History of Island Park and Ponds Lodge

 

For a time, Dorothy South lived in Island Park with her parents prior to her marriage with Hubert Hackworth.  Sam South and two of his boys, Charlie and Barney, operated a saw mill in Island Park for many years.  In fact, Shirlene and Allen also lived in the forest at the South Siding for a time.  Perhaps this experience is one reason Allen learned to love the mountains and forests so.

 

Dorothy writes: Material which I feel is of great interest to me has been taken from the History of Island Park, published by Dean H. Green of Ashton, Idaho in 1990.

 

How Island Park Got its Name

 

Mr. Green writes:  There are some who believe Island Park got its name from the early recorded phenomena of floating islands on Henry's Lake.  Others believe it was derived from the condition of the countless islands encountered in the course of the winding Snake River. The answer is NO to both theories. According to testimony given by early timers, the true derivation of the name "Island Park" is as follows:

 

Throughout the early days, the stagecoaches and travelers going through this country used the frequent large clearings or openings in the heavy stands of timber as rest stops or as places to stop and park for different purposes.  These clearings became known as parks and each had its own name or distinction. Near the present site of the Island Park Boy Scout Camp (on what was recently called the Railroad Island Park Siding) is the clearing early known as Island Park, derived from the condition that it was almost completely an island bordered by the Buffalo River, Split Creek, Little Warm River, Tom Creek, and Chick Creek.

 

Dorothy writes: “These names are all familiar to me.”

 

Mr. Green continues: The name "Island Park" was retained by the railroad when that immediate area was used as a siding for railroad ties and cattle. The Tie Company, which was headquartered at the Island Park siding, was designated to operate a US Post Office with the title of "Island Park."

 

Later on the Tie Company moved its operation to the Trude Siding and the post office moved with them still carrying "Island Park" title.  When the Tie Company proceeded to leave the general area of Island Park, the postal authorities put the "Island Park Post Office" under the supervision of Charles and Mina Pond at Pond's Lodge.

 

As time passed, the increased correspondence from the post office, and due to the lack of many other accepted means of identification, the name became more and more popular and accepted as a name for the whole general area. Others caught on to the romance of the title and used it to identify sportsman clubs, a lodge, etc. Thus at the present it is used almost unanimously to define an area which includes the country from pine Haven north to the Montana border, embracing areas to the east and west along the valley which harbors the beautiful winding North Fork of the Snake River and its many tributaries, lakes, and valleys.

 

There are some people who reject the idea of having Henry's Lake and Pine Haven as part of "Island Park.”  Nevertheless, the tide of generations of people and governmental agencies respond to the title of Island Park.  Consequently, Shotgun Valley, Pine Haven, Harriman State Park (Railroad Ranch), Last Chance area, Buffalo River area, Flat Rock Club area, Mack’s Inn area, and the Big Springs area are all within and make up the accepted general area of Island Park.

 

Dorothy said, “From Dean H. Green's The History of Island Park, I was interested  in  people we knew when we first came, for example, Charles and Mina Pond and their family.” 

 

Dean Green writes:  In 1923, Charles Pond became affiliated with the Targhee Tie Company by taking over the company commissary. In the summer of 1924, his family moved from Lewiston, Utah to be with him in Island Park. Pond continued to operate the commissary until late in the fall of 1925.

 

In 1925 Ponds bought out Tud Kent (lease and buildings) which then became Pond's Resort. By 1926, Charles and Mina and their whole family helped build and expand the operation.  During the year, Ponds built eight small log cabins along the Buffalo River.  Later they built eight more log cabins. Then they built a small building for general merchandise.

 

Dorothy writes, “If I'm not mistaken my father, Samuel R. South, and my brothers got out logs for the first Pond’s Resort.”

 

Dean Green continues: During the winter of 1927-28, the original Tud Kent dance hall burned down. The next spring Ponds began to expand their resort. Every year, until 1935, they improved and built onto the resort. They started an elaborate dance hall, replete with a huge fireplace, and a lounge between the store and the dance hall. The Ponds took advantage of this added room and used it for tourist services.

 

Tragedy Struck

On July 24, 1935, a fire occurred in the new addition and burned the entire structure to the ground.  All that remained standing was the huge fireplace.

 

The Pond's optimism started them rebuilding again in May 1936.  By August they were able to move into the new structure.  This stands today and is still housing a thriving tourist and operation.  Charles and Mina Pond retired from their business and turned it over to the family under the management of their son, Horace. 

 

When Charles Pond died in 1955, the operation was incorporated with Horace as manager / president. This arrangement continued until 1969, at which time Pond Corporation sold their interests to Dan Decker.  During the next 20 years the ownership passed to three other owners.  It was sold by Dan Decker to the Woods, then by them to Augustines, and then to Jay Goldman and John Madsen.

 

Dorothy writes: I used to go to dances at Pond's with my brothers from where we lived at Island Park. And it was here that one night when I went with Charlie to a dance, I met none other than Hubert Hackworth.  He asked if I would go with him and I said, "Yes, if you will take me to Church." Since our marriage 7/19/1947, we have returned to Island Park and Ponds and Mack's Inn a lot.

 

We also would go to Big Springs, to church at Mack’s, and always enjoyed going to Yellowstone Park.  At Pond’s it was enjoyable to see their parrot.  Many folks will treasure seeing that bird.  In later years, it became necessary for Sister Pond to live in a nursing home in Logan.  We visited her there.  Two of the Ponds (Angus and Rella) lived near Hubert’s sister (Grace and her husband Gerald.)  They were all good friends.