William Bowers, pioneer Island Park resort owner, and W.T.Smoot, Salt Lake were drowned Monday afternoon when their boat capsized on Henry’s Lake.  A Dr. Pearson of Salt Lake, his son, and daughter-in-law, who were in the party, clung to the overturned boat until rescued a short time later by a youth who was tending sheep nearby.  The bodies of the two victims were recovered Tuesday after poesies had combed the lake since three o’clock Monday afternoon.  Bowers had taken Smoot and the Pearsons, all of whom were vacationing at the Pearson cabin at Big Springs, out into the lake in his motorboat.  A stiff wind was blowing, and the lake was exceptionally rough, but Bowers, who had been on it thousands of times, tried to weather the waves.  Finally when about a quarter of a mile from the shore the boat upset, pitching the five occupants into the water.  Bowers, who was a cripple and could not swim sank immediately.  Smoot, a good swimmer, started for the shore to get help while his three companions clung to the boat.  Last Time he was seen he was swimming on his back, and seemed, according to the story as related by Dr. Pearson, to be making headway against the rough waves.  It is believed he was seized with cramps.  Meantime a youth by the name of Laird who was tending a flock of sheep a mile away, noticed the three clinging to the boat.  He ran to the lake, got a rowboat and towed the trio to the bank.  Smoot is a cousin of the United States Senetor Reed Smoot of Utah, and was 44 years old.  He was married to a sister of Dr. Pearson.  Mrs. Smoot was at the Pearson Cabin at the time of the tragedy.  Bowers was 64 years old and had lived in the Island Park country for the last 40 years.  His resort, Bowers’ Ranch is well known in this section of the country.  He is survived by his widow and one daughter, Ruth who lives at home.-- Funeral services for Mr. Bowers will be held this Thursday afternoon from the family residence.  Definite plans for interment is not completed.  W.M.Hansen, coroner of Fremont County, was called to Lake, Tuesday morning to investigate the death of the two men and upon close investigation by Mr. Hansen said Sheriff James Fredrickson, with the information furnished by those who witnessed the scene and came to the rescue of the party, it was decided that an inquest was unnecessary: That Mr. Bower and Mr. Smoot met death by accidental drowning in Henry’s Lake while fishing, due to the capsizing of the boat in which they were rowing on account of wind and high waves.  Dr. I.G.Pearson with his son and daughter-in-law were also in the boat at the time it upset.  A gentleman watching his sheep on the hillside saw the boat upset and rushed to the lake side by means of horseback, jumping into a boat he set out for the spot of the accident and rescued Dr. Pearson and son and daughter.  Mr. Smoot’s body and that of Mr. Bower’s had already sank and was not recovered until Tuesday.  Mr. Hansen turned the body of Mr. Bower over to Undertaker Lewis Kiser of Ashton and at request of Mrs. Smoot and Dr. Pearson and family, Mr. Hansen brought the body of Mr. Smoot to St. Anthony and prepared same for shipment to Salt Lake City, which went out Wednesday evening on the Yellowstone Special.

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 The Clark Co. Enterprise Banner of Dubois, Idaho on Aug. 15, 1929 accounts the event as follows: William Bowers, pioneer Island Park resort owner, and W.T. Smoot, Salt Lake, were drowned Monday afternoon when their boat capsized on Henry’s Lake.  A Dr. Pearson of Salt Lake, his son, and daughter-in-law, who were in the party, clung to the overturned boat until rescued a short time later by a young man who was nearby when the accident occurred.  Bowers had taken Smoot and the Pearsons, all of whom were vacationing at the Pearson cabin at Big Springs, out onto the lake in his motor boat.  A stiff wind was blowing, and the lake was exceptionally rough, but Bowers, who had been on it thousands of times tried to weather the waves.  Finally when about a quarter of a mile from the shore the boat upset, pitching the five occupants into the water.  Bowers, who was a cripple and could not swim, sank immediately.  Smoot, a good swimmer, started for the shore to get help while his three companions clung to the boat.  The last time he was seen he was swimming on his back, and seemed, according to the story told by Pearson, to be making headway against the rough waves.  It is believed he was seized with cramps.  Meantime a young man, Slim Laird, who was nearby when the boat upset immediately put out in a row boat to the party clinging to the overturned boat while a younger brother ran for help.  With the aid of two boats and several men the trio were taken safely to shore.  The bodies of the two victims were recovered Tuesday morning.  Bowers’ body was located at approximately the place where he was seen to go down.  Smoot had started for some willows near shore and when his body was recovered a short distance from the willows, a willow was still gripped by one hand.  Smoot is a cousin of United States Senator, Reed Smoot of Utah, and was 44 years old.  Mrs. Smoot was at the Pearson cabin when the tragedy occurred.  Bowers was 64 years old and had lived in the Island Park country for the last forty years.  His resort, Bowers’ Ranch, is well known in this section of the country.

