Bates Well

Another field trip, another van ride into the "hinter lands" of the park.  The ranger staff took us interp volunteers to a place called Bates Well Ranch in the northwest section of the park an area that is open to the public but not visited very often. 


   Ranching and the National Park Service do not often agree on philosophies and such was the case with the Gray family.  But they maintained several ranches in what became within the park boundries for many years after the national monument was formed in 1937.  (Until 1976 as a matter of fact)  It is now part of the history of this unique place/