The second successful summer of preservation work at the historic Bar BC Dude Ranch is nearly finished. In partnership with Grand Teton National Park, Foundation support is helping to conserve key structures at this landmark site on the western shores of the Snake River.
Cabins at the Bar BC Ranch have been receiving much-needed attention.
Much of the work being completed during this summer is centered around the Main Cabin, whose roof and timber logs have been deteriorating over the last several decades. Originally constructed in the 1940s, these natural materials have been exposed to harsh Teton winters with little maintenance. Preservation crews began the restoration process on the Main Cabin by carefully lifting the entire structure onto cribbing to pour new concrete piers. With the structure lifted, they are also able to replace the rotted sill logs (the bottom-most logs) and other wall logs. When the crew finishes milling and notching the sill logs, they then will be able to lower the cabin onto its new, stable foundation.
The Main Cabin will soon be lowered onto its new foundation.
Volunteers played a critical role in the work that has taken place at the Bar BC. Earlier this summer, a group of Foundation-funded Hammer Corps volunteers joined the park service team from the Western Center for Historic Preservation to reconstruct the exterior dining room floor on the east side of the Main Cabin. The original wood floor sat against a large exterior stone fireplace with the heart of the Teton skyline in perfect view, and it has been reconstructed in the same position. After being built, more Foundation volunteers assisted in applying a protective coating of pine tar and special oil to the deck to preserve it from the elements.
Thanks to everyone who supported this restoration work in Grand Teton National Park. We look forward to the project wrapping up next spring and providing visitors to the area with a better understanding and appreciation of the park’s fascinating dude ranching history.
The new dining room floor is one of the first projects to be completed this summer.