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William Bowers is buried in the cemetery just 3 miles up the road on what is now Highway 87.

 

In 1998, Ruth Oswald (currently Ruth Jones), 100 years of age, stopped by the Wild Rose for a visit.  She had worked for Mr. Bowers when she was 18 years old.  She remembers waiting tables.  At the time there was only 4 tables.  She verified some of the events above (remembering Williams, going out and milking the cows).  Having obtained pictures of William Bowers in 2019 and 2020, we found him out feeding chickens and mounting his horse with his wife standing beside him.  These pictures came when great, great grandson of Bowers, Howard Scott, came to the Wild Rose in June 26, of 2019.  He came in and ate in the restaurant, and I personally cooked him up a breakfast that Wednesday morning.  We spoke for an hour or two of the history, and he thought he knew of existing photos of Bowers, who I had none up until this chance meeting.  By August of 2019 came the first couple of photos with Bowers feeding his chickens, and then in December 2020, the picture of Bowers on his horse arrived.  What was also interesting is that just one year prior, in August of 2018, Annie Bernstein showed up to meet with me to speak about the history of her great, great, great grandfather, William Bowers.

 

Within that visit, she explained details that I hadn’t before come across.  She informed me that on May 20, 1862, William Bowers homesteaded the property then known as the Bowers Ranch (property that was later separated into three pieces-the lake front or entire South portion, and the North mountainside portion being separated into two pieces-one on the West, and one on the East).  Bowers would have only been 17 years old at that time.  She found and forwarded this official document to me.  She remembers a story passed down within her family, that at some point in time, after the death of W. Bowers, his Wife and child were leaving the property on a cold windy day with everything that they owned in several suitcases, their personal items being blown around in the wind as they waited on the coach to take them away from the Bowers Ranch to their new destination (or home).  It was at her visit and conversation that I also learned about a key detail of the Bowers story that reads like that of an old western tale.  In the newspaper obituaries, it mentions Bowers being a cripple and that he sank immediately being unable to swim.  That part had brought big questions to my mind.  Why or how would a cripple find his way to a property this far from civilization, where the harsh elements can challenge even the most hearty individual.  I didn’t have an answer, or know how this unfolding of events could occur.  Bernstein shared a tale that included the name, Gil Telford, a rough and tough individual, that had been attempting to obtain the property from Bowers.  In this particular recitation of history, many of Telford’s actions were considered encroachment upon the Bowers property.  Arguments, fighting, and heated entanglements ensued.  In one of these heated encounters, a standoff or showdown commenced (or simply a gun was pulled on Bowers) and he was shot by Mr. Telford (like a bar fight or perhaps a simple argument in the field where it became heated enough for a gun to be drawn).  This is the event had caused Bowers to become disabled or deemed a “cripple”, but this shooting didn’t, at that point, take his life.    

 

 In the early years, there were but few tourists, but tourists nonetheless.  Usually, those that could afford such vacations were popular movie stars of the time or other people of high society.  It is unsure when all the small cabins were erected, but they were all in place by 1915 as Ruth sometimes cleaned them.  It would seem that Bowers probably began the lodge in the mid to late 1800’s, and shortly thereafter erected the small cabins for the ranch hands, other help, and tourists to raise revenue for the ranch.  Ruth said the large barns (no longer standing-only pictures remain) were erected shortly after the lodge (most definitely in use throughout the entire 20’s and probably a bit earlier), and thus the small cabins must have been built immediately after or along with the lodge, to house the hands that came along with the barn and livestock.   They were constructed without plumbing and two outhouses were used nearby and currently stand at Wild Rose behind the old cabins and are in fairly good shape-plumbing was later added to the old cabins). Once visitors began renting the small cabins, kitchen or restaurant facilities quickly came into the picture (which may have been the original plan.) 

