JACKSON FORK INN

Chris Petersen has lived in this Valley for 80 years. Chris’s and the Jackson Fork Inn have become landmarks sitting beside the highway for 47 years. That’s a long time in anyone’s book for businesses to survive up here in the Valley. History details one business after another failing, moving on, or burning down. Over the years, it’s taken a lot of grit and determination for Chris, his wife Carol and the Petersen family, to make it work.

Both Chris and Carol and their families, are all made from original Mormon Pioneer stock. They haven’t always done things the way people have expected them to. If Brigham Young had still been around, they’d have probably been driven out, because either you did what you were told to do, or you didn’t do business. Simple as that. Even permits to sell alcohol were usually given only to friends or business associates of important people. Records tell us that as soon as the Hotel Utah, in Salt Lake City was paid for, the bar on the premises was closed. While he will tell you that he would have admired the tenacity and business acumen of Brigham, Chris would have been more like Jim Bridger, as the picture depicts inside his place. Bridger couldn’t buck the odds against powerful people, but folks like the Petersen’s started breaking the mold years ago. Today, many Mormon owned establishments sell alcohol. It was an uphill climb for the Petersen’s as well, when not so many years ago, nearly everyone grew up on a farm. The goals were just to make a living, put a roof over your head, and teach your children to do the same, hoping you’d all make your way in the world the best you could. Chris and Carol saw something different for their family, and to make it happen, they knew they needed a lot of help and they needed to diversify. Something about not putting all your eggs in one basket. So they’ve put every effort into finding what would work, and grinding through what didn’t.

Today, in the coldest part of the winter, there isn’t a better feeling than to come into Chris’s and see that big rock fireplace blazing away with a real old fashioned fire. It gives the place a feel and warmth that you rarely find anymore. Many people miss the original horse drawn buggy situated above the bar, but the rest of the décor give a hint of the past, the feel of the Old West, memorabilia of a family, and a love for the place we all live in. People like the Petersen’s are part of Huntsville.

Moving the big beautiful barn now known as The Jackson Fork Inn, to its present location was an inspiration. The people who helped or watched this fantastic feat, still talk about how the move became the focus of a lot of attention in the Valley. As growth and change occurred everywhere, homes were always moved, but as the historic and magnificent barns of another era slowly disappear throughout the West, Petersen’s had the foresight to use and preserve this barn as part of their vision. As years go by, it’s value and beauty, and mere existence takes on greater meaning, especially for those of us who love the preservation of our history and our past. Not a week goes by that people don’t stop and take a picture, or stay to capture it’s likeness on canvas. So the Petersen’s dream and efforts have exceeded their intentions, and have been a benefit to everyone who stops to do business, capture the beauty, or to enjoy the drive. The Jackson Fork Inn serves some of the finest foods in this unique setting. If you choose, you can have a glass of wine. You can also spend a comfortable night in an original barn (where many of us can claim we were raised).

Over the years, as homes and recreation dominated over agriculture, the existing facilities were changed and expanded as well. RV rental, and repair became available, along with the gas, goodies, and trailer hookups being provided.

When Petersen’s built their business, Huntsville boundaries were just across the highway, and the original culinary water line came behind the Jackson Fork Inn, and into Town. Even though relations have been strained at times, Petersen’s asked the Town if they could hook up to the water line. Over the years, the Town maintained there was not enough water to supply his place, and since he was not in Huntsville, its use was intended for citizens only. It would be a slippery slope if the Town let Petersen’s annex property against the traditionally established boundary of the highway, or hook up to the water. In those days, people understood only to well what a critical and changing resource water is, because year after year, we still continue to fight over it. It was never wise to expand past what was prudent. So like everyone else on the edge of Huntsville they stayed in the County, and sunk wells for their water. Over the years, from time to time, Chris has inquired about hooking into the pressurized Town water. The answer was always no. Chris says he understood this, but he had to ask anyway.

8 years ago, at their own expense, Petersen’s were allowed to put a hydrant on the line for fire protection for them as well as their neighbors. When the line was recently improved by the Town, that hydrant was removed, and replaced by several others 500 ft and up the hill behind Jackson Fork Inn. The original has never been replaced or reimbursed. While he doesn’t know the reasons, it’s obvious what the intentions are. In the process of the current Mayor’s inspection of this work, Chris asked if they would now be permitted to connect. Considering the Town had already set a precedent of “jumping the highway” down the road, to support the construction of a business in direct competition to the Petersen’s, and that everyone knew water hookups were now being allowed everywhere outside of Town, they felt that if anyone was entitled to town water, they were. Chris supposes that’s why the Mayor finally said yes. While access to the water would no longer be denied, excessive requirements dictated for the hook-up presences significant obstacles: The fees would be $8,000. 3 hook ups would be required. And instead of coming into the back of the property where their current lines are now running, they would have to run new ones across existing parking areas, tearing up asphalt, other existing service lines, adding new connection areas, which would be a nightmare, and so cost prohibitive that it wouldn’t be worth the time, money, effort or reconstruction to do it. This has effectively prohibited access to the water that’s been passing along their property for 47 years. It’s an old trick, an in use in many forms in the Valley.

New hookups to new homes and developments continue to be permitted for “the right price” outside of Town, with more to follow. It would only seem reasonable that Huntsville would show more cooperation to long time and contributing residents than it does to new residents, or to people who’ve come here just to exploit what they can get, and leave. It’s no stretch what the Petersen’s perspective’s are: The Town accommodates non-residents by jumping traditionally established Town boundaries, annexing a piece that would become direct competition just down the road, while providing obstacles to long standing residents of the Valley. Maybe if it was someone else, it might be accommodated a little more. While most of the people moving to this Valley are nice people, it doesn’t constitute preferential treatment based on money, or anything else. Many GHA residents fell the same way.

So rent a wave runner, buy something handmade out of wood, sip hot cocoa in front of a crackling fire now winter’s settled over the Valley. Enjoy a great dinner and a night in a special place, listening for ghosts, underneath a big Jackson Fork from days gone by. We are all different, and been given the right to be so. We need to be equitably treated going about our dreams, whatever those might be.

We wish the Petersen’s continued success, and acknowledge their accomplishments in adding to the unique history, character, and the feel of this beautiful Valley.