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The first permanent structure at this site was a small log cabin built
in 1848 by Fielding Garr. Garr had been assigned by the Mormon
Church to establish a ranch on the island as a stronghold for managing
the church tithing herds. Within two years, Garr had expanded the
ranch compound to include the adobe ranch house and stone corrals.
The ranch was continually inhabited from that time until 1981.
The Mormon Church operated the ranch until the mid-1870s. During
the era, ranching operations encompassed the entire island. The
church herds supported the Perpetual Emigration Fund, which assisted
Mormon Church members from Europe in making the trek across the Great
Plains. In 1869, the railroad came to Utah, and with it came the
first federal surveys of the land. Because the only improvements
on the island were around the ranch itself, the Federal Government
opened the rest of the island to homesteading. By the turn of the
century, most of the homesteaders had failed to prove their claims.
John Dooly Sr., and enterprising businessman and rancher, purchased the
entire island at a price of one million dollars, and it became the home
of his Island Improvement Company. Under Dooly's management, twelve bison were introduced to
the island at a time when the bison population in North America numbered
less than 1,000 head. While some philanthropists may have been
working to prevent the extinction of the species, we think John Dooly was
working to profit by raising the rare species for commercial hunting
opportunity.
The ranching operation continued uninterrupted through several owners.
Just after the turn of the century, the focus of the ranch turned to
sheep. Under the direction of John Dooly Jr., the sheep operation
expanded to more than 10,000 sheep to become one of the largest and most
industrialized ranching efforts in the western United States. When
sheep ranching became unprofitable in the 1950s due to failing wool
market, the operation turned again to cattle. The island ranch
continued to function as part of the largest commercial cattle
operations in the state until the island became a state park in 1981.
When you visit the ranch, watch for evidence of these many changes over
the 150 years of history. Bring a lunch and stay a while and
explore the old buildings and enjoy the beautiful park the sits to the
south of the ranch.
Click
here for more information on visiting Antelope Island State Park
Information
provide Utah
State Parks And Recreation
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