 

It is not difficult to see how the Wild Rose became a little community of its own.  There was a place for the stage to stop, a blacksmith shop, a fueling station, a place to dine, fish, relax, spend the night, hunt, and enjoy the area.  A small post office was erected (this is where many of the Wild Rose cooks of the 80’s stayed-and is now rented to the public as the Mail Cabin).  The holes in the wall that held the letter bins are still intact.  The Postman of the 30’s name was “Link”, who later went on to “fame” as he was a mystery guest on the popular show at the time “What’s My Line.”  Pictures show the winter delivery of mail was in a rear prop sleigh machine.   I guess the people around the Wild Rose were well aware of this fact as he didn’t hesitate to speak of his 15 minutes of fame.  There was also a small icehouse built to keep the restaurant meats fresh.  It is said that the present pump house or well house was that icehouse (in 1996, this was rebuilt into a large two story building in 2015, wood from it recycled/reused to trim windows and doors of the new bld. 4), but this is not possible as it has a cinderblock interior, unlike the other structures.  The wood from the icehouse may have been the wood that was used to side the present pump house.  Others have also said that the icehouse was on the same side of the creek as the post office (which pictures confirm-unknown structures on that side-the present pump house is on the opposite side of the creek).  There was also a fairly good size building that straddled the Wild Rose Creek, seen in a postcard from the 1950’s wherein its purpose was unknown.  Sometimes for convenience, we’ll say that the pump house of 1950-2010 was the old ice house (to give the public a feel for the size and nature of the old icehouse). 

 

When the lake freezes solid in the wintertime, thick sheets of ice become available.  The ranch hands would cut ice bricks off of the lake and stock them in the icehouse.  The icehouse consisted of thick walls and the ice was also covered in sawdust or packed with straw and this kept all summer long.  Thus, refrigeration for the restaurant product was available all summer for the tourist season.

 

In the Main Old Lodge there were many sections built at different times and by different owners.  Bowers constructed the first portion of the lodge, which is the Northeast end with the brick fireplace.  The second portion built was the arcade area of the 80’s, and bar area of the 90’s as well as the kitchen.  It was probably used as the restaurant section back then (the northern portion was at some periods, the lounge or bar and may have been used for that purpose originally, as well as a food serving area (where Ruth had waited tables-but she was a little sketchy on where it had been).  The next or southern portion was the restaurant seating area of ‘80-’96 built sometime later-late 30’s or 40’s.  The northern potion was again used as the Bar from the 50’s to the 70’s and the tackle shop was in the southern (lakeside) portion.  The bathrooms were added in the 60’s (between the kitchen and arcade of the 80’s).  Of course, by the mid 70’s, the northern portion (bar) became the store until 1997, and the southern end became the restaurant seating.

 

Gilbert H. Telford was the next man to obtain the property (possibly 1929), it may have been he that erected portions of the lodge but this is uncertain.  Photo’s with Gil were mainly outside in hunting groups (which were perhaps his hunting friends).  It is certain of his great love and found memories of the property.  Terri L. Anderson stopped by in July of 2000, to see the place she knew as “Gil’s Wild Rose”.  He must have given it the name upon his procuring or purchase or the property due to the many wild rose’s that grew on the property.  Although beautiful, many of these roses have been eliminated due to their thorny and prickly nature.  Nevertheless, the Wild Rose name has stuck to this day, April 18, 2022.  Terri was Gil and Dorothy Telford’s daughter, and she remembers him speaking very fondly of the Wild Rose -and although he moved to a warmer climate (There he worked on several golf courses in Nevada, one which bears his name in memory), he loved his association with his earlier residence of the colder climate (claimed Dorothy).  It is possible that World War II played a part in his passing the property to yet another.   It is unverified how Telford came into owning the Wild Rose, perhaps after the death of Bowers, Bowers wife sold it to Telford or used the property to obtain a loan wherein a bank sold it to him. 

 

Vic Moore and Anna Moore with partners Earl and Juanita Hathaway, obtained property adjacent to Wild Rose in the WWII era.  (Originally, they were thought to be Wild Rose Owners, however this may have been some of the falsely propagated information.  Other sources from the Sherwood family, who owned a large portion of property on the North Shore of Henry’s Lake, knew of the land owned by the Moore’s and it is unlikely of any ownership association with the actual Wild Rose.)  They may have just ran the place for a while as managers or possibly simply worked there since they lived “next door”.   

