Adventures in history

The Grand Encampment Museum (GEM) in Encampment, Wyo. recently bid farewell to former director Christy Smith as she departed the Valley for new adventures in history in Cheyenne. Before she left, however, she made sure that the GEM's new director, Tim Nicklas, was well-taken care of as he prepared to take on a new adventure himself.

"I would probably be drowning right now if it weren't for Cristy. She left that museum in such impeccable shape and when I came on board, she really took me by the hand," said Nicklas. "We owe her so much. I can tell you, that's not usually the case. Usually the predecessor leaves and that's it. Christy still makes herself available to me."

Nicklas is no stranger to history, though. A sixth-generation Coloradan, Nicklas was director of the Pioneer Village Museum in Hot Sulphur Springs, Colo. before making the move across the border to Wyoming. His departure from Hot Sulphur Springs was reported in Sky-Hi News on April 12, 2018 with the headline "One of Grand County's preeminent historians bids farewell." It may prove that Hot Sulphur Springs' loss is Encampment's gain.

During his time in Hot Sulphur Springs, Nicklas wrote a book on the history of Winter Park, Colo. and organized the 100th anniversary celebration of the Hot Sulphur Springs Carnival. The celebration lasted six weeks, from December 2011 to February 2012, just as the first event lasted from the end of 1911 to the beginning of 1912.

"That single event from 1911 and ended [sic] six weeks later in 1912 is considered the birth of Colorado's ski industry. In fact, the ski industry in the western United States," Nicklas said.

The event, which saw over 1,000 come to Hot Sulphur Springs during New Year's Eve in 2012, led to the Colorado State Legislature passing a resolution that recognized Hot Sulphur Springs as the birthplace of the Colorado ski industry.

So why, with the success Nicklas had in Colorado, would he make the move across the border?

"It's all about the museum and an opportunity to take on that challenge. It's such an amazing museum. I just couldn't pass it by. I see so much opportunity there. I really do," said Nicklas.

Since being here, Nicklas has seen first hand the amount of support the museum receives from the communities of Encampment and Riverside.

"I am amazed at how well that museum is supported by the community. The Encampment/Riverside community, they love the museum," Nicklas said. "They really take ownership of that museum. I don't think I've ever seen a better supported museum in any other community. A lot of times, these museums kind of go unnoticed and it's the people from the outside of the community that are impressed with these types of small town museums. Not so in Encampment."

That ownership, according to Nicklas, is not just found in the older generations of the two communities. The younger generation, he said, also has pride in the museum.

"These kids take ownership of the tours that they lead. They're very proud of what they have to present to visitors in the summer. Also, I encourage them to dig behind the scenes and see what else is in the museum to interest them," said Nicklas. "These kids, they really eat it up. What's great about this is, they're the ones who are going to carry the torch. They've got a lot more time to deal with this than I do. I'm approaching 50 years old, these kids are 15. They're going to be the ones carrying the legacy."

According to Nicklas, since arriving to his new home at GEM, he has run into residents in their 30s who have told him how much they enjoyed working at the museum during their years in high school and what great summers they had while doing so.

"It does leave an impact," said Nicklas.

The Colorado native and Wyoming transplant comes into the role of director at a time just before the busy season for the museum. Next month, GEM will be host to the Grand Encampment Cowboy Gathering, Sierra Madre Mountain Man Rendezvous and Living History Day. All three events are occurring on the same weekend. According to Nicklas, he is experiencing a combination of excitement and nervousness.

"Let's put it this way: I better not screw up. I'm very excited. I've been looking forward to this since I got here. Now I'm freaking out. It's just around the corner," Nicklas said.

Fortunately for Nicklas, Smith left detailed notes and instructions on how to proceed with the events and what would be expected of him. This has helped reign in the nerves while keeping his excitement intact.

"I'm excited to experience what that day is going to be. In fact, I have a whole contingent of people coming up from back in Hot Sulphur Springs for that day. They're coming up and camping out in Ryan Park and they timed it all just so they could come to Living History Day and the Rendezvous," said Nicklas.

While he has been busy with settling into his new position, that hasn't stopped Nicklas from beginning to research the area and discover new parts of its history. According to Nicklas, one of his more exciting finds has been discovering that Ryan Park had Wyoming's first chairlift.

"I believe that Ryan Park had Wyoming's very first chairlift ever. In fact, that chairlift predates any from Colorado. Snow King, up in Jackson, on their website they claim to have the earliest chairlift in Wyoming history. 1948. This chairlift started operation in 1941," Nicklas said.

In the July 17, 1941 edition of the Saratoga Sun, it was reported that the Ryan Park Ski Club "voted to erect a modern chair lift at the new area" during a meeting held by the club at "the hotel in Parco (now Sinclair)."

"The chairlift was installed by the Civilian Conservation Corp workers. They started working on it in 1938 and constructing that ski area up at Ryan Park and the chairlift went into operation right around the time Pearl Harbor was bombed," said Nicklas.

According to the December 11, 1941 edition of the Saratoga Sun, the chair lift had been completed and, in on January 22, 1942, it was reported that the chairlift was operational just in time for a tournament held by the Ryan Park Ski Club. The information found by Nicklas that Carbon County had an operational chair lift seven years before Teton County has him very excited.

"I'm going to let Snow King know, 'Hey, we beat you guys,'" said Nicklas.

Those wishing to meet Nicklas can do so at the GEM. Hours for GEM are 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.