Barker Ranch burned to the ground...

[OTR]

I hope you had a chance to see it.


http://panamintvalley.com/forum/view...hp?f=11&t=5409

http://www.deathvalley.com/dvtalk/messages/424420.shtml



I was hoping something like this wouldnt happen, but after all the press last year and being featured in a sensationalised TV show I cant say Im surprised anymore.

Why are people going out of their way to burn down historic sites ?




k.

[kellyf]

I agree the press did not help.
Kelly

[N24low]

What show was it on?

That is a real shame that it went up in flames! I am glad I did get to see it last year. Went over after the Surpise clean up.

[lttlbddy]

I never even drove into the yard. I was content to park outside the gate and walk in.

[jp junkie]

[hurleygo3]

Thats a shame. With everything Death Valley has that was the place I enjoyed most.
Maybe who ever did it didn't make it out and burned alive.

[benttoy]

Was there a useable fire place? it was mentioned that there was a group there for lunch and it was windy that day

[Jes]

Damn, that really sucks!
At least I was able to see it once.

[Panamint Charlie]

Thanks for posting Kris, you beat me to it.



I was just out there a few weeks ago and thought that the place looked better than I've seen it in the last ten years.

[CUoffroad]

This really sucks! I have yet to get out to Death Valley and do the whole history thing with the kids now that they are old enough. I know it's only one thing amongst an abundance if historical stuff, but still. Hope they find out what happened.

[FJCruisin_Wa]

This is sad. This is one of the places that was on my list of places to see... I'll still make the trip, but it wont be the same...

[brokejeep]

I was out there for a five day tour through the valley last winter and it was in good condition.We ended up making camp at the first of the three ranches on the other side of the mountain toward Tecopa.That whole area is amazing.The geologist cabin and the other ranches are still standing ,right.

[desert4wd]

Hey Kris, Kelly, Charlie and all. I hadn't been up there in a while, but when we went up there Charlie it DID look the best I'd ever seen it. So, I'm curious as to what's next for the place.

[OTR]

Interesting quotes from the park...


From-
http://www.ksrw.sierrawave.net/site/.../view/2044/48/

Terry Baldino with Death Valley National Park called the loss of the Barker Ranch, “devastating.” Headed up by the Park Archeologist, crews had done restoration work to fix up the old building just this spring.
Baldino says the park, “suffered a blow,” that, “hurts everyone.” “Any historic object, once lost, can’t be re-created,” he adds.

k.

[lttlbddy]

“Any historic object, once lost, can’t be re-created,”

To me that means that they will not rebuild it or allow it to be rebuilt. The NPS used to go with maintaining a "state of arrested decay", which means no improvements.

Maybe they will surprise me.

[Krusty]

Spent nights there several times !
the last time was about three months before all the press- spent the night i the front yard with Bender and The Johnson family--

we did the popular - Plesant Canyon/ the ridge/ South Park-- up Goler to the ranch, spent the evening throwing horse shoes, tented in the front yard--- breakfast and down into Death Valley-- stopping at the Motel---Bad Water, - and then out, back to Ridgecrest---
the place was in great shape then , clean, neat, the plants were all in good condition !!!!!!!!