 

One source remembered the Wild Rose as being called the Elliott’s Wild Rose Ranch back in the mid 40’s.  The Elliott’s (perhaps) were running the place, but doubtfully they were owners.  It is however possible, they could have been managers for one of the owners, perhaps Punky.  It isn’t too difficult to see how these types of errors occurred, as during the 80’s, the manager Bill Schiess led many to believe that he owned the Wild Rose.  Many today still believe that he owned it for a few years, when in fact he was simply hired to manage it for the owner at the time.

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Edith Felton “Punky” Boger (possibly in the 40’s) was the next purchaser (and may have come in from the Montana mining area).  She was quite an ambitious woman, and had a cabin erected for herself and husband overlooking the property.  Not much is known of her husband or where her fortune originated.  A stable was also erected near her cabin to give her the same amenities of the Wild Rose in her backyard as her own exclusive areas, complete with a fishing pond.  (A good guess might be that the field just south of the stable could have been where the man was tending sheep when he saw Bower’s boat overturn.)

 

  She was a small woman as can be attested to by the small bathtub that can be seen in her home (owned and used as a summer home by Val Deitrich - who added onto the house and then in 200_  sold it to ____& _____Kane), as well as photos of her.  Her original home had a very small bed, low roofs, etc.  Everything looked miniature, much like the houses of ill-repute in Virginia City which may or may not have had some connection to her or where she gained her fortune (or a husband with fortune). 

 

An elaborate fireplace was built with vents to warm the house on all sides, which also borders the kitchen for cooking uses.  She was considered a bohemian, at least in her unconventional gypsy-like lifestyle yet she had refinement for the day (she had a husband {at least did in a period}, but also “friends” who were men).  This used to say “lovers”, but Paul Walker, a more recent source visited the Wild Rose in 2003.  He was around in the later 80’s and spoke fondly of Punky.  He explained that she was very sophisticated and nice.  He was good friends of Punky and would stay with her on his visits on many occasions (although the husband never came up in conversation-and is still a mystery figure). 

 

It was rumored that she would do gardening, sunbathing, etc. topless, and gained quite a following (of men).   This statement seems unlikely to be true, however there is one statement that may have spawned that thought (mentioned below).  It was a statement by Patty, the daughter of the next owner, Gil Day.  It is in this statement that led to the belief that there may have been some promiscuity involved (between Punky and her patrons).  

 

Maybe it was in her nature to use her womanly appeal to lure in customers (largely men-fishermen-) to increase business and revenues, or simply a woman carrying out her personal ambitions (Paul Walker would dispute this vehemently).  Or quite possibly, it was as simple as a person being nice and doing what any good business owner does to gain customers and a following.  Although there isn’t a good source to confirm or deny any of these possibilities, perhaps the mere plausibility of these actions is what everyone look for in a story, to spice it up.  The mere mention of the possibility of indiscretion creates the intrigue.  However, it is this sort of subject matter (sleaze) that does tend to be blown out of proportion (if any truly exists).

 

One of the rumors contributing to the propagation of the theory that there was “funny business” going on at the Wild Rose was a statement of opinion written originally by me and printed in a newspaper.  It was… “The Wild Rose may have served a dual purpose for men during this period.  Not only could they get away and fish, but they could enjoy a little night-life.  Perhaps the name Wild Rose was misinterpreted during this period as well.”  This statement was made before meeting with Paul Walker and had more opinion and guessing in it than fact.  However, once it meets the printing press, it sort of becomes a fact within itself.  Boger was involved with many improvement projects and can be seen with friends or employees with a large sawmill run by a belt connected to a running vehicle wheel. 

 

In 1952, the aging third owner of the Wild Rose, Mrs. Boger, decided that it was time to sell.  She is the one who had separated the property into three sections.  She sold the south lakeside portion to Gil Day, an area regular who loved his Wild Rose visits, which portion kept the name Wild Rose.  Boger kept the North West Portion with her cabin and stable for herself to enjoy; and gifted the North East portion (Valhalla) to her good friend Paul Walker.  Upon her death, her property and house (Boger portion) was sold to Val Deitrich’s Father.  He also purchased (Valhalla) Paul Walker’s portion (who didn’t have as much reason to visit the area with his good friend Punky no longer around.  He basically sold it as soon as it was gifted to him-so her gifting to him could have happened at her death)  Both portions were later inherited by ____’s son Val Deitrich who sold the Valhalla portion of the property to Johnny and Shirley Johnson, who named it Valhalla.  There was a lower section that Johnny wanted to purchase, but Val refused to sell it to him until after he had fenced in his section, then sold him this lower portion that has extra fencing around it due to Val’s resistance to sell.  Val became angered when the Wild Rose Built some A-frames cabins which weren’t up to his standards and perhaps limited his views of the lake below.  He only became more uneasy as the Wild Rose built 4 large buildings in 1996 eliminating more of his view.  Val, a few years later, sold his remaining portion to the Kane’s (Boger portion).  He said he didn’t want his sons or children to inherit the property if he could get the money out of it himself. 

