Clear skies. Low 61F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..
Clear skies. Low 61F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
Clear skies. Low 61F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..
Clear skies. Low 61F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
A guard rail is being installed around the Vore Buffalo Jump and a handrail is being installed along the path leading to the bottom of the sinkhole used by American Indians thousands of years ago to slaughter buffalo. Pioneer photo by Mark Watson
A guard rail is being installed around the Vore Buffalo Jump and a handrail is being installed along the path leading to the bottom of the sinkhole used by American Indians thousands of years ago to slaughter buffalo. Pioneer photo by Mark Watson
BEULAH, Wyo. — It looks as if the Vore Buffalo Jump will get to open this summer after all.
In 2014, the Vore Buffalo Jump Foundation learned that without a guardrail surrounding the archeological site, the group’s liability insurance carrier would not allow them to open for visitors.
Their pleas for monetary help earlier this month have been a success.
“We have enough for materials already and work began last week,” said Dr. Jacqueline Wyatt, president of the non-profit foundation that manages the site. “the support from the community has been fabulous.”
The group has received donations ranging from $10-$3,000.
“We ended up getting galvanized steel pipe, so that upped the cost,” she said of the railing.
The insurance company is requiring the sinkhole to be surrounded with the guardrail strong enough to support a 200-pound person. Additionally a handrail needs to be installed along the path leading to the bottom of the sinkhole.
At the bottom of the 40-foot deep sink hole, a treasure was found some 45 years ago.
In 1969, as engineers were plotting the path for Interstate 90, crews found the sinkhole and drilled into the bottom to check for stability. The drillers found bones from the holes and called archaeologists from the University of Wyoming.
Over two years of excavations, in 1970 and 1971, archaeologists dug down 25 feet before finally reaching the final layer of bones from buffalo estimated to have been killed around the year 1500.
About five American Indian tribes used the jump to kill thousands of buffalo from around 1500 to the 1800s. In those 300 years, they killed an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 bison.
Approximately 7,000 paid visitors tour the site annually.
The foundation received a Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund to pay for half of the project, but it will only match funds raised. More than $6,000 is needed to install the guardrail.
“We’ve got it, I think,” Wyatt said.
The group learned of the need last summer and hoped a good visitor season would allow them the funds to purchase the railing as well as pay on the loan that was issued to dig a well and build the tipi exhibit hall at the site.
They did not have a good season and were only able to make a partial payment on the loan.
Wyatt said that any funds received beyond what is needed to install the guardrail would be put toward paying off the loan. Contributions are tax deductible, and individual donors of more than $100 and corporate donors of more than $250 will be acknowledged on a plaque that will be mounted on the new rail.
For donations, please go to www.vorebuffalojump.org/content/capital-campaign. Another involvement option is to go to www.vorebuffalojump.org and scroll down to click on the “capital campaign” button.
For further information, please contact Wyatt directly at jwyatt.sciedit@gmail.com or (307) 281-0011.
Your comment has been submitted.
There was a problem reporting this.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.
Get 14 days of local news with our Black Hills Pioneer e-edition
Locally Owned and Operated Since 1876
Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email.
Classifieds from Black Hills Pioneer
Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don't miss out on updates.
Find out what's happening with the latest events in our community.
Each day's obituaries, delivered to your inbox.
Receive occasional local offers from our website and its advertisers.
Get the latest headlines on local sports!
Get our expert short-term forecast, summary of the weather details and news of any severe weather.
We'll send breaking news and news alerts to you as they happen!
Best trending stories from the week.
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Invalid password or account does not exist
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account.
Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
A receipt was sent to your email.