Cedar Breaks celebrates 75 years
By Mike Henle - For Cedar City Neighborhoods • Aug 13, 2008
CEDAR CITY — A long list of activities for park visitors and area residents is scheduled during the 75th anniversary of Cedar Breaks National Monument. A reunion of past employees might prove the most popular of the events, which are scheduled for Aug. 22-24.
Former employees will gather to enjoy a “famous chicken dinner” made as close to the original recipe as possible as that served years ago at the former Cedar Breaks Lodge. The gathering of past park employees will take place on Aug. 22 from 6-9 p.m. at the Iron Mission Museum in Cedar City.
According to Paul Roelandt, the superintendent for Cedar Breaks National Monument, former employees are expected to travel from across the country to attend the reunion and participate in the weekend’s activities.
“We want to gather former employees from the National Park Service along with the Utah Parks Company,” said Roelandt, who has been with the park for five years. “As far as we know, this is the first
opportunity to gather employees and their families who have worked at Cedar Breaks over the past 75 years. It seemed like a great way to kick off the celebration”
Roelandt said Cedar Breaks National Monument is looking for photographs along with other memorabilia and stories of experiences while working at the park. He added that stories from visitors experiencing the park are also welcome.
“Most people tend to remember the amazing views across the amphitheater,” he said. “On a clear day, you can see well into Nevada and the Great Basin area. It’s an unbelievable view. And because we
are at 10,000 feet, it’s much cooler in the summertime so people are escaping the heat from other areas since it’s a 10- to 20-degree difference.”
Roelandt said many reservations have been received. He said invitations have been sent to more than 400 people.
“In addition to visitors and local residents, we are inviting local, state and national government officials,” he said. “We think we’re going to have great response. On Saturday, we’re going to be unveiling the park’s
first wayside exhibit that will focus on Cedar Breaks Lodge.”
Roelandt lauded Bonnie Oldroyd, who was hired as a planner for the event.
“Bonnie is a part-time employee for Iron County Tourism Convention Bureau,” he said. “She has done an excellent job coordinating this effort.”
In addition, Roelandt said Maria Twitchell, the director of Iron County Tourism, has been very helpful, along with Janet Seegmiller, the special collections librarian at Southern Utah University.
“She has been the driving force contacting former lodge employees,” Roelandt said of Seegmiller. “We have also received great support from Iron Mission State Park and in particular, Ryan Paul, who is their curator. Ryan has supplied memorabilia from the lodge including photos, old employee uniforms and lodge
menus.”
On Saturday, Aug. 23, in addition to the wayside exhibit, there will be a rehabilitated raptor release at noon at Point Supreme at the park. “To release an injured eagle, hawk or other rehabilitated bird back into the wild is a very emotional experience” said Roelandt “and people want to be a part of it.”
Roelandt said there will be history walks and tours, which will highlight some of the previous characters and facilities of the past that make up some of the history of Cedar Mountain, such as Minnie’s Mansion, which was a place on the north end of the park that was frequented by sheep herders and people who worked on the mountain.
For more information call Oldroyd at 586-5124. Reservations are required for dinner. The cost is $12 per person. Everyone is invited.
The park is located 23 miles east of Cedar City, along Highway 148 between Highway 143 and Brian Head. The park is waiving the entrance fee for the main events, which will take place on Aug. 23.
For more information, visit www.nps.gov/cebr.
Mike Henle is a LasVegas-based freelance writer and the author of” Through the Darkness: One Man’s Fight to Overcome Epilepsy.” He can be contacted via e-mail at mhenle@aol.com, or through his Web site www.mikehenle.com.
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