 

Charles “Gil” and Mae Day purchased the Wild Rose Portion and continued the Resort operation.  They vacationed and stayed at the Wild Rose prior to this purchase.  On one of these occasions Patty Day (now Patty Carkeek), Gil and Mae’s young daughter, remembers skipping round the ranch and accidently running across Mrs. Boger, who was lounging around on the grass with a few men.  She remembers ‘Punky scavenging for her clothes and throwing them over her breast area as she (Patty) came into view’.   This is indeed the infamous memory that causes much of the speculation above.  Another source remembers Punky having lots of men (whether they were lovers, friends, or the guys just liked to hang out with her is also unclear). 

 

It is possible that Punky was scantily clad, maybe in a bikini, or bra and simply didn’t want this young girl to see here “like that”.  It is hard to know how a young girl would interpret this action taking place.  And it is also possible that Patty did indeed see a topless Punky scrambling for clothes.  Maybe she was doing mischief with the men who were sitting around with her, maybe she wasn’t.  But Patty did have a memory and used the word “bohemian” in her description.  Whether there were other events, or this description was based on this one singular event is unclear, but this was a published statement made (that I must include) and a vivid memory from the owners daughter of that day.  Punky probably still visited the southern lakeside portion of the property now owned by Patty’s dad, or maybe the incident happened while purchase negotiations were occurring between Gil and Punky. 

 

I, however would find it very plausible, that she was dressed decently enough for her company, but having a young girl come up on her unexpectedly may have had her scrambling for more clothes (if by chance she was in a swimming suit or something revealing).  Perhaps Punky was actually performing a very decent act of maturity.  Maybe she did not want an innocent child to get the wrong impression of her (immodestly dressed), or simply protecting the child’s innocence (not to see an adult dressed immodestly).  I have seen a picture of Punky dressed in a shirt that revealed her mid-section.  Patty interpreted the incident as follows: ‘Mrs. Boger was topless and went scrambling for clothes.’  Did Patty actually see her topless?  Or just assume she was topless when she was scrambling for clothes to cover her front (to possibly cover a bikini or revealing shirt?)  So I make this point entirely for Paul Walker, who couldn’t believe that the word “bohemian” was used in a description of Punky Boger.  But I also know that an incident such as this can leave a deep impression in a young mind, as Patty was recalling this incident (now a woman in her 50’s) as if it had happened the week before.  So the truth may never be known.  Since Walker was her dear friend, perhaps he didn’t know Punky’s other relationships with other men as she may have kept just that kind of detail from him.  Those are the stories, now the reader can make the call for themselves.

 

Ok, back to the story of history and main topic.

 

Gil seemed to fall more in love with place.  He erected more quarters for guests, which is now the present day workers quarters, tool room and laundry area.  He also built a few add-ons to the restaurant, one being the entryway for firewood.  He became well known and liked.  During his ownership, many famous people continued to patronize the Wild Rose.  Janet Gaynor was one of the famous actresses of the 50’s would visit.  Other famous names included Gilber Adrian  and Zane Grey, famous western novelist, who wrote many segments of his novels in Cabins 1 and 2.  Grey autographed a set of his books and gave them to the Wild Rose but they have since disappeared.  Works like, “Light of the Western Stars” and “Writers of the Purple Sage” are said to have been deeply rooted in and around the Wild Rose Henry’s Lake area.

 

During Gils ownership came the earthquake of ’59 which created Earthquake Lake and claimed many lives.  Of this event, Patty recalls rocks falling to the ground and during that night thinking that the cliffs way up above on the Rocky Mountain range were falling down which turned out to be rocks falling off the lodge chimney.  The Chimney later had to be repaired.  She also remembers, thinking that the male workers were playing tricks on her by shaking her cabin.  The most vivid part of the whole event was the next day, finding her mother crying in the kitchen over mounds of broken glass and flour (as most containers of the day were glass).  The mess had to be cleaned by shoveling the broken fragments into wheelbarrows as the Wild Rose had to be ready to feed customers that very day.  Locals also came to be fed.  Daily, the Wild Rose fed the hungry and customers enjoyed listening to each other’s stories. 

