Legendary Boise

By Pamela Kleibrink Thompson

While many cities have urban lore, legendary people, or unforgettable experiences, Boise scores high in all categories. From tall tales to larger than life personalities, these are the types of stories that make a place the main character.

While there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that the Old Idaho Penitentiary is haunted, some visitors, including Ghost Adventures, have captured unexplainable images on their cameras. The Old Pen, an Idaho State Historical Society favorite, hosts paranormal groups and some people report sensing a “heaviness” or “strange feeling” when visiting the site, especially in Siberia (solitary confinement cells) and the Gallows Room in Maximum Security.

Built in 1870, the Old Pen is one of only four territorial prisons open to the public today. Most of the buildings are made of sandstone quarried by inmates in the foothills above the prison. During its 101 years of operation—from 1872 to December of 1973—the prison saw escapes, scandals, and the effects of Boise’s transition from the “wild west” to a mid-20th century capital city.

Over the years, the Old Pen housed more than 13,000 inmates, including Lyda Southard, the most infamous female inmate to serve time there. The state convicted Southard of the second-degree murder of her fourth husband. Her three previous hus- bands, her brother-in-law, and her child all died under similar, suspicious circumstances. After the autopsy of her fourth husband found a lethal dose of arsenic in his system, the attending physicians of the other deaths came to similar conclusions. Prosecuting Attorney Frank Stephan believed Southard to be “void of conscience; that she is an unmoral woman...void of faculty to discriminate between right and wrong. I do not believe her capable of remorse.” A decade into her ten-to-life sentence, Southard failed to qualify for parole and escaped. 15 months later, she returned and served the longest combined sentence for a female at 19 years and ten months. Southard was conditionally released in October 1941 and given a full pardon in April of 1943.

Only Idahoans know that, about four miles up Bogus Basin Road, after a sign warning drivers of black ice and slippery roads, there’s a metal cattle grate that marks the place in the road where the trolls climb aboard your vehicle en route to the lodge. It’s why you might see a car fling the door open, once marked by a “Caution Trolls” sign removed by ACHD.

“You bring them with you to ensure a good day, good snow, no crashes, and good fortune,” said Bogus Basin Director of Innovation & Marketing Austin Smith. On your way back, don’t forget to let them out on the way down so that they can return to their home under the cattle guard and get a good night’s rest.

Boise resident and three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Kristin Armstrong is the most decorated U.S. women’s cyclist of all time. The two-time World Champion has won six U.S. National Championships. She won the gold in Rio in 2016, one day before her 43rd birthday, making her the oldest female cyclist in history to win an Olympic medal.

Armstrong wanted to bring her championship philosophy to the general public, so in 2019 she founded PIVOT Lifestyle + Fitness by KA—a cohesive, results-oriented health and fitness center that empowers people to excel. “Pivot” refers to intentionally resetting direction to achieve a healthy, fulfilled life and realize dreams people thought were beyond their reach.

Born in Yukon, Oklahoma, Joe Albertson moved with his family to Caldwell, Idaho, when he was three. While attending The College of Idaho, he worked as a grocery clerk in the local Safeway store. He managed the Safeway in Emmett and soon oversaw more than a dozen stores as a district manager.

With $5,000 that he and his wife, Kathryn, had saved and $7,500 that he borrowed from Kathryn’s aunt, Joe opened his first Albertsons supermarket at 16th and State Streets in Boise in 1939. He soon opened stores in Nampa and Caldwell. After WWII, the Albertsons chain expanded to more than 2,500 stores in 37 states. Joe and Kathryn established the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation, which has donated significant sums to education-related programs in Idaho.

An eighth grade dropout from the tiny town of Declo, John R. Simplot saw business opportunities others overlooked, eventually leveraging ownership of a potato sorter into a distribution business. He added onions to his offerings when a buyer of dehydrated onions complained about the service he’d been getting from his supplier. Simplot offered the buyer a better deal, and although he didn’t know anything about dehydration, he recognized opportunities. J.R. Simplot Company has likely employed more people for more years than any other private employer in Idaho. He took chances, experimented, and helped launch Micron Technology. In an Esquire interview, Simplot offered this advice to entrepreneurs: “Put bets down on the right people and give them responsibility.”

Idaho offers spectacular outdoor scenery, and one way to make the most of it is to rent a campervan from Wandervans and “create an itinerary for the adventure you crave.”

Wandervans offers three differently sized vehicles, including luxury RVs for couples or families. Best of all, they’re available for pickup in Boise.

If a vacation rental is more your style, in Idaho or anywhere else, check out Vacasa, which offers a diverse selection of vacation rentals. From sunny studios to historic homes, the site lets you filter for accommodations based on location, vacation, duration, and amenities.

iTrip Vacations Boise-McCall is another option for those who want to stay in a unique property or even rent out their own space. Find great options like The Retreat Links & Spa at Silvies Valley Ranch, which offers food, dining, experiences, spa days, and more.

If you’re looking for something more traditional, check out Tamarack Resort, just 90 miles north of Boise. This all-season destination is home to an alpine village with luxurious, mountain-modern lodging options and 1,100+ acres of lift-accessed terrain. “Tamarack offers much more than skiing and snowboarding,” said Wolfe Ashcraft, VP of Marketing and Operations at Tamarack Resort. “Guests looking for adventure and activities away from the slopes will find 15 miles of dog-friendly snowshoeing, fat-biking, and Nordic ski trails as well as guided ice-fishing trips on nearby Lake Cascade. Or, if you prefer some relaxation and rejuvenation, then indulge in one of the restorative treatments at the revamped Spa at Tamarack.”

Those who seek luxurious accommodations while stargazing or golfing in the McCall area can check out Shore Lodge, which was established in 1948. Whether you seek adventure or relaxation at The Cove, An Authentic McCall Spa, Shore Lodge offers unrivaled resort amenities including access to Payette Lake through a private sandy beach and marina; three distinct dining venues covering casual fare, fine dining, and elevated bar bites, an in-house theater, access to a championship golf course; meeting spaces, and The Tank game room. Sweet times await you in one of the 77 suites with breathtaking views.

You may discover that you want to own a piece of paradise. If so, explore the offerings at Shore Lodge Whitetail, a premier private community. In the heart of the Salmon River Mountains, set above Payette Lake, this gated community features a private club and recreational amenities, including a Golf Digest “Top 100” championship golf course designed by twotime U.S. Open Winner Andy North. The Whitetail Club offers a choice of homesites, custom homes, and cabin homes for sale.

On the National Register of Historic Places, the 870-acre Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch features breathtaking natural beauty and a relaxed atmosphere. Located in the Sawtooth Mountains near Stanley, the ranch opened on June 25, 1930, with the completion of the main lodge, nine guest cabins, a hydroelectric plant, fishpond, and natural hot springs pool. Fly casting clinics, fly

rods, paddle boats, guided hikes, mountain bikes and trails, paddle boards, and a recreational center are all available. The historic lodge and cabins have been artfully refurbished and redecorated.

Nestled beneath the Blue Mountains, just four miles east of Pendleton, Oregon, Wildhorse Resort & Casino is located on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Built in 2011, the ten-story tower hotel has an indoor pool, spa, hot tub, fitness center, and business center. With a five-screen cineplex, numerous restaurants, a Las Vegas-style casino, a bowling center, arcade, and two golf courses, Wildhorse offers a multitude of opportunities to have fun.