Farragut State Park

Farragut State Park
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
Lake Pend Oreille from Farragut State Park
Map showing the location of Farragut State Park
Map showing the location of Farragut State Park
Location in the United States
Map showing the location of Farragut State Park
Map showing the location of Farragut State Park
Location in Idaho
LocationKootenai County, Idaho, United States
Nearest cityAthol, Idaho
Coordinates47°57′05″N 116°36′08″W / 47.95139°N 116.60222°W / 47.95139; -116.60222[1]
Area4,000 acres (1,600 ha)[1]
Elevation2,054 ft (626 m)[1]
DesignationIdaho state park
Established1966
AdministratorIdaho Department of Parks and Recreation
WebsiteFarragut State Park

Farragut State Park is a public recreation area in the northwest United States, located in northern Idaho at the southern tip of Lake Pend Oreille in the Coeur d'Alene Mountains.[2] The 4,000-acre (1,600 ha) state park is five miles (8 km) east of Athol in Kootenai County, about thirty miles (50 km) northeast of Coeur d'Alene. Activities include camping, picnicking, hiking, mountain biking, cycling, fishing, boating, swimming, water sports, orienteering, disc golf, flying model aircraft, archery, and horseback riding.[1]

History

Main article: Farragut Naval Training Station

The park grounds were formerly the Farragut Naval Training Station, a major training base of the U.S. Navy during World War II.[3] Over 293,000 sailors received basic training at Farragut during its 30 months of existence. The last recruit graduated in March 1945 and the facility was decommissioned in June 1946.[4][5]

College

From 1946–49, it was the site of the Farragut College and Technical Institute,[6][7][8][9][10] which had copious athletic facilities.[11] It ceased operations prior to the fall term in 1949, due to decreased enrollment and financial difficulties.[12][13]

State park

In 1950, the federal government transferred 3,854 acres (6.0 sq mi; 15.6 km2) of the former Farragut Naval Training Center to the Idaho department of fish and game,[14] creating the Farragut Wildlife Management Area. The department transferred 2,566 acres (4.0 sq mi; 10.4 km2) back to the federal government in 1964; this was deeded to the state parks department and became Farragut State Park by an act of the state legislature in 1966.[15]

Scouting

Farragut State Park is significant in the history of Scouting in Idaho. It hosted the National Girl Scout Senior Roundup in 1965,[16][17] the World Scout Jamboree in 1967,[18][19][20] the National Scout Jamboree in 1969 and 1973, and the 2002 Star Northwest of the Boy Scouts of America. The world event in 1967 was the only time it had been held in the United States until 2019.[21]

While traveling to the moon aboard Apollo 11 on July 18, 1969, astronaut Neil Armstrong extended a greeting to the Scouts attending the national jamboree in Idaho.[22] Armstrong was an Eagle Scout from Ohio. Frank Borman, astronaut and commander of Apollo 8, addressed the Scouts, as did Lady Baden-Powell, the widow of Scouting's founder.[23] At the Jamboree in 1973, Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, Chief of Naval Operations, and Gene Cernan, astronaut and commander of Apollo 17, addressed the Scouts.[24]

Wildlife

The residential animals of this state park are bass, trout, white-tailed deer, moose, elk, mountain goat, cougar, and black bear.

Activities and amenities

The park offers traditional recreational opportunities such as picnicking, boating, swimming, hiking, and camping, as well as disc golf, a model airplane flying field, the Naval Training Center and a museum.[25] A remaining military feature is the Museum at the Brig, located in the confinement facility of the naval training station. Its displays include boot camp, naval, and war memorabilia as well as historic prison cells.[26]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Farragut State Park". Idaho Parks and Recreation. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  2. ^ Cort Conley (1982). Idaho for the Curious. Backeddy Books. pp. 288–292. ISBN 0-9603566-3-0.
  3. ^ "Giant naval center at Farragut, Idaho, is revealed from air". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Wash. (photo). October 21, 1945. p. 1.
  4. ^ "Farragut center decommissioned". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Spokane, Wash. June 15, 1946. p. 1.
  5. ^ "Farragut closed in formal Navy flag ceremony". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Lewiston, Idaho. Associated Press. June 16, 1946. p. 2.
  6. ^ "Time changes face of former Farragut Naval Training Center". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Wash. August 2, 1957. p. 30.
  7. ^ "Farragut U. opening is set". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). September 29, 1946. p. 17.
  8. ^ "185 register as Farragut opens". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). October 15, 1946. p. 6.
  9. ^ "Ex-GIs start own college". Milwaukee Journal. North American Newspaper Alliance. September 26, 1946. p. 7, part 3.
  10. ^ French, Ellsworth C. (November 16, 1948). "Farragut education leaders study the college outlook". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. a3.
  11. ^ Roskelley, Fenton A. (November 1, 1946). "Sports facilities fabulous at Farragut--but no teams". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 15.
  12. ^ French, Ellsworth C. (November 1, 1949). "Giant Farragut installation rapidly being whittled away". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 5.
  13. ^ "Farragut College and Technical Institute records, 1946-1950". Archives West. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  14. ^ "Farragut conversion starts". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. December 10, 1950. p. 10.
  15. ^ Bryan Helmich; Paul Hanna (July 1999). "Farragut Wildlife Management Area Management Plan" (PDF). Idaho Department of Fish and Game. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 2, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  16. ^ Myers, Robert (July 11, 1965). "Scenic Idaho camp ready for Girl Scouts of world". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Wash. Associated Press. p. 17.
  17. ^ Glynn, James B. (July 15, 1965). "Smylie opens scout show". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Wash. p. 1.
  18. ^ "Farragut named site of Boy Scout Jamboree". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. July 30, 1965. p. 1.
  19. ^ Gasman, Bill (August 2, 1967). "Farragut dedicated as Jamboree opens". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Wash. p. 1.
  20. ^ "Boy Scouts active at jamboree at Farragut". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Spokane, Wash. (photos). August 3, 1967. p. 14.
  21. ^ Gasman, Bill (January 30, 1966). "Farragut awaits big scout jamboree". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Wash. p. 9.
  22. ^ "Apollo 11 – Day 3, part 2: Entering Eagle – Transcript". NASA. April 11, 2010. Archived from the original on January 4, 2011. I'd like to say hello to all my fellow Scouts and Scouters at Farragut State Park in Idaho having a National Jamboree there this week; and Apollo 11 would like to send them best wishes". Capsule communicator Charles Duke replied: "Thank you, Apollo 11. I'm sure that, if they didn't hear that, they'll get the word through the news. Certainly appreciate that.
  23. ^ "Scouts close jamboree with big varied show". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Spokane, Wash. July 23, 1969. p. 14.
  24. ^ "Scouts embrace credo". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Spokane, Wash. August 8, 1973. p. 3.
  25. ^ "Farragut State Park". Visit Northern Idaho. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  26. ^ "Museum at the Brig" (PDF). Idaho Parks and Recreation. Retrieved October 17, 2018.