Jack Nicklaus

Smith Brothers 1976

Hank Williams

Smith brothers 1986

HISTORY OF THREE RIVERS RESORT

In the early 1900's the Johnson family grazed sheep at their ranch on the Selway River. The property is now known as Johnson's Bar and Fenn Ranger Station. The sheep were herded across the river every fall just about where the restaurant is today.

The flat area of the resort was originally owned by the Art Grover family. They maintained a private airstrip and grazed their mules by the river. This was their hunting camp for many years.

Early in the 1960's the Vern Mc Phearson family built the cabins. The completion of the cabins coincided with the paving of Highway 12 through to Lolo Pass. The highway is known as the Lewis and Clark Highway, in honor of the famous explorers who passed north of here many years ago, and its completion opened the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness area to tourists, fishermen, hunters and outdoorsmen. In the fall of 1995 a film crew stayed at Three Rivers to do a Ken Burn's documentary on the Lewis and Clark Trail, with Three Rivers Rafting providing a raft support team for the cameraman.

In the spring of 1976 the Smith family, Mike, Marie, Mike Jr. and Marty purchased the 180-acre resort and are the current owners today, going on their 30th season this year. Many thousands of guests have enjoyed the accommodations they provide here, including family reunions, weddings, R.V. caravans, and fun filled river rafters. Some of the more famous include a European prime minister on a hunting trip, past Governor and Mrs. John Evans on the campaign trial, Art Garfunkle, Adam West, and Jack Hemmingway. United States President Bill Clinton, his wife and young daughter stayed in cabin #4 for two days in 1985. He was Governor of Arkansas at the time. He jogged along the Selway, ate a burger and "fries" for dinner, bought a T-shirt and a slingshot in the gift shop, and invited the Smith's to come to his home for a visit. Jack Nicklaus who was elk hunting came and stayed 10 days the same year as Hank Williams Jr. who was bear hunting.

In 1996 after rafting the Lochsa, Lower Selway, and Clearwater River for 20 years, the Smith brothers, Michael and Marty, secured a commercial permit on the famous Upper Selway River. It flows through the 1.2 million acre Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area. The challenge of the rapids and the outstanding opportunity for solitude make the Selway one of the highest quality whitewater boating rivers in the nation.
As you look across the restaurant deck you see the Lochsa River (in Nez Perce Lochsa means "rough water"), the river coming in from your left as you drive out is the Selway, meaning "quiet water", and these rivers meet at the bridge to form the Clearwater River. The confluence of these 3 rivers gives the resort its name.

Our family business has expanded over the years to include another rafting permit on Idaho's Lower Salmon River as well as another 20 unit motel in the little town of Kooskia, twenty miles east of the resort. Purchased in 2007, the "Western Motor Inn" on Main Street Kooskia is a very comfortable 20 unit motel which we completely refurbished over the last 3 years, including several deluxe suites for special guests.

In February 2010 we started work on "The Silver Dollar Bar and Grill in Stites, Idaho. It is a classic watering hole that was built in the 1930's. It has one of the first liquor licenses issued after prohibition. Our family scraped out the big stuff and shined it up without damaging the patina of the many years of good food and cold drinks in the process. It has been a booming success to the Smiths' and it is an experience in itself. Please feel welcome to come and enjoy any of these new ventures.

The family has also expanded personally since we began in 1976. Mike Jr. & Lara were married in 2001 and have 4 little girls, Martha 8, Ella 6, Ruth 4 and Madeline 2. The sisters are known locally as the MERMS and they are always out and about helping at the resort. Marty and Dani were married in 2010 and we all live happily up on the hill above the resort. It's not a commune, it's not an island, but we feel very fortunate to enjoy the pleasure of each others company year round!

115 SELWAY ROAD

KOOSKIA AT LOWELL, IDAHO 83539

208-926-4430 • FAX 208-926-7526

info@threeriversresort.com

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