Wildrose Station (site)

USA / California / Darwin /
www.deathvalley.com/dvtalkarc2/messages/2144.shtml ---

An historic stage stop in the past, it was closed down on Jan 04, 1971. The reason the NPS did so is muddled. Ever since DV was proclaimed a national monument by President Hoover on feb 11, 1933, Wildrose Station was privately owned on leased land under 6 year leases.

Daniel Tobin, acting director of the Western Region of the NPS was quoted as saying, "The NPS does does not feel it can in good conscience continue such a marginal concession operation."

Tobin also said the NPS would like to remove the commercial aspects at Wildrose to "more accurately display the historic flavor of the area."

The government got no percentage- only rent.

In the heyday of the Skidoo gold camp in 1905, stagecoaches stopped at Wildrose Station on the run between Skidoo and Mojave. Under the big rock as the Panamint Indians and early day miners called the high westerly rock structure which still creates the shady oasis, John Callaway operated a café.

While passengers rested in the cafe, stage drivers watered the mules and sometimes sought repairs in the blacksmith shop.

Erected in 1932, the buildings, the park service assured, "it is not our intention to dispose of the historic buildings."

The buildings were flattened and hauled away.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   36°15'35"N   117°13'3"W

Comments

  • Wildrose Station burned down in the early 70's. A fellow by the name of "Tom Urton" ran the cafe and hotel from the late 50's to the early 70's. I spent two nights at Wildrose in 1964.
  • I was a 12 year old kid in the late 1948 - early 1949 time period. George and Anne Pipkin ran the Station at that time, it was a delightful place to drive to from Stovepipe Wells Hotel on a Friday evening to spend time with the Pipkins and any guests they might have. Mrs. Pipkin started me on my geology career by giving me a box full of Death Valley area gems and minerals for Christmas, 1948. Another historic remnant gone along with Slim and Velma Riggs place north of Beatty.
  • A friend and I from Fresno visited Death Valley in 1958, coming in via Trona and Ballarat. We had a brief encounter with "Shotgun Mary" when we attempted to find space to camp at Panamint City - it was after dark and we received a warning yell and shotgun blast for our trouble. It was at Wildrose Station the next day that we found out who we had just been dealing with. The station was a nice respite on the way over the pass and on to Stovepipe wells.
  • I too met the that Shotgun Mary, She had a house up there. Boy was she was tough, and had that shotgun at all times. Tom Urton Knew her well, and asked her if we could go in one of her mines, so we did. I was 4 or 5 years old at the time. I also met "Seldom Seen Slim", a local in the area. There were many more that shared the stories and secretes that they all took with them when they died. But I still remember. Thanks "The Ladd"
This article was last modified 19 years ago