jederick Loc: Northern Utah

A lesser known section of the Capitol Reef N.P. lies at the end of a dirt road, in a box canyon, alongside Pleasant Creek, a tributary of the Fremont River. In August, 1882, Ephraim Knowlton Hanks and his family settled on Pleasant Creek. Their first home was dugout built into a side of a bluff, with a second room of logs added on. By 1888, four room frame house had been built. The Hanks family raised some crops, set an orchard of some 200 fruit trees which were cultivated and, pastured a few livestock. When the fruits trees first blossomed, Mrs. Thisbe Hanks named their area the Floral Ranch. Floral Ranch laid in rugged country surrounded by cliffs with little arable land and only supported a few families all of whom were related to Eph Hanks.

Eph Hanks died in 1896 and the Floral Ranch remained in the family until 1916. The ranch subsequently passed through several hands until 1940 when it was sold to Lurton Knee. It was then renamed "Sleeping Rainbow
Guest Ranch" with a few cabins and a small motel to accommodate tourist. With the creation of Capitol Reef N.P., the Sleeping Rainbow ranch was acquired in 1974 and 1978 with the final piece being acquired in 1995. The ranch is now operated as an environmental-education and research center by the Utah Valley University.

One evening on our recent trip to Capitol Reef, N.P., I entertained my wife (to her dismay) with a dusty, rocky ride out to visit the lonely remains of Sleeping Rainbow Ranch. For whatever reason, the Sleeping Rainbow Ranch is not promoted as a tour site for Capitol Reef, N.P.

1. The scene as you arrive

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2. One of the few remaining outbuildings

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3. As seen from the rear

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4. A look in the well-appointed cabin/shed

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5. Our tour guide showing us the sights

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5. Tack room & stalls next to the corral

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6. Anybody's guess

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7. Another corral and shed remains

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lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Interesting post. Thanks for sharing. I knew nothing of the area.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Cool set. It took tough, strong, dedicated people to live there.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

You find unique sights, Jim! Interesting bit of history too.

Susan yamakawa

Was the dog a tour guide 🤣it seems like a lovely place to camp

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Nice.

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

Thank you, Mike and I knew very little about it myself and was glad we made the tour!!

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

Agree...don't know if my bride would be up to living in a cliff side dugout for a few years!!~

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

Many thanks, Mike...fun to explore these out-of-the-way places and report back!!

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

Well, she claims to be one the way she runs around checking everything out for us. It is a nice camp site...bring your pup tent and spend a few nights!!

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

Thank you, Bill!!

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

Great set, Jim. Beautifully done and loved the story also.

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

This is an excellent series. It is hard to imagine living in a place like this. There must be water somewhere if they planted fruit trees. I guess those are all long gone.

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

Thank you, Joe...good hearing from you!!

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

Many thanks, Carol The water came from both a nearby spring and Pleasant Creek which the ranch bordered on. I could not find any signs of an orchard but only gave this area a quick look.