When Terry travels he likes to go straight to his destination - no detours, no side trips. Heading from Big Sky to Rexburg, I talked him into just a little scenic sightseeing. We veered off the main highway to Mesa Falls. It's a beautiful place.
Terry was impressed. He couldn't believe that he was in Idaho. (He needs to get out in the mountains more.) I've visited these falls many, many times. It's now a state park with walkways, fences, and guard rails. When we visited in the 60s and 70s, it was a different story. I remember running down paths and standing on lava rocks right at the top of the falls. The mist makes things wet and slippery. It must have given my mom a heart attack. (Probably not Dad. He's always about kids having adventures, without thought of danger.)
The visitor center was built in 1906. It was used as part of the power company, a place for locals to have social events, and a boy scout lodge. When we use to visit, it was abandoned and rickety. We took an eight year old nephew into it and he fell through the floor in a closet. Someone skinny had to climb down and rescue him. Now it's a solid and beautiful interpretive center.
My dad has done a lot of fishing just below the falls. It's a nice float trip down to the Ashton Bridge. Terry and I just drove down, following the river. There were amazing vistas of the Tetons. Even Terry thought it was well worth the detour.
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