Castle Valley Trip

On August 8-9 we took a quick trick over to Emery County to the Castle Valley Pageant and area.
We met our good friends, Linda and Howard Carter at our reserved slots at Huntington State Park.   It is a spot that I would definetely again, especially if there were not a drought.  It is built on the Huntington Reservoir and has lots of nice grass and trees, a big pavilion, but a swimming area of the lake that starts really low where kids could play (not water in it this year).  It only has 25 sites and most are tent but they have day use for boats and picnics.

The first place we went after we got set up was the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry.  I think that it might be an interesting place to visit for those who are really into dinosaurs but you drive a long way on dirt roads and it was very hot with very little to see.  We did have a girl explains a few things to us and we did get to see an area where they have dug the bone up.  Mike suggested that it would it would make a good spring or fall trip or at least early morning so that you could take the walks that show some of the bones still in the rock, etc. 

                                       Made from copies of bone found in this quarry.

When we left the quarry we drove on many more miles of dirt roads and visited "The Wedge" also called the "Little Grand Canyon".  Again, it was too hot and would be much more fun to visit in the early morning or in the spring or fall but the view was amazing.

Another place that we didn't take time to drive to was calle dthe Buckhorn Draw.  It is full of ancient rock art.

Next, we drove into Castledale and visited the two museums there.  One is the Museum of the San Rafael and is full of Indian artifacts, dinosaur exhibits and a room full of stuffed animals and collections like pottery and arrowheads.  The other is just across the street in an old school and is full of old pioneer and cowboy artifacts.

After having dinner in our trailers and a break we drove out in the country southwest of Castledale to the area where the Castle Valley Pageant is held every other year.  The pageant is the story of the early saints being called by Brigham Young to leave Sanpete County and move across the mountain to settle Castle Valley.  It tells the story of a few of the families and the hardships that they entailed but also does a lovely job of telling about two early settlers teaching an Indian family about the Book of Mormon.  The program ends with the resurrected Christ speaking.  He is high on a tower on a hill in the background and the lighting is great.  His robe shines and blows in the wind and everything is dark except the lighted Christ.  It is outstanding.

Before the pageant starts viewers are invited to stroll around and see and taste pioneer foods, make toys, rope cattle horns, ride in wagons and "taste" a bit of the history.  The following pictures are of the different places to visit.

The Castle Valley Pageant is only performed every other year.  It is obvious that it involves many in the community.  Here are a few in costumes.

When the play opens all of the lights are off and then the covered wagons come into the valley followed by the lights.  It is very dramatic.

This morning we got up and had breakfast on our own and then as we were almost ready to go the four of us went over to a picnic table and shared a watermelon and visited.  It was a great trip and fun to be with the Carters again.