17 May 2023 Pipe Springs NM

 We needed to make a run into St. George and Pipe Springs NM was on the way. It is really a beautiful drive down from Jacobs lake into Fredonia with views of the mountains and canyons. Pipe Spring NM was created in 1923. It’s a very small NM. Pipe Spring is a natural spring coming out of the base of an escarpment that has used as a watering hole for centuries. In 1868, the Morman’s took possession of the lands around the spring from the native Paiute Indians and built a small fort around the spring to control the water. They started a large cattle herd in the area that was used to feed the workers building the Tabernacle in St. George. In the 1870s, the federal government came in and took control of the land and spring from the Morman’s and partitioned the water with 1/3 to the Paiute tribe in the area, 1/3 to the Morman cattle ranch and 1/3 to the Federal Government. The site became both a clashing of cultures and a mixing of cultures. The NM is now on the Paiute Indian Reservation. After our tour of the spring, we headed on to St. George. While Leslie was getting her hair done, David ran around to pick up supplies and information. David stopped at the Public Lands Office in town and talked with the rangers about the roads and places to see in Grand Canyon Parchment NM. Following his discussion with the ranger he decided that the roads were passible by the Behemoth and that there are three really nice lookout points into the Grand Canyon we could visit as a day trip from Kanab. On our trip back we decided to run up into Kanab to get dinner before climbing back up to Jacobs Lake. We dined at the Wild Thyme Café and it was very good. We will have to go back when we are staying there in town. We drove over and scoped out the RV Park in town we will be staying at next week and decided it will work fine for our needs for a few weeks. The trip back up to Jacobs Lake was wet off and on due to showers in the area and having to watch for wild life.

Entrance Sign

Mormon Fort

Inside the Mormon Fort

Kitchen

Dining Hall

Meeting Room

Bedroom

Bedroom

Telegraph Line

Pipe Spring exit from the basement of the fort

Wagon

Irrigation Pond