HISTORIC SOUTH PASS CATCH A CASE OF GOLD FEVER. Historic South Pass What to See and Do: Tour the Carissa Mine. • Walk the Flood & Hindle Mining Trail. • Learn about the town on a guided South Pass City Tour. • Visit in mid-July for Gold Rush Days festival. If you visited in the mid-1800s, South Pass would have been swarming with gold-hungry crowds. Thankfully, the crowds are much smaller these days, so you can have a more intimate experience as you dig in and strike it rich in the area’s history. But if it’s gold you seek, you can still try your luck at panning. About South Pass: Long before the mass move to the West, trappers and traders shared South Pass with Native Americans. But when gold was discovered in California in 1849, the area became a heavily traveled route for those chasing riches. And then in 1867, the Carissa Lode was found and word of gold in South Pass spread like wildfire. The short-lived gold frenzy left a long mark on the area. INSPIRE YOUR INNER PIONEER. Farson Mercantile THE EDEN VALLEY What to See and Do: Stop by the Farson Mercantile for the famous Big Cone ice cream, pizza and gifts. • Tent, boat, or stargaze at the Big Sandy Reservoir. • Hike and bike on historic trails. Decades ago, the Eden Valley served as a gateway to the West, welcoming travelers across the Oregon and Mormon Trails. Today, it serves as a gateway to imagination as you discover its native roots. About Eden Valley: Starting with Native Americans, then followed by fur traders, mountain men and western pioneers, the Eden Valley served as a thoroughfare for settlers and passers-through. The town was settled in 1907 when John M. Farson’s large-scale irrigation developments attracted long-term settlers. The promise of fruit orchards was the beginning of the farming and ranching community that still thrives today. FOLLOW THE TRAIL TO HISTORIC CROSSROADS. Granger Stage Station Historic Site GRANGER What to See and Do: Explore the Granger Stage Station Historic Site. • Stand before monuments to the Overland Trails and Pony Express. • Learn the history of fur trapping, trading and the stagecoach industry. Once Granger was a hub for fur trappers but became an important crossroads for westward trails. Now the small town pays homage to its important history with a State Historic Site. About Granger: Granger is home to the Granger Stage Station Historic Site that was originally built for the Overland Trail in the 1850s. The station soon became a stop for many trails including the Oregon Trail, California Trail, Mormon Trail and even The Pony Express. Today visitors can step inside the old stone building – imagine if walls could talk! GET OFF THE BEATEN PATH // 17
Sweetwater County Official Travel Guide 2022/2023: Page 17
