Covered Wagon Camp auto cabin court, four miles west of Green River.
Covey's Little America, Granger
Usually, the old Mon and Pop cabin courts have faded from existence. One, however, has survived and thrived, complete with its own zip
code, 82929. Near Granger, out in the lonely, wind blown, high desert, is an oasis for travellers, Little America. Covey's Little America was started in 1934 by Stephen Mack
Covey (1869-1959) as a small gas station-motel-cafe. Covey claimed that he was inspired to provide to
start his operation when about 40 years before as a sheep herder he spent a night out in the area when it was 40 below. He vowed
then that someday he would return and provide an oasis for those caught out in the area. On one of his placemats he later explained:
 Away back in the nineties when I was a youngster and herding sheep in this dreary section of Wyoming, I became lost in a raging
northeast blizzard and was forced to "Lay Out" all night at this exact place where Little American now stands. that long
January night in that terrible storm, with a fifty mile wind and the termperature about 40 below passed very, very slowly, and oh, how I longed fro a warm
fire side, something to eat and wool blankets. I though what a blessing it would be if some good soul would built a house of shelter of some kind on that god-forsaken spot. Many times in my heart I've promised one there . . and
even dreamed it.
A few years ao when I saw Admiral Byrd's photos of "Little America" in Antartic and his isolation so
many miles from his base of supplies it reminded me of my experience in that Nor'easter. The thought came back to me to fullfil that promise to erect a monument and have of refusge on the spot of my harrowing experience. The name , of course, was a natural "LITTLE AMERICA"
. . . A promise kept . . . A dream come true.
It should not be taken, however, that Covey was a poor sheepherder spending weeks on end in a lonely sheepwagon out in the
Red Dessert. The Covey brothers owned some 1600 square mies of land from 40 miles east of Evanston eastward for 80 miles used to winter some 150,000 head of
sheep. They additionally controlled another 1600 square mies using "checkerboard" ownership. For explanation of "checkerboard control, see
Rawlins.
The motel was modest with 12 cabins, 2 gas pumps and 24 seats in the cafe. A small bar and cocktail lounge called the
"Palm Room" was added and then a hotel. As the facility grew, it became the minnow that swallowed the whale, eventually swallowing a major oil
company. It was, put another way, the penquin that swallowed a brontosaurus.
Lunch Counter, Covey's Little America.
Not shown in the above photo were the slot machines. Prices at the lunch counter were also modest.
Hamburgers were 35 cents and ice cream cones 5 cents. Gasoline was 16 cents a gallon.
Palm Room, Covey's Little America.
Bar, Covey's Little America.
Covey's Little America, Granger
Hotel, Covey's Little America, Granger
In 1948, The original facility depicted above burned down.
|