 

Pits with these broken shards of glass caused by the earthquake have been found in the process of re-piping underground lines at the Wild Rose (1999-2005).  Also, the underground gas tank that fed the old Chevron gas pump from the 1920’s was found under the RV park and is still there.  The original chevron gas pump was moved close to the boathouse and used until 1995 when it was ruled it needed to be moved at least 50 feet from the waters’ edge.  Instead of moving the pump yet again, it was replaced with a newer one, and the old pump was thrown out into the trees for over a decade.  The pump was pulled out of the trees and mud in 2011 and a restoration of it began (the mechanisms inside still functioned).  The refurbished, and newly painted gas pump was placed as a decoration in 2012 outside of the Building 1 store, where it stands today (2022).  An old chevron sign was recovered in 2025 in the neighboring property, as they prepared for a house site.  Having informed the neighbor that it was a sign ditched in the forest by the Wild Rose many years earlier (not knowing where the property lines were in the dense forested area) and when the Wild Rose ceased from being an official chevron gas location, the new owner simply stated that he had dug it out and took it as his own (as it was sitting on his side of the property line).

 

Upon Gil’s passing, Mae Sold the Wild Rose to Kent and Jill Jolley in _____.  Kent was called to serve in a high position in his Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The position was to be a member of the quorum of the 70, which inevitably contributed to his need to sell the property.

 

In 1982, a business partnership from Las Vegas, Nevada consisting of Scott Goldsmith, _____, and McLloyd Barney, purchased the Wild Rose from Jolley as a business venture.  Manager and partner at this time was Roy Coulson.  Some also remember Orvil who lived in the trailer house or Roy’s nephew who worked back in the 80’s.

 

Within one year, difficulties had arisen within this partnership.  One of the head partners, wanted Barney to make the majority payment.  Barney was ok with this proposition as long as he was also granted majority ownership.  Because of this, Goldsmith was angered, and Barney was kicked out of this partnership, which included a couple of other business’s that he had been in with the same partner in a few Las Vegas ventures (Vita-plus being one of these ventures).  These remaining partners quickly lost the land which then returned back to Kent Jolley in 1983, who had been personally financing the partnership.

 

Saddened by the loss of a place that Mac had quickly grown to love, it wasn’t long before he was contacted by Jolley personally to see if an agreement could be made.  Jolley didn’t want to take the land back, as he tried to run it for one summer season during the repossession (a tall man who visited the Wild Rose in 1997 to reminisce about his management year).  Mac quickly let Kent know of his interest in the Wild Rose and was all in to striking a deal. 

 

In 1984, an agreement was struck, and  McLloyd “Mac” and Marianne “Olivia” Barney became the sole owner of the Wild Rose and Mac hired Bill Schiess to manage it for him.  Schiess, who had worked at the Wild Rose for the prior owner as a boat boy,  was hired to manage the Rose upon Mac’s purchase.  Scheiss ran the Rose for  approximately 4 years.   In 1987, Schiess  left the Wild Rose stating that it wasn’t possible for the place to make any money.  He went on to operate BS Flies and has since sold this operation. The Wild Rose no longer had the outfitters license after this management change.  

 

Dean McNee and Yvonne Grende McNee (Dean’s Ex-wife) then became joint managers of the Wild Rose.   Dean had been Schiess’s boat boy, and Yvonne was an office worker for Schiess.  In approximately 1990, Dean was let go, and Yvonne ran it for another 4 ½ yrs. using mostly family, relatives, and friends.  In 1992, difficulties became great for Barney.  His son, Jared died of cancer at the age of 9 years old and his debt (from many brain tumor operations) soared due to an insurance company dropping service that had been in place to pay for such emergencies.  Yvonne had surprised Mac and Jared in 1991 by renaming the Wild Rose, Jared’s Wild Rose Ranch.  They discovered this on a fishing trip that they regularly took while Jared was in remission from the cancer.  Jared had told his dad, not to ever sell this land (referring to the Rose).  Mac, working his way out of these debts, was able to keep his son’s wishes, though many of Mac’s other assets were sold during that period.

 

Managerial difficulties continued to rise, as Yvonne managed the Wild Rose.  Although she made one or two of the properties three yearly payments (Schiess had never made a single property payment), Mac was learning how much money should have been coming in. 

