The Jerry Walker Cabin is nestled in aspen just off the main road into the Gospel-Hump Wilderness Area (Crooked River Road/FS road #233), approximately nine miles south of State Highway 14, in the heart of the Nez Perce National Forest.
Due to the easy access and a maintained road, Crooked River is a popular area for many recreational opportunities, including camping, hiking, hunting, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. Located behind the cabin is a nice hiking trail, and wildlife is commonly encountered in the area.
Just around the corner from the Jerry Walker Cabin is Orogrande, an old historical mining town where the original hotel is still standing. Also, there are several lakes within a three mile radius that are very accessible either by foot or ATV.
The cabin was originally built around 1930 as a summer home by Robert “Shorty” McMillian of Spokane. Jerry Walker, a long-time Grangeville jewelry store owner and lifelong resident of Idaho County, purchased the cabin from McMillian and his wife, Orpha, in 1967. Walker and his wife, Helen, enjoyed the use of their summer cabin until about 1980. On December 31, 1980, the special use permit from the Nez Perce National Forest for the recreational residence expired and could not be renewed under the terms of the permit. Rather than move the cabin or sell it, in order to preserve it, the Walkers chose to donate it to the US Forest Service so the cabin could be maintained on the site and put to use for other recreationists.
The US Forest Service is currently offering the cabin to the public for rent at $20 per day. The rustic cabin has two bedrooms with two single beds in each room, a living room with wood insert in the fireplace, several chairs, and kitchen facilities with a wood cook stove. The cabin is served by an outdoor toilet and has no running water.
The closest town, Elk City, is a remote community with limited facilities: a grocery store, restaurant, bar, Laundromat/convenience store/gas stations, and overnight facilities.
To reserve the cabin, interested parties should log onto the National Recreation Reservation Service at www.recreation.gov, or call 877-444-6777 for more information.
Take a step back into history - Visit the ghost town of Orogrande, (Spanish for "coarse gold"), once a trading center for the Buffalo Hump Mining district, with a store, a post office and a fine hotel. Built in 1899, the decaying hotel structure still stands in the center of town.
