Other Agency Projects
Bear Lake State Park Improvements
Bear Lake State Park signed a new 25-year lease with Pacific Power for the North Beach unit of Bear Lake State Park. This was after almost four years without a long-term lease. With the signing of the lease, a major road realignment project started and will be completed in the spring of 2005. This road project provides two roads on North Beach, one for the park visitor and another for thru traffic. This has been a long-term goal for park management. Improvements are in the works for the East Beach unit; the shelter is almost complete, but most of the other improvement work is still to come.
Gilmore Campground, Farragut State Park
Farragut State Park serves as a summer recreation destination facility for north Idaho. Visitors to the park use tourist amenities from the Silver Valley and Coeur d’Alene area to Sandpoint. The park has two campgrounds designed for individuals, both built prior to 1974. Current demand for recreational vehicle camping and modern design amenities (50 amp power, spurs to accommodate larger sized units with slide-outs), far exceeds the 44 RV (water and electric) sites that the park currently offers. After 2 years of initial design work and a nine-month public involvement process, the Gilmore 100-site campground is entering the funding and construction phase. Work is expected to begin in the fall of 2005 with 50 sites available for the summer of 2006, and full facility operation expected in 2007.
Ashton-Tetonia Trail
The IDPR staff and Ashton-Tetonia Advisory Committee continue to work together to accomplish the goals set forth with the establishment of this corridor as a unique and viable recreation opportunity.
Bayhorse Mining District
IDPR is working to preserve Bayhorse, one of the last remaining ghost towns within Idaho from the late 1800’s mining era. This project of saving our mining heritage was the preferred proposal as the state’s Centennial Park back in 1988. The landowners are now willing to work with the state and have given IDPR a purchase option on the property. IDPR is partnering with DEQ in performing a due diligence review of the mining properties prior to making a decision on the option. This project is a good example of how the department is working to help develop economic diversity in rural areas such as Custer County.