Spotlight on Glenns Ferry

Glenns Ferry has a rich history steeped in the stories of American pioneers and the historic Oregon Trail. This is, after all, the site of the famous “Three Island Crossing,” a somewhat dangerous crossing of the Snake River that took nearly 20 miles off the trip west for those brave enough to ford the waters here.

Some wagoneers chose to take the long route, some plunged into the river with various outcomes, and one industrious entrepreneur – Gus Glenn – built a ferry to safely shuttle the pioneers across the river. With that start, Glenns Ferry was born. It didn’t take long for others to look around at this verdant valley and decide to stay as well.

Three Island Crossing State Park is home to The Oregon Trail History and Education Center where visitors can learn about pioneer emigrants and Native American history.

Glenns Ferry today has small town charm, with a tight-knit downtown offering up everything from homemade fudge to farm equipment. Most evident of the area’s main industry are the prevalent green fields that yield up a variety of crops: potatoes, red onions, an assortment of beans and hay. (Newer to the area are vineyards – but more about that below.)

And, of course, there is the river. The Snake River that carved out this small valley created a dramatic backdrop for Glenns Ferry. Sheer cliff walls capture the morning and evening light, reflecting colors across the valley. The winding river cuts through the area, leaving rich soil at its banks and providing not only a beautiful natural asset but a recreational treasure too. Hunting and fishing are plentiful here. There’s a reason why organic potato farmer Nate Jones refers to this place as “the center of the universe.”

Glenns Ferry celebrated its 100th year of incorporation in 2009.

Industry and Business

Carmela Vineyards has become a focal point for the community for its dining, 9-hole golf course, and meeting facilities.  The beautiful stone French chateau-style winery, which overlooks the banks of the Snake River, also makes a scenic setting for weddings as well as a casual stopover for those with recreational vehicles. Thirty acres of vineyards are planted with cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, cabernet franc, merlot and more species of grapes – and the wine tasting room is open daily.

Owner Roger Jones initially bought the vineyards in 1997 for the land, and fell in love with the winery business along the way. He invested a couple of million dollars into the existing winery and created a destination spot for tourists and organizational meetings. Carmela is now the second-largest of Idaho’s nearly three dozen wineries. The wines are sold throughout the northwest, into the Los Angeles market and have also found popularity in Thailand and Taiwan.  

“Idaho’s a great place to live, whether you choose a small town or a more urban area,” said Jones. “The weather is wonderful, we have great universities here and there are good sports teams to watch.”

Numerous small businesses dot Glenns Ferry’s downtown area, catering primarily to the local population. The primary business of the region, however, is agriculture, with farmers and ranchers taking advantage of the rich soil deposits in the river valley.

Nate Jones, owner of Black Mesa Farms, returned to his family’s farm in 1990 and, at that time, received the state’s sixth certification as an organic operation. These days he primarily grows potatoes, onions and beans – but over the years he has worked at a variety of organic endeavors, from garlic to winter squash to beef.

“We have a long growing season here, longer than many areas,” said Jones. “And we have a soil-type here that is great for potatoes.”

Black Mesa Farms produce ends up in well-known organic frozen entrees made by Amy’s Kitchen as well as in co-op stores. While distribution channels can change from year-to-year, 2009’s crop of organic onions was headed to a Los Angeles distributor that ships to customers nationwide.

Pamela Swenson, a native Minnesotan, adopted Glenns Ferry as her home after she met the man she would marry while at college at University of Idaho in Moscow. She knew that marrying him meant moving to his hometown of Glenns Ferry, where he planned to live his life.

“This area has inspired me in so much of my work. It is incredibly beautiful here,” said Swenson, a professional artist who works in a number of mediums including watercolors and oils. The canyon walls and river that runs behind her home are featured in many of her paintings. Her studio, a rambling three-room building on the sprawling property, is crowded with her works and tools. Her studio is open by appointment at swensonpamela@hotmail.com.

While the family business is in hay, Swenson also runs the River Ranch Retreat, a charming two-bedroom cabin she has lovingly remodeled, painted and adorned with her artwork and various Native American artifacts found on the property. She is currently adding on a mudroom with the hopes it will appeal more to hunters once there is extra room to store their equipment and a cozy place for their dogs.