52 Photowalks - Week 33

Family reunions. We don't do them often, but when we do, we go all out. This year consisted of three nights at some beautiful cabins in Island Park, Idaho that dad rented. There was way too much food, games, lots of laughing, Tim Gunn impersonations, a little blood, and a whole lot of photowalking.
This included a walk at Big Springs and Johnny Sacks cabin... (click on photo to see more)
And a couple of walks around the cabins we rented (again, click on the photo to see more)...

The most fascinating photowalk was our trek to the Mafia house. Ever heard of it? Me either. I wasn't paying attention and missed most of the story, but once upon a time, the mafia had a big hideout up in the middle of nowhere, also known as Island Park, Idaho. They would hide out there and reconstruct the faces of the guilty and hide out. Somehow, and I don't know how, but the LDS church ended up with the deed to this house... I believe it was donated to them at some point. The local university, BYU-Idaho, uses it for retreats and teaching experiences. They say the place is haunted, and I totally believe it... so what they teach there, I do not know.

Anywho... my brother happens to be an employee of the college, and has a few connections and he set us up with a tour of the joint. It was creepy and cool all at the same time...


The front hall... entrance to the left, split staircase to the right. The bat... flying above our heads somewhere.
The gun closet in the guard station, first door to the right. From this room, they could look down the hill to watch for intruders. This is where they kept all the guns. And the dead bodies. Or that's what I told my kids... they believed me and backed right out of the room.
One of the bazillion bedrooms.
The itty bitty kitchen.
Oh, there's the bat. Gave up flying around our heads and took a nap. They caught it and let it outside and it flew right back in. Better luck next time.
Another bedroom.
The luxurious bathroom just off the main bedroom that was about as big as my whole house. They clearly spared no expense.

The surgery room. In the basement. Really. And behind this secret door that my brother is opening is...

Another room.
And behind this moveable bookcase in the back of the room is...
Another room. This is quite possibly where they really did keep the dead bodies. *shudder*
I'm in charge of the next family reunion and my brother said to me, "wouldn't this make a fantastic place for our next family reunion?" Um... no thanks.