Antelope GS gets a blog!

Antelope Guard Station on the Lost River Ranger District of the Challis National Forest in Central Idaho might just be the very first Guard Station in America to have its own blog. That would be quite a notable milestone for a structure born in 1908. Antelope is turning 100 this year so perhaps it's fitting that this important public legacy begins a New Era with new friends bringing new tools to the table.

As the USDA Forest Service enters its second century of "Caring for the Land and Serving People," there is an increasing awareness of the importance of what some call the "legacy assets" of your public lands. Antelope Guard Station is one of those important pieces of heritage that make your National Forests so special.

Changing management practices, priorities and people have largely left Antelope Guard Station functionally abandoned. It serves no fundamental management purpose at this time. Therefore, no emphasis has been placed on its preservation, conservation and adaptation for creative new multiple use.

That's all about to change. As the Baby Boom Generation's retirement tsunami unfolds across America, fresh energies, skills, resources and enthusiasms will seek projects whereby a group of dedicated individuals and organizations can make lasting contributions to the conservation of America's heritage and legacy assets.

Antelope Guard Station sits squarely on the cusp of such an emerging movement. Not only it is uniquely and conveniently situated to a growing metroplex in Eastern Idaho, it also embodies the symbolic spirit of the Western Frontier Ethic that is so much a part of the Idaho and American psyche.

It's equally unique administrative site layout offers abundant creative possibilities for modern day multiple use.

The challenge facing public and private sector leaders will be how to preserve and conserve the important heritage aspects of Antelope Guard Station while also creating an attractive, functional facility that serves legitimate multiple use purposes in the worthy mission of "Caring for the Land and Serving People."

We believe that a collective consensus will soon emerge to guide the management and stewardship of Antelope Guard Station into a future filled with stable, productive, effective, innovative partnerships that bring about nationally significant results on behalf of both the Antelope Guard Station stakeholders but also the collective people of the United States--the true and forever guardians of Antelope Guard Station!

We are proud to be able to take part in this process. We look forward to helping facilitate meaningful dialog that will lead to practical on-the-ground actions on behalf of Antelope Guard Station.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve.

Sincerely, John Parsons, Eastern Idaho RSVP Director

Click here to read a history of Antelope Guard Station.