A new Don is in charge at Galena Lodge, north of Ketchum. The new regime has already brought the lodge into ship-shape order, with a new stove, dishwasher and renovated office space.
Don Shepler and his wife, Erin Zell, are now fully ensconced as Galena Lodge's new operators. Some changes the couple already implemented include alterations to the menu. Original recipes that complement the old standbys are the least you can expect from chef Don.
Traditions like the youth camp, however, are still part of the program, as well as daily horseback rides.
Opening day for Galena Lodge is Saturday, with a barbecue, followed by the Galena Lodge Father's Day Brunch on Sunday.
As new aromas waft in the air of the renovated kitchen, Shepler and Zell boast a unique freshness in their inaugural season.
Already, the couple has hosted a Wilderness First Responder Course taught by Wilderness Medical Associates instructor James Butler. The course included training for Zell and lodge staffers, Amy Benson and Shane Deering.
"To me it's just perfect with all this (natural beauty) around you," Deering said of his work environment after he and Benson spent much of the previous day observing mountain goats and their kids near Smiley Creek. "You can hike or go for a relaxed bike ride. It's a great place to come up for a burger and a beer—a veggie-burger if you're a vegetarian."
The Wilderness First Responder course was very well attended and a second course this season may be scheduled for the fall.
The lodge is open all summer and serves as an historic recreational hub en route to other adventures, Zell said. A number of cycling events swing by the lodge, as do random travelers in search of a break.
• Opening day for Galena Lodge is Saturday, June 17, with the annual Friends of Galena barbecue, noon - 3 p.m.
• Galena Lodge Father's Day Brunch, Sunday, June 18, 10:30 a.m. -2:30 p.m.
• Galena Youth Adventure Camp.
• Galena Stage Stop Corral horse back rides.
• Two Wheel 5 p.m. Tuesdays.
• Galena Stage Stop Corral wagon rides and barbecues, Thursdays, through Aug. 31.
• Galena Grinder/Whit Henry Memorial Mountain Bike Race, Sunday, July 23. Registration information will be posted on the Galena Lodge Web site.
For more information about activities visit www.galenalodge.com. As the satellite dish gets up and running updates and details about events will be added to the Web site.
Transportation is available between Ketchum and Galena. To sign up for a ride or any of the events, call the lodge at 726-4010.
Galena Lodge has new managers and a big summer lineup of activities. Don Shepler and Erin Zell are now fully ensconced at the lodge?s helm.
