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Wallowa.com
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
B3
WHAT’S HAPPENING
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Wallowa County Chieftain, File
The Eagle Cap Excursion Train, run by the Friends of the Joseph Branch, makes its way back to the Elgin Depot. The train,
which did not operate in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, returns to the rails Independence Day Weekend.
Eagle Cap Excursion Train will
start Independence Day weekend
Eighteen rides
on slate from
July 3-Oct. 23
Chieftain staff
ELGIN — Indepen-
dence Day weekend will
not only bring in the cel-
ebration of our nation’s
birth, but the offi cial return
of the Eagle Cap Excursion
Train.
The COVID-19 pan-
demic forced the train to
a halt during 2020. The
Friends of the Joseph
Branch, who manage the
train, announced in April it
would be indeed returning
in 2021. That fi rst date has
been set for July 3, accord-
ing to a press release.
The later start date gives
the organization more time
to prepare for the ever-
changing measures from
the state level and for more
people to get shots against
COVID-19.
“We usually launch the
season with the Mother’s
Day Brunch, but in order
to ensure we have all of
our new safety measures
in place and more people
are vaccinated against the
virus, our fi rst trip starts a
little later than normal,” Ed
Spaulding, president of the
Friends, said in the press
release.
This year, there will be
18 train rides, starting on
that fi rst Saturday in July
and running through Sat-
urday, Oct. 23. Most of
the trips are scheduled for
Saturdays, but a handful
of midweek trips that run
during the afternoon and
evening are slated. Two
train robberies are on tap,
as the Gold Rush Bandits,
riders on horseback who
“rob” the train, will take
part again.
There will be fewer pas-
sengers to allow for social
distancing and a face-mask
requirement for both volun-
teers and passengers, except
for when people aboard are
eating or drinking. A new
ventilation system that fi l-
ters the air as it circulates
will also be installed.
“We believe these mea-
sures will provide passen-
gers with the confi dence
they can safely enjoy the
scenic train rides,” Spauld-
ing said in the release.
There is a bonus oppor-
tunity for riders this year,
though it is limited to one
passenger per trip. Rid-
ers have the opportunity
to reserve a ride in the cab
of the engine alongside the
engineers during the return
trip.
“Get the unique perspec-
tive from sitting high above
the track, in the engine and
talk with the engineers
for the entire ride back to
Elgin,” the release states.
“Your cab ride includes a
special railroad cap, along
with lunch and a seat in the
passenger car during the
fi rst leg of the trip.”
This option, for those 18
or older, is by reservation
only. Cost is the original
price of the ticket for a reg-
ular ride, plus an additional
$200 for the ride in the cab.
Ten Depot in La Grande
and Chuckwagon Sisters
Catering in Enterprise are
providing the lunches for
the train rides.
According to its website,
all but one of the Saturday
trips are $35 for youths age
3-16, $70 for adults, and
$65 for those 60 and older.
Kids under 3 ride free. A
pair of longer trips on July
21 and Oct. 9 are $40, $75
and $70. The train robber-
ies take place on July 24
and Sept. 4.
The full schedule for
the summer, and a descrip-
tion of the trips, is avail-
able online at www.eagle-
captrainrides.com.
The
website is also where rid-
ers can book a spot on a
trip, or they can do so by
calling the Elgin Depot
at 541-437-3652. Those
interested in volunteering
can call Peggy Weishaar
at 541-786-0094, or email
weishaar73@gmail.com
for more information.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23 —
THURSDAY, JUNE 24
IN A LANDSCAPE: CLAS-
SICAL MUSIC IN THE WILD:
6-9 p.m. Wallowa Lake State
Park. Outdoor concert featur-
ing a 9-foot Steinway grand
piano on a fl atbed trailer.
Music is transmitted to con-
cert-goers via wireless head-
phones. Bring your own lawn
chairs. Tickets are required
due to limited capacity. tick-
ets@inalandscape.org
THURSDAY, JUNE 24
THE NEZ PERCE STORY
— A WEEKLY DISCUSSION:
1 p.m. The Josephy Center
for Arts and Culture. A sum-
mer-long introduction to the
walwama band of the Nez
Perce Indians who made the
county home for millennia,
before settler arrival: How did
they live? When and why were
they forced out? Who were
Old and Young Chief Joseph?
Where are the Nez Perce now?
The discussions will take
place on the second fl oor of
the Josephy Center building,
right next to the permanent
Nez Perce display. No fees,
but donations will be appreci-
ated. For questions, call Rich at
541-432-0505.
FRIDAY, JUNE 25
WOODLANDS & WATER-
SHED FESTIVAL TO GO:
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Family-re-
lated activity bags are avail-
able to pick up at the Max-
ville Heritage Center, 103 N.
Main St. in Joseph, the Wal-
lowa County Courthouse
Gazebo in Enterprise, and the
Wallowa Public Library in Wal-
lowa. There will also be a raffl e
families can enter when pick-
ing up the to-go bags that will
off er local prizes. Sponsored
by Wallowa Resources and
Maxville Heritage Interpretive
Center.
OPEN MIC READING
& POTLUCK: 6 p.m. pot-
luck, 7 p.m. open mic. Fish-
trap’s backyard at 400 E.
Grant St. in Enterprise. Fish-
trap’s fi rst live, in-person
event in over a year. Admis-
sion is free. For more informa-
tion, visit https://fi shtrap.org/
summertide-gathering.
SATURDAY, JUNE 26
MOUNTAIN
HIGH
BRONCS & BULLS: 3-7:30 p.m.
Wallowa County Fairgrounds.
Big names, big close-up expe-
rience and big fun. Bull rid-
ers combined with ranch sad-
dle broncs, plus the wild horse
race and mutton busting for
the little ones. Free admission.
ONGOING
A.A. online meetings: ore-
gonaadistrict29.org.
Building Healthy Fami-
lies: 541-426-9411.
Community Connection:
541-426-3840.
Enterprise Public Library:
541-426-3906.
Fishtrap: 541-426-3623.
Hurricane Creek Grange:
541-605-8233.
Josephy Center for Arts &
Culture: 541-432-0505.
Wallowa Public Library:
541-886-4265.
W a l l o w o l o g y :
541-263-1663.
VISIT US
ON THE
WEB
Wallowa.com
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