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John
Jarvie Ranch
 A
visit to the historic Jarvie property provides a glimpse of
turn-of-the-century frontier life in what is still a remote part of the
West--Browns Park. Of the many sites along the Green River which Mr.
Jarvie could have settled, he chose this particular one because of the
naturally occurring river crossing. For years it had been used by Indians,
fur trappers, travelers, and local residents. Jarvie figured it would be
an excellent spot to establish a business. At its height, the Jarvie ranch
operation included a store, post office, river ferry, and cemetery.
John Jarvie ". .
. sage of the Uintahs, the genius of Browns Park."
 John
Jarvie, a Scotsman, settled in Browns Park in 1880. Upon his
arrival he opened a general store-trading post and became the postmaster
of Browns Park. A year later, he added ferry operator to his
responsibilities. Jarvie, an astute businessman, also had mining and
livestock interests in the area.
Jarvie was an educated man and
liked by all residents of Browns Park. He was much in demand at
social functions because of his musical talents on the organ and
concertina.
 Jarvie
was also acquainted with some of the more colorful characters in Browns
Park history, including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, of
the Wild Bunch, outlaws Matt Warner and Isom Dart, and Ann Bassett, Queen
of the Rustlers.
On Tuesday, July 6, 1909, Jarvie
was robbed, murdered, and his store ransacked by two transient
workers from Rock Springs, Wyoming. His body was placed in a boat and
pushed out into the Green River. It was not discovered until eight days
later, just above the Gates of Ladore in the eastern end of browns Park.
He is buried in the Ladore Cemetery. His murders were never captured.
 Following
Jarvie's murder in 1909, the property passed to his two sons Tom
and John Jr. Unfortunately, his sons' interests lay elsewhere, and the
ranch property would never again flourish as it had under the senior
Jarvie's enterprising stewardship.
In 1924, the ranch was sold to
Charlie Sparks, then in 1934 to Frank E. Jerkins, and again in
1942 to William Allen. Duward and Ester Campbell acquired to property in
1968 and were the last private owners of the property Ester, well-known as
the "school marm" that taught in the area's one-room
schoolhouse, became a local institution, much loved by the hundreds of
visitors who yearly made pilgrimages to the Jarvie Ranch.
 Anxious
to see the ranch preserved and restored to his historic
character, Mrs. Campbell sold her 35-acre ranch to the Nature Conservancy
in 1982. They, in turn, leased the site to the BLM until sufficient funds
were found for purchase of the property, forever placing the Jarvie ranch
in public ownership. This was the Conservancy's first Utah project.
Points of Interest
 Four
original structures, each over 100 years old, still exist:
The stone house is a
one-room, rectangular building, measuring 18x20 feet. It was built by
outlaw Jack Bennett, using masonry skills he learned in prison.
 The
two-room dugout located on the southwestern end of the property
is where John and his wife Nellie first lived. It is build into a hillside
with a south-facing entrance overlooking the Green River.
The blacksmith shop and corral
were constructed using hand-hewn railroad ties which drifted down from
Green River, Wyoming, during high water.
 The
general store is a replica of the original which was built in
1881. It is furnished with many artifacts from the Jarvie period and also
contains the original safe which was robbed the evening of Jarvie's
murder.
Another point of interest is the graves of
four men who died violent deaths in the early days of Browns Park--two
drowned, one was stabbed, and one was shot.
Visitor Information
 River
Safety--The Green River can fluctuate daily form 830 to 4500
cubic feet per second or higher, depending on the time of year. Life
jackets are required for boaters on the river.
Camping/Picnicking--Indian
Crossing and bridge Hollow developed (fee) campgrounds, adjacent to the
Jarvie site, include picnic table, fire rings. Day-use facilities at the
Jarvie site include picnic tables, fire rings, drinking water, and
restrooms. Pets must be on a leash at the site.
Permits--Permits are
required for commercial float boating only. No permits are required for
personal use from the Flaming Gorge Dam to the Dinosaur National Monument
at Ladore Canyon in Colorado.
Fishing--Fishing is
limited to artificial bait only. All fish between 13 and 20 inches must be
released. You may keep two fish under 13 inches and one fish over 20
inches.
Telephone--A credit
card/collect-call-only telephone is located at the Bridge Hollow boat
ramp.
Accommodations/Supplies--Gas,
food, and lodging can be obtained in the towns of Green River and Rock
Springs, Wyoming; Maybell, Colorado; and Vernal, Manila, and Dutch John in
Utah. Gasoline, food, and phone services are available at the Browns Park
Store in Colorado. Extra gas should be carried. Other equipment, such as
tire chains, food, water, and a shovel, are recommended.
Tours--Guided tours of the
Jarvie property are offered daily May through October, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Contact
Park Ranger at Historic Site (435)
885-3307.
For additional information contact Bureau
of Land Management, Vernal Office, 170 South 500 East, Vernal, Utah 84078,
(435) 781-4400.
How To Get There
From Maybell Colorado:
All-season pavement to the Utah-Colorado border, then 8 miles of
maintained gravel road.
From Vernal, Utah (via Clay Basin):
North on Highway 191 for 55 miles to the Wyoming-Utah border, then east 22
miles on maintained gravel road which includes 2 miles down Jesse Ewing
Canyon with grades approaching 17 percent.
From Vernal, Utah (via Crouse
Canyon): North on Vernal Avenue to Fifth North, then east 25
miles to the Diamond Mountain and Browns Park signed turnoff. Then 16
miles north on an infrequently maintained dirt road to Browns Park. Follow
signs to the Jarvie Ranch. Call ahead for road conditions if weather is a
question. Map
Information Provided By The Utah
BLM
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