Land donation provides further protection for Legend Rock

Legend Rock, located 27 miles to the northwest, is home to more than 300 prehistoric petroglyph panels and over 900 petroglyphs. The site recently appeared in American Archaeology, and thanks to a landowner donation and the Archaeological Conservancy the site will be around for generations to come.

In early February, the Board of County Commissioners looked at a request from the Archaeological Conservancy, representing landowners Legend Rock Resources, Inc., care of Richard Wagner, and the State of Wyoming. The request itself was to establish two lots, Lot 1 at 17.88 acres and Lot 3 at 3.3 acres, resurvey of a 29.94-acre State parcel and a Land Use Change to reclassify Lots 1 and 3 as Residential or Institutional.

County Planner Bo Bowman noted the Commissioners approved the initial request, as well as the preliminary plat of the land. He said they also spoke quite a bit about restricting the lots from residential purpose, and further explained this isn't residential area; the purpose of the land donation is the protection of the petroglyphs there.

Bowman explained this sub-division is a bit uncommon, as Wagner is donating two pieces of property to the conservancy, which will then manage the land. The donated property is on three sides of the State's Legend Rock site. A portion of the rock art, Bowman noted, is not on state property.

By including the state's property in the subdivision, Bowman said, that property is also surveyed and defined. The intent is not to open the lots entirely, and they will remain protected.

The state, Bowman said, is particularly excited about the further protection of the rock art, and the conservancy will work with the state in regard to research and management.

The final plat of the land has been prepped and is circulating for signatures by property owners, Bowman said. That final plat is the "virtual last step" in the process. When it comes in, Bowman will check it to see if it is relatively close to the preliminary plat. If it is, it will be recorded at the courthouse.

Park Superintendent Kevin Skates said the land donation, essentially, keeps the entire site intact. There are three owners of the land: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the state and the Wagners This decision brings those three under one umbrella.

Currently, those areas privately owned and owned by the BLM will be used for research and education, while the state-owned portion will still have the trails. Skates said this might change at a later date.

Last year, Legend Rock saw 12,913 visitors. Skates noted this number is up about eight percent, from 2014 to 2015.

There is a visitor center at the site, as well as a host campsite. Skates said BJ King stays through the summer to handle visitors. To try and get some assistance, on Wednesday, April 6 at 5 p.m. there will be a volunteer recruitment event at the Hot Springs State Park Headquarters, across from the Chamber of Commerce.

Anyone interested in going out and monitoring Legend Rock for a day or so is invited. Skates said duties include opening the gate and the visitor center, and answering questions people might have.

Orientation on the site will be provided, to familiarize any volunteers.

Legend Rock is open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. every day from May 1 to Sept. 30. During off-season hours, a key to the site is available at the State Bath House, the Chamber of Commerce or Hot Springs County Museum.

The oldest petroglyphs are about 10,000 to 11,000 years old. Skates explained instruments such as horns, antlers or other rocks sharpened to points were used to chip out the art from the rock faces.