Two locals saw magic in Utah’s “rough stretch of road” – now millions visit yearly

Pectol and Hickman’s 23-Year Fight for Capitol Reef

In 1914, two Utah men saw more than just rocks in Wayne County’s red canyons.

Ephraim Pectol, a store owner and Mormon bishop, joined with his brother-in-law Joseph Hickman to name and push their “Wayne Wonderland.”

Most folks then saw the area as just “a bad place to lose a cow.”

Yet the pair shot photos, wrote stories, and built a Boosters’ Club by 1921. Their work paid off when Hickman, now a state lawmaker, got a small state park made in 1924.

Sadly, Hickman drowned in 1925, but Pectol kept at it alone. After 23 years of work, Capitol Reef National Monument was born in 1937.

The stunning landscape they fought to save now draws visitors from around the world.

Two Utah Locals Spotted Beauty Where Others Saw Wasteland

Ephraim Pectol moved to Torrey in 1910 and bought a general store after living in Cainesville for 22 years.

His brother-in-law Joseph Hickman, grandson of pioneer Bill Hickman, worked as principal at Wayne County High School.

The pair began taking photos of Wayne County’s colorful canyons in 1914, nicknaming the area “Wayne Wonderland.”

While most travelers saw the region as “a rough stretch of road”, Pectol recognized its beauty after years passing through what later became Capitol Reef.

Local Support Grew Through Their Hometown Booster Club

In 1921, Pectol started a Boosters’ Club in Torrey, making himself president and Ellis Robinson secretary. He sent photos and stories to any publication willing to print them, with Hickman helping out.

Almost nobody else in Wayne County understood how the unusual rock formations and colorful canyons could boost tourism.

Both men strongly believed visitors would come from across the country to see these natural wonders if they could spread the word and make the area accessible.

Their Campaign Spread Beyond Town Borders

The Boosters’ Club wasn’t enough to create proper buzz, so Hickman formed the bigger Wayne Wonderland Club in 1924-25, bringing in groups from nearby towns.

This organization later grew into the Associated Civics Club of Southern Utah.

By getting more communities throughout Wayne County involved, Hickman built wider support for protecting the area.

Their promotional campaign gained momentum as more people joined the cause and talked up Wayne Wonderland’s unique beauty.

Hickman Won Political Office And Created A State Park

Joseph Hickman got elected to the Utah State Legislature in November 1924. He quickly put forward a bill to turn part of Wayne Wonderland into a state park.

His bill passed, protecting 16 acres near Fruita including the natural bridge later named Hickman Bridge after him.

He also introduced a resolution asking the federal government to consider making Wayne Wonderland a national monument, taking their campaign to a higher level of protection.

Celebration Turned To Tragedy In Just Four Days

Dedication ceremonies happened in Torrey on July 20, 1925, with Utah Governor George Dern giving the main speech.

Workers put up a big sign reading “Gateway to Wayne Wonderland” over the Fremont River bridge west of town.

Just four days after this victory, Hickman went to Fish Lake with friends. A sudden storm flipped his boat, and Hickman, who couldn’t swim, drowned.

Pectol Carried The Torch Alone For A Decade

After losing his partner, Pectol watched the movement slow down but refused to quit.

He took over as president of the new Associated Civics Club of Southern Utah and kept pushing their shared vision.

For the next ten years, he often ignored his store business to focus on promoting Wayne Wonderland. The work that two passionate advocates once shared now fell entirely on Pectol’s shoulders.

Professional Photos Helped Spread The Word

The Civics Club gave $150 to hire Dr. J.E. Broaddus, a well-known scenic photographer from Salt Lake City, at Pectol’s suggestion.

Broaddus came to Wayne Wonderland and took quality photos of its natural beauty.

For several years after, he showed these pictures and gave talks about Wayne Wonderland throughout the region.

This publicity helped more people learn about the area and built support for federal protection of these unique landscapes.

Pectol Got Elected And Immediately Pushed For Federal Protection

In 1933, voters sent Pectol to the Utah State Legislature. Almost his first action was asking Congress to create Wayne Wonderland National Monument.

He reached out directly to President Franklin Roosevelt requesting the national monument status. Federal agencies began studying the area and figuring out where the boundaries should go.

Pectol used his political position to advance the cause he had championed for nearly two decades.

He Guided Officials Through The Canyons For Years

During the next four years, Pectol often left his business behind to lead federal investigators through the area.

He worked on boundary surveys with help from Arthur Meeks, Arthur Chaffin, and George Okerlund. More and more visitors and officials came to see the scenic value of the region, and Pectol showed them around.

The photos and talks by Broaddus had worked just as planned, changing how government officials viewed this once-overlooked landscape.

Roosevelt Finally Made It Official With His Signature

President Franklin Roosevelt signed Proclamation 2246 on August 2, 1937, creating Capitol Reef National Monument. The proclamation protected 37,711 acres in the heart of Wayne Wonderland for everyone to enjoy.

The protected area stretched about two miles north of present State Route 24 and about 10 miles south past Capitol Gorge.

Officials chose the name “Capitol Reef” instead of “Wayne Wonderland” because it better described the specific geological features of the area.

The Monument Took Years To Actually Open To Visitors

No money came with the monument designation during the Great Depression.

Capitol Reef National Monument didn’t officially open to the public until 1950, thirteen years after Roosevelt signed the proclamation.

Pectol died on October 8, 1947, but lived long enough to see the monument he had worked 23 years to create.

In 1971, Congress upgraded Capitol Reef to national park status, fully realizing the vision Pectol and Hickman had started back in 1914 when they first recognized the beauty others missed.

Visiting Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

Capitol Reef National Park at 52 Scenic Drive in Torrey costs $20 for seven days (America the Beautiful passes work too).

The visitor center opens 8am-4:30pm daily except major holidays.

You can hike the 1. 7-mile Hickman Bridge Trail to see the 133-foot natural bridge named for Joseph Hickman, who helped campaign for the park’s creation.

Pectols Pyramid, a sandstone peak named for Ephraim Pectol, is visible from several viewpoints throughout the park.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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