Fielding Garr Ranch Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Fielding Garr Ranch, Antelope Island State Park
Ranch Established 1848 on Antelope Island
Fielding Garr Ranch, Antelope Island State Park Location in Utah Show map of Utah Fielding Garr Ranch, Antelope Island State Park Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Davis, Utah, United States
Elevation	4,350 ft (1,330 m)
Established	1848
Named for	Fielding Garr
Visitors	280351 (in 2010)
Governing body	Utah State Parks
Website	Antelope Island State Park


Fielding Garr Ranch
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Location	Off UT 127, Antelope Island, Utah
Area	6.2 acres (2.5 ha)
Built	1849
Built by	Fielding Garr
Architectural style	Double-Pen Type
NRHP reference No.	83004402
Added to NRHP	January 21, 1983

The Fielding Garr Ranch is a historic ranch located on Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake, Utah. It is now part of the Antelope Island State Park system. This ranch is one of the oldest working ranches in the western United States. A part of the original ranch, about 6.2 acres (2.5 hectares), is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.

History of the Ranch
- From Church to Private Ownership
- Becoming a State Park
Finding the Ranch
Things to Do at the Ranch and Island
- Fun Activities
- Ranch Tours and Horseback Riding
Wildlife and Nature
- Birds of the Island
- Mammals of the Island
Images for kids
See also

History of the Ranch

The Fielding Garr Ranch started in 1848. This was just one year after the first Mormon pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley. A man named Fielding Garr, who had nine children, was asked by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to move to Antelope Island. His job was to set up a ranch and take care of the church's herds of cattle and sheep.

The very first building on the ranch was an adobe house. It was built in 1848 and is still standing today. It's the oldest building in Utah that remains on its original foundation! People lived in this ranch house continuously until 1981. That's when the State of Utah got ready to turn Antelope Island into a state park. Living on the island was tough because of the harsh weather, being far from others, and not having much fresh water.

From Church to Private Ownership

The ranch belonged to the LDS Church until 1870. Then, a man named John Dooly, Sr. bought it. He lived on the island and started a company called the Island Improvement Company. This company focused on raising cattle and sheep. At one point, the island was home to 10,000 sheep, making it one of the biggest sheep ranches in the United States!

In 1893, John Dooly and William Glassman brought 12 American bison to the island. At that time, bison were disappearing from many parts of their natural home. Dooly thought they would be interesting to have on the ranch. He even charged people money to hunt them.

Becoming a State Park

Ranching continued on the island until 1981. That's when Antelope Island State Park was officially created. The cattle and sheep were moved off the island. The park was set up to protect the wildlife and allow visitors to enjoy the beautiful scenery. People can now camp, boat, and visit the beaches of the Great Salt Lake.

Finding the Ranch

Map of Antelope Island

The Fielding Garr Ranch is located on the southeast part of Antelope Island. To get there, you follow I-15 to Syracuse, Utah. Syracuse is about 25 miles north of Salt Lake City.

Take Exit 332 from I-15 and drive west for about 7 miles on Utah State Road 108 (Antelope Drive). This road leads to the entrance of Antelope Island State Park. After paying the park fee, you'll drive about 6 miles across a causeway to reach the island.

Once on the island, take the left turn that goes south. In less than half a mile, turn left again. Then, you'll travel south along this road for about 11 miles until you reach the ranch. There's a gate that controls access to the southern part of the road. The gate and the ranch are open daily during the summer. They close a bit earlier in the winter.

Things to Do at the Ranch and Island

The Fielding Garr Ranch is a big part of Antelope Island State Park. The island is famous for its amazing views. Especially in the northwest, you can see mountains and hills overlooking beaches. The waters of the Great Salt Lake reflect the sky, and other islands are visible in the distance.

Fun Activities

Balloon Festival: A balloon festival happens every year around Labor Day.
Birdwatching: Antelope Island is a great place to watch birds.
Trail Running: Many people love to run on the island's trails. Several races are held each year, from 25 kilometers to 100 miles!
Hiking and Cycling: These are popular activities. Remember, water is scarce, and there aren't many trees for shade.
Wildlife Watching: It's exciting to see the large numbers of bison that live on the island. You might also spot coyotes, pronghorn, and mule deer near the roads and campsites. Bison often cross the roads, but they are mostly found near the south end of the island, close to the Fielding Garr Ranch.

Ranch Tours and Horseback Riding

You can take tours of the historic Fielding Garr Ranch and the area around it. You'll see the adobe ranch house, a silo, a bunkhouse, stables, a springhouse, and a blacksmith shop. The ranch shows what life was like for ranch inhabitants in the past.

The ranch area is also one of the best spots on the island for bird watching. Hiking and photography are very popular here too. If you like horses, you can rent them at the ranch by the hour. Riders can go out to see the bison, but they must stay on the marked trails.

Wildlife and Nature

Antelope Island is mostly covered in dry grassland. The eastern side of the island has a grassy plain or prairie habitat. This stretches from the eastern shoreline to the mountains in the middle of the island. There are not many trees or much fresh water, but a few small springs exist, especially near the Fielding Garr Ranch.

The trees around the ranch, a small stream, a pond, and a marshy area create a special place for birds. This area is along the east shore of the 15-mile-long island, which is mostly covered in sagebrush and grasslands.

Birds of the Island

About 250 different kinds of birds have been seen on Antelope Island. Many of them can be found near the Fielding Garr Ranch. Some of these birds include:

Mammals of the Island

The Antelope Island bison herd is a group of 500 to 700 American bison that live on the island. The ranch helps manage this herd. The bison can roam all over the island, but many tend to stay near the ranch. This is because the habitat is excellent for them, and more natural springs are in that part of the island.

Other large mammals you might see nearby include: