USFS: UWCNF: Comment Period Extended For Proposed Rental Of Historic Cabins

[U4WDA]

Perhaps not directly related to four wheel drive recreation, but certainly of interest to many backcountry four wheel drive users...

See more at http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/uwcnf/news-events/?cid=STELPRDB5447313

Release Date: Jan 30, 2014
Contact(s): Kathy Jo Pollock 801-558-8016
Follow us on Twitter Intermountain Region@usfs_r4#UintaWasatchCacheNF http://fs.usda.gov/uwcnf

UINTA-WASATCH-CACHE NATIONAL FOREST EXTENDS
COMMENT PERIOD FOR PROPOSED RENTAL OF HISTORIC CABINS.

Salt Lake City, UT - January 30, 2014 - The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest is extending the comment period from February 1, 2014 to February 15, 2014 on a proposal to add eleven historic cabins into an overnight cabin rental program. Cabin rentals offer a new recreation opportunity that is not currently available in the area.

The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest has completed or will soon be completing renovations at eleven cabins across the forest and is proposing new recreation fees to make these facilities available to the public as overnight rentals. The recreation cabin rental program provides the unique recreational experience of staying in historic Forest Service cabins while providing funds for the ongoing maintenance and renovation of these historic buildings. The cabins and proposed fee structure include:

Logan Ranger District:

Card Guard Station: The cabin would be available from June 1 through October 15 at $125.00 per night. The cabin is approximately seven miles up Logan Canyon and is adjacent to the Logan Canyon National Scenic Byway (U.S. 89). The cabin can accommodate up to 10 people and has running water, flush toilet, shower, electricity and modern appliances.

Tony Grove Ranger Station: The cabin would be available year-round at $85.00 per night. The cabin is approximately 20 miles up Logan Canyon and is adjacent to the Logan Canyon National Scenic Byway (Hwy 89). The cabin can accommodate up to four people and has a pit toilet, running water (summer only), propane heat, and extra space for camping.

Blacksmith Fork Guard Station: The cabin would be available year-round at $75.00 per night. The cabin is adjacent to the Left Hand Fork of Blacksmith Fork River, a Blue Ribbon Fishery, and less than one mile from Friendship and Spring Campgrounds and Richards Hollow Trailhead. The cabin can accommodate up to six people and has a vault toilet, wood stove, and propane lights/appliances. A horse coral is adjacent to the cabin along with RV space.

Ogden Ranger District:

Monte Cristo Guard Station: The Monte Cristo Cabin would be available year-round at $85 per night. This cabin is located adjacent to the Ogden River Scenic Byway, approximately 20 miles from Huntsville Utah and Pineview Reservoir. The cabin can accommodate up to eight people and has running water (summer only), flush toilets, shower, and propane heat, lights, and appliances.

Salt Lake Ranger District:

Rice Creek Field Station: The cabin would be available from June 1 through September 30 at $100.00 per night. The cabin is adjacent to the Farmington Canyon - Skyline Drive Scenic Backway. The cabin can accommodate up to 10 people and has running water, flush toilet, shower, propane cook stove, electric lights/appliances, and water heater. In addition to a fireplace it has a coal furnace.

Kamas Ranger District:

Ledgefork Guard Station: The cabin would be available from June 1 to September 30 at $85 per night. The cabin is approximately one mile from Smith and Morehouse reservoir. The cabin can accommodate up to six people and has electricity to appliances provided by a generator, running water, flush toilets, shower, electric lights/appliances, and propane heat.

Mirror Lake Guard Station: The cabin would be available from July 1 to Sept 15 at $100 per night. This cabin is located at Mirror Lake and is approximately 32 miles from Kamas Utah and 58 miles from Evanston Wyoming. The cabin can accommodate up to four people and has running water, shower, flush toilets, propane heat, propane lights/appliances, and paved road.

Heber Ranger District:

Mill Hollow Guard Station: The cabin would be available from June 1 to September 30 at $100 per night. The cabin is near the Mill Hollow Campground and Reservoir. The cabin can accommodate up to eight people and has running water, shower, flush toilets, wood stove, and propane lights/appliances.

Current Creek Work Center Group Site: The cabin would be available from June 1 to October 15 at $200 per night. The cabin is adjacent to Current Creek Reservoir. This cabin is a duplex but both sides will be rented together. There are also three trailer pads with hook-ups for additional RV parking on a “first come-first served” basis. The cabin can accommodate up to 20 people, 10 people in each side, and has running water, flush toilets, showers, propane heat, and modern appliances.

Spanish Fork Ranger District:

Payson Lakes Guard Station: The cabin would be available from June 1 through September 30 at $125 per night. The cabin is approximately one mile from the Payson Lakes Recreation Area, and is along the Nebo Loop Scenic Byway. The cabin can accommodate up to 10 people and has running water, flush toilet, shower, electric heat, and electric appliances. A horse corral is near the cabin.

Diamond Fork Guard Station: The cabin would be available year-round at $50.00 per night. The cabin is approximately four miles from the Three Forks Trailhead and has nearby opportunities for fishing. The cabin can accommodate up to eight people and has wood heat, vault toilet, and propane lights/appliances.

In 2004, Congress passed the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act which allows the Forest Service to keep 95 percent of fees collected at certain recreation sites and use these funds locally to operate, maintain and enhance these sites. Fee revenue generated from the rental of these cabins would be used for operations and maintenance and future enhancements. More information about the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Recreation Fee Program can be found in the Forest’s Annual Fee Program Accomplishment Reports at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r4/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5361715

All new fee proposals will be presented before a citizen’s advisory committee, Utah Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (RRAC). R-RAC members represent a broad array of recreation interest groups and ensure public issues and concerns about recreation fees are considered. These fee proposals are anticipated to be presented to the Utah R-RAC in the fall, 2014.

If this fee proposal is approved, it is anticipated that the cabins would become available for overnight rental in the winter, 2014. Reservations would be required and would be made through the National Recreation Reservation Service (NRRS) by calling (877) 444-6777 or online at www.recreation.gov. The NRRS charges a $9 reservation fee for internet reservations and $10 fee for phone reservations.

For additional information contact Charles Rosier at (801) 999-2103. Please submit comments by February 15, 2014 so comments can be compiled, analyzed, and shared with the Utah BLM R-RAC. Please send comments to uwc_info@fs.fed.us or by postal mail at:

Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest
ATTN: Larry Lucas
857 W South Jordan Parkway
South Jordan, UT 84095

 

[jackjoh]

These prices seem high to me, have they recently changed? Do we know for sure if the money is staying and used where it is collected?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Commented on behalf of myself & ExpUt. I can't see any drawbacks to having these as a unique opportunity for public lands users.

 

[jackjoh]

I agree but do we know how and where the money is used?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I agree but do we know how and where the money is used?

Only what they have told us:

In 2004, Congress passed the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act which allows the Forest Service to keep 95 percent of fees collected at certain recreation sites and use these funds locally to operate, maintain and enhance these sites. Fee revenue generated from the rental of these cabins would be used for operations and maintenance and future enhancements. More information about the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Recreation Fee Program can be found in the Forest’s Annual Fee Program Accomplishment Reports at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r4/rec...telprdb5361715

All new fee proposals will be presented before a citizen’s advisory committee, Utah Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (RRAC). R-RAC members represent a broad array of recreation interest groups and ensure public issues and concerns about recreation fees are considered. These fee proposals are anticipated to be presented to the Utah R-RAC in the fall, 2014.

In response to the high fees, they are in line with similar offerings on USFS land in neighboring states and given a Wasatch Front yurt is $75/night, I don't find the cost out of line given the new renovations and additional amenities.

 

[Skylinerider]

I think these prices are high, but without this program, the F/S would demolish these historic buildings. This program has saved many historic structures.

 

[jackjoh]

Only what they have told us:

In 2004, Congress passed the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act which allows the Forest Service to keep 95 percent of fees collected at certain recreation sites and use these funds locally to operate, maintain and enhance these sites. Fee revenue generated from the rental of these cabins would be used for operations and maintenance and future enhancements. More information about the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Recreation Fee Program can be found in the Forest’s Annual Fee Program Accomplishment Reports at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r4/rec...telprdb5361715

All new fee proposals will be presented before a citizen’s advisory committee, Utah Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (RRAC). R-RAC members represent a broad array of recreation interest groups and ensure public issues and concerns about recreation fees are considered. These fee proposals are anticipated to be presented to the Utah R-RAC in the fall, 2014.

In response to the high fees, they are in line with similar offerings on USFS land in neighboring states and given a Wasatch Front yurt is $75/night, I don't find the cost out of line given the new renovations and additional amenities.

As long as 95% of the money stays where it is collected it looks good and like Skylinerider said many structures were saved and I might add put to good use.