Idaho has established Twin Peaks Ranch State Park after acquiring 670 acres near Salmon. A public open house is scheduled for June 27 to celebrate the grand opening of the new state asset.
The property formerly operated as a private guest ranch and is now managed by the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.
The site is located between Challis and Salmon, north of Elk Bend at the edge of the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, according to an article by harian basis.
The expansive property features infrastructure for public use, including 25 full-service cabins, a restaurant, a lodge, a rodeo arena, and a disc golf course. East Region Manager and park spokesman Ryan Buffington highlighted the site’s equestrian facilities and trail integration.
“We’ll be able to stage horseback tours out of that area,” Buffington says. “We’re working with the Forest Service and the (Idaho Bureau of Land Management) to designate an off-highway vehicle trailhead as well.”
Development projects currently underway include building two distinct campgrounds on the property. One facility will cater to off-highway vehicle enthusiasts, while the second will serve visitors traveling with horses.
The land boasts a long history of hospitality, operating as a dude ranch for 40 years before transitioning to a guest ranch in the 1990s. The Moore family, who bought the estate in 2018, decided to sell the property to the state last October after managing the large estate became too difficult.
Buffington noted that the grounds are already accessible to visitors despite ongoing construction preparations. The state plans to preserve the historical legacy of the ranch, which dates back to early settlements in the 1890s and a 1950s dude ranch expansion by E. DuPont.
“Right now, there’s a lot of construction happening, so it’s (a little chaotic), but it is open to the public,” says Buffington.
The upcoming open house will feature historical information in partnership with the Land of the Yankee Fork Historical Association. This exhibit will educate the public about the transition of the property from private ownership to a state-managed recreational destination.
“We see in this property an amazing opportunity to provide another world-class recreational destination to the people of Idaho,” he says.
Reservations for the June 27 open house event are expected to become available on the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation website soon.
This new state park broadens public access to wilderness areas by offering varied overnight and trail amenities, including specialized facilities for equestrians and off-highway vehicle users.