|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Council
Visitor Center
The Visitor Center in Council in
located in an old Forest Service
Building. It is operated
by the Council Chamber of
Commerce in conjunction with the
US Forest Service and the
Council Learning Center.
Currently the Visitor Center is
staffed from 11:00 am to 2:00
pm, Monday-Friday.
Easily accessible off
Dartmouth Street and US Highway
95, the old ranger station is an
ideal site to disseminate
information to the traveling
public. There is also internet
access available. Please call
208-253-6830 for more
information.
|
Council
Visitor
Center
|
|
The
ranger station was built on
land purchased from the
Pacific and Idaho Northern
Railroad Company and looks
very much as it did when
constructed in 1933. It was
placed on the National
Register of Historic Places in
1992.
It
consists of five frame
buildings, good examples of
structures constructed by the
Civilian Conservation Corps
for the Forest Service between
1933 and 1936. The CCC also
landscaped the property with
ponderosa pine, alder and
spruce trees, juniper and
dogwood shrubs, and rose
bushes along the sidewalks.
Once
the district office, the frame
construction is covered by
shiplap siding and tin roofing
with a concrete double-hung
windows and a centrally
located brick chimney. The
architecture is distinctive
and consistent with the simple
frame construction painted
white with green trim.
|
|
| Places to Visit |
|
|
A.O. Huntly
Historic Barn
[National Register of Historic
Places]
Adams County possesses one of
the largest barns of its period
in Idaho. It stands in spacious
meadows surrounded by forest at
the intersection of the road
that leads to Cuprum and the
Kleinshmidt Grade. A.O. Huntley
operated a ranch starting in the
1880s, later grubstaking miners
who went on to discover the
gold, that kicked off the
Thunder Mountain gold rush.
With
his proceeds, he built this
substantial barn as well as a
magnificent Queen Anne
residence. The residence,
unfortunately, burned to the
ground in the 1930s. Privately
owned and listed on the National
Register of Historic Places, the
A.O. Huntley barn is a board and
batten three-story structure
with a steep gambrel roof. Over
100 feet long and 40 feet wide
it sits on a raised concrete
foundation and once housed
cattle. The two upper floors are
open and were used for hay
storage with small hay door
openings in the gables at each
end.
The
barn, although sturdy, is in
need of repair. The roof is
greatly deteriorated and must be
re-roofed in the near future if
the barn is to survive. This is
a major architectural landmark
at a key intersection in rural
Adams County.
*
* * *
|
|
Kleinshmidt Grade
A real adventure in the Council
area is entering the Snake River
Canyon via the Kleinshmidt
Grade.
It is said that the grade has
one of the largest elevation
drops in the shortest road
distance in North America. The
22-mile roadwork was begun in
1890, and completed in 1891.
Albert Kleinshmidt who had
purchased shares in the area
mines planned and built the road
to reach from his mines to the
ferry on the Snake River, where
he was confident boats could be
relied upon to transport his ore
to the railroad at Old Ferry,
near Weiser. Unfortunately, the
steamboat "Norma", built for the
purpose, failed to meet the need
and along with poor copper
prices and economic turndowns,
mining operations stalled.
German visitors often seek out
this unique site.
*
* * *
|
|
Council
Valley
Museum
The museum is open to the public
from Memorial Day Weekend
through Labor Day daily from
10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Tuesdays
through Saturdays, and 1:00 pm
to 4:00 pm on Sundays.
|
 |
|
*
* * *
|
|
Mesa
Orchards
Some of the largest apple and
peach orchards in the West were
once found in the Council
region. Located seven miles
south of Council, Mesa was home
to one of the largest
individually owned and operated
apple orchards in the world.
On
the rolling hills were 1,200
acres, which in harvest time
demanded a crew of six hundred.
The orchard was equipped with
two huge cellars and an
elaborate irrigation system that
brought water over the hills by
means of a network of siphons
and flumes.
A unique feature was the
electrically operated tramway.
As fast as the fruit was packed,
it was conveyed over the tram to
the railroad, a distance of 4
miles. The fragrance of this
orchard in bloom is said to have
drenched the air for miles.
Other fruit growing areas can be
found east of Council.
*
* * *
|
|
Seven
Devils
Mountains
Council is the gateway to the
Seven Devils, with a short drive
displaying their ruggedness,
color, grandeur, and depth. This
range, the eastern skyline of
the deepest canyon in North
America - Hells Canyon, runs
almost 40 miles between the
Snake and Little Salmon rivers.
Upon the flanks are at least 32
lakes and 7,900 feet below the
highest summit, He Devil Peak,
the Snake River forms the
boundary between Idaho and
Oregon. The range takes its name
from seven serrated peaks, which
stand in a semicircle.
*
* * *
|
|
Weiser River Trail
The Weiser River Trail (Rails to
Trails) is one of the first
long-distance mountain biking
trails in Idaho. With wooden
trestles, wildlife and river
country, the trail spans desert
canyons, farmlands, forests and
meadows. The extensive trail
offers a variety of experiences
for hikers, bicyclists,
equestrians, cross-country
skiers,bird watchers, and other
outdoor enthusiasts.
The
trail is operated by the Friends
of the Weiser River Trail, a
non-profit corporation
established in 1997, to get the
railroad corridor rail banked
for recreational use. Its
mission is to preserve the
integrity of the rail corridor,
manage it as a public trail, and
conserve the natural habitats
along its length. The trail
extends 84 miles from Weiser to
Ricon, near New Meadows.
*
* * *
|
|
| Events to Enjoy |
|
|
World
Famous
Porcupine Races
The Council Chamber of Commerce
hosts the Fourth of July
festivities which include the
World Famous Porcupine Races.
The day begins with a fresh
cooked breakfast. It then
continues with a parade through
downtown, followed by the
porcupine races. Other
activities include logging
contests, kids activities and of
course fireworks.
View
photos from the 2009
celebration.
*
* * *
|
|
Adams
County
Fair & Rodeo
From arts & crafts, swine
& sheep to barrel
racing and roping, this local
event is filled with fun for
all. held the last full week
of July, the Adams County Fair
& Rodeo is a true
highlight for visitors and
residents.
* * * *
|
|
Council
Mountain Music Festival
The
third weekend in August brings
music to the town of Council.
Both local and outside talent
converge to perform for two
days. Admission is free.
*
* * *
|
|