 

In 1996, Mac hired Brian Wach, with a business degree, from Provo, UT as a co-manager.  Wach was a college roommate of Macs two oldest sons, Anthony and Kevin.  Newly married Wach, of California, was brought in to help with the dishonesty issues within the company.  He didn’t last long as his wife did not enjoy the area, nor did he like the way Yvonne’s Crew treated him.  Yvonne wasn’t the same after this occurrence (the possibility of having a co-manager that wasn’t hired by her).  She gave her two week notice in July of 1996.  Mac immediately sent his Las Vegas, NV dental office employees and oldest son Tony to oversee the affairs of these two weeks to make sure things didn’t go amiss. Ed Hall, Conya Poulson, Daniel Pacheco, and Tony, came up to oversee the affairs of the Wild Rose during this tumultuous period, until Mac’s newly married second oldest son, Kevin, was able to arrive in Island Park.  Kevin and Jennifer had to make the 20 hour Las Vegas journey, pit stopping in Logan, UT where Jennifer’s sister’s family resided.  This distance is regularly traveled in 11 hours, but the oversized load made it a slow driving process.  A near accident almost eliminated this management change in the first 10 minutes on the Las Vegas freeway.  An overloaded trailer that was rear heavy caused the truck to jackknife back and forth for almost 10 seconds--jerking the truck sideways 8-10 times before Kevin could gain control over the truck.  Jennifer was following Kevin’s load with a loaded Prelude watching as she thought she was witnessing the loss of her new husband as the tires smoked, and vehicles dodged in all directions.  Kevin and Jennifer arrived to take over management of the Wild Rose in August of 1996.

 

The local police officers informed Kevin and Jennifer shortly after their arrival that the Rose was on the verge of being shut down, due to a drug ring that had formed within the Wild Rose employees and Yvonne’s family members.  Yvonne’s son Shane Grende, was a ringleader in this illegal activity, who stole the identity of Kevin.  He obtained Kevin’s Social Security Number from a Fishing License purchased in July, just over a month earlier. He used his credit to purchase a Monte Carlo vehicle, a snowmobile from the Local Sawtell Arctic Cat dealer, and a motorcycle.  Several employees were held over from Yvonne’s management, including Troy Bryant, Margaret Cutler, Kevin Jones, and several others.  Although tensions were high during the first month or so of Kevin’s management, things began to smooth out as employees of the old management became acquainted with the new management.

 

Shortly after Kevin took over management, Mac could finally see the true profitability of the Wild Rose venture.  It was at that point that expansion began with the new lodges, and in the coming years, marina expansion, shoreline rip rap, and remodels that extended to the old cabins (over 100 years old), and much more.

 

In Kevin’s first month of management, a couple young guys came through the store to rent a boat and buy beer.  They were the first to capsize under Kevin’s watch (and a reminiscent event to the first owner).  This event led to the rental waiver that now has to be signed.  The next capsized boat occurred on the 4th of July around 2002, it was 2 drunk women who Kevin had to personally rescue, and take to court after they refused to pay for damages.  The rental waiver had to be altered.  The next capsized boat wasn’t until 2022, and Kevin personally rescued this boat.  Since Kevin’s management, there was one death in the first year or two after he arrived at the Rose, three guys; grandfather, father, and son, late in the season, October.  The father had to save his son, thus the grandfather was lost.  The body was found a week or so later, just before the lake iced over for the season (an answer to many prayers).  There may have one other death that occurred a decade or so later, also October.  Then on October 21, 2020; from a regular fishing group that fished Henry’s Lake late in the season and who were also regulars at the Wild Rose, had their swamped boat overturn and of the two thrown overboard, Joe lost his life.  The first and only casualty of the Wild Rose during Kevin’s management.  Kevin himself did CPR, but to no avail.  The silver lining was Joe’s body wasn’t lost in the waves, but the unthinkable had occurred after 25 years of never seeing death at the Wild Rose, and just 9 years short of a century since the original owner of the land William Bowers had died in a like manner.

 

Kevin and Jennifer Barney began the purchase of Jared’s Wild Rose Ranch Resort in 2015, Financed through Mac and Olivia.  Mac Passed away July 2, 2018 suddenly and unexpectedly, just 10 days after he initiated the purchase of the Sherwood Museum Store and Post office and property just up the road from the Wild Rose (which property had been frequented by Gil Day when it had been in operation).  Mac was a good and spiritual man, a true patriot of the country and found heaven on earth at the Wild Rose.  It is fitting that he passed on July 2, the anniversary of the July 2, 1776, when the U.S. congress declared its freedom from Great Britain, and then Ratified the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 in congress.  Had his passing occurred on July 4, the 4th of July celebration at the Wild Rose would have likely been cancelled.  The 2018 celebration that year was dedicated to him.  Although he regularly was at the Wild Rose for that yearly July 4 celebration (95% of the time), that year he attended in spirit.

