Saying goodbye to the Bridal Vail Falls of my childhood

When I was a child my family went on many, many road trips. My father, who is now in his 80’s still thinks he needs to drive up to Globe (a three hour  trip) once a week.

My memories of these trips are all wonderful. I remember driving through Oak Creek Canyon in the pouring rain, being excited when we saw those dinosaurs on the way to Disneyland, and then there is the vast openness of the Navajo reservation between Flagstaff and Utah.

I love to drive. I am married to a non lover of road trips so we don’t do them nearly as often as when I was a kid, which is fine because my kids seems to have inherited my husband’s preferences to driving long distances.

This last week we did make it up to Utah for the 4^th of July. It’s been six years since we have made this trip. We seemed to have taken the Arizona heat with us since it was over 100 degrees there most of the week, yet, we still had a great time. My husband, who is a mountain man at heart, fell in love with the trails surrounding the city. He fished and biked, we all hikes, and picnicked, and had an overall amazing week with my Utah family.

On Sunday we decided to head down to Provo where the Bridal Vail Falls are. Now, these falls are what I remember of the Utah from my childhood. I hate heights, yet, I would be suckered intro riding the tram to the top. Living in the desert, one doesn’t see much water. I remember thinking the falls were the most beautiful things created.

Fast-forward seventeen years to last weekend. I couldn’t wait to show my kids these falls of my youth. We drove an hour and a half out of our way just to check them out. My husband had never seen them so he was game for whatever.

Then we got there… and I thought… this isn’t the right place. The tram was gone along with the restaurant that sat on the top of the cliffs and where there used to be a gift shop on the bottom there is now just a shack made of plywood.

This place was crowded with families that left their trash all over the place. I am all for families coming to spend time at the falls, that was what we were doing, but pick up after yourself, and keep an eye on your kids.

We were there maybe two minutes tops and then I was heading back to my car. No, I did not take any pictures. That is why you wont see any here. I am not going to lie, there were tears in my eyes, (and I was a bit angry).

I did remember hearing something about an avalanche the winter after I was last in Provo. I looked it up on my phone as soon as I reached my car and got all of the gory details. Apparently, it was the second time an avalanche took out the tram. It all sounded pretty devastating. I read through it and understood why the tram wasn’t rebuilt. But, why not the visitors center, why not replant some trees around the base?

I was in a bit of a funk all day. I felt as if something cherished from my childhood was gone forever. Then I started feeling old, (but that is another issue all together).  I have heard older people complain about the world changing. I had always rolled my eyes and thought they were just not progressive. Now, I think I get it. It is sad when something from your past is no longer there.

Anyway, sorry for the gloomy post.

This summer has been crazy, and I have been crazy busy. It’s definitely one of those monthly blog post’s summers. Busy is good. It means we have places to go, people to see, and memories to make.

Here’s to wishing you and yours a crazy busy summer too.