Kevin finished bld. 1 and 2 and later added the bld. 3 and 4 (his new home).  He remodeled all the Condos, A-frames, and Big Cabin, added two creek side cabins, added a shed and mini-units, added a new boathouse, added onto the workers quarters, added the skyscraper and poles barn, remodeled the mail cabin and moved all the old cabins to new foundations, still under renovation, added a new marina enclosure and boat launch ramp, added a fish cleaning station, and remodeled the RV parks, replumbed all the underground water, gas, and electric, added a water right valve, and added onto other buildings for storage and other needs.  There is still lots to be done, and repairs are constant, but the light at the end of the 30 year tunnel is finally coming into view.   Hope you enjoyed this little history, flawed as it is, it was a hope to get it written before it was lost.   We will try to add whatever info has been unintentionally omitted either by time constraints (still need to find photos with names on them) and added details obtained by even later visitors.   Until these details find their way into the story, God Bless.

 

 

 

More About Us

Nestled between the Rockies and beautiful Henry’s Lake, Jared's Wild Rose Ranch Resort is a small fishing resort near Yellowstone National Park on 36 acres of land.  Founded and homesteaded in the 1860's by William Bowers, it was originally called Bowers Ranch. The second owner, Gil Telford, renamed the ranch Gil’s Wild Rose Ranch.  The name Wild Rose Ranch has stuck for over 100 years, and was changed in 1993 to Jared’s Wild Rose Ranch Resort, after then owners, McLloyd and Olivia Barney's son Jared.  Some of the original cabins dating back to the 1800’s have been remodeled and renewed, and can be rented today. 

 

Cabins, A-frames, Duplex Condo’s, hotel style rooms, and other suites with kitchens and jetted tubs are some of the units we have to offer on this beautiful property. Our location is perfect for just about everyone: Yellowstone National Park tourists, outdoorsman, fishermen, families, groups, reunions, and other vacationers to the Island Park and West Yellowstone area. Our resort has a variety of large to small unit sizes from one bed to ten beds.

 

The Wild Rose Marina has boat rentals, perfect for all sorts of exploring on Henry’s Lake. From motor boats, paddle boats, canoes, paddle boards, and kayaks, we have a little bit of everything! The Marina also offers boat launching and parking, along with shore fishing (excluding the marina boat parking area).  

 

RV and trailer parking with full hookups are also on the property, along with tent camping.  Public laundry areas and coin-op showers and restrooms are available for campers.  

 

The check-in /office / reception desk also has a mini store, an arcade, an on-site restaurant, banquet room, and other facilities.

 

An outdoor hot tub, fire rings, park grills, and picnic gazebos are also available on site for guest use.  Have little ones? We have swings and a small playground for kids of all ages!  Forested areas and rock jetties are abundant for viewing the sunsets, wildlife, and nature.  

 

Our Henry’s Lake property is the closest Island Park location to both Idaho and Montana outdoor attractions including Yellowstone National Park (20 min), West Yellowstone shops and Playmill (15 min), Madison River (10 min), Gallatin River (20 min), Virginia and Nevada City Ghost Towns (60 min), Ennis (45 min), Hidden Lakes and 3 dollar Bridge (20 min), Big Springs (15 min), Mesa Falls (40 min), Lewis and Clark caverns (1.5 hrs), Grand Teton National Park (2.5 hrs), Quake Lake visitor center (12 min), Hebgen Lake Sunken resort (18 min), Yellowstone Playhouse (5 min), Sherwood Museum and Henry’s Lake Fish trap (1 min), Ashton (40 min), Box Canyon (25 min), Macks Inn (15 min), Island Park Reservoir (20 min), Henry's Lake outlet (15 min), Bird Refuge (35 min), Rodeo grounds (10 min), horseback rides (10-40 min), zip line courses (15 min), Sawtell Peak (20 min), Targhee hiking trail (10 min), continental divide for atv and off road fun (5 min), Big Sky (downhill skiing) (70 min), and much more.

 

Jared’s Wild Rose Ranch Resort is so much more than just a resort—it’s an experience. We hope you come and enjoy all we have to offer!