The last time I was here I only had 20 minutes to walk through and photograph the first images that caught my attention! I promised myself, like always, that I would return to this little development of rural decay to further explore with my camera..
We had just delivered the tower base to a new wind farm outside of Twin Falls, ID and had plenty of time to drive to Clinton, IL for another base.. With all of this free time available i decided that I would revisit Table Rock Road. The place has been in my thoughts for months now... And even now after having visited it for a second time I still want to return again with different lighting and maybe even take a few red dress pics there as well!! (Thanks to my friend Scott for THAT bit of inspiration! :P)
Last time I drove Simone up to the development and parked just outside the road entrance.. This time I decided it was best to park at the abandoned gas station about 1/2 mile away.. There were signs all over the place stating no trespassing and I really don't know if the company still sends people to check on the area or not.. There isn't any cover to hide Simone and the entire development is easily viewed from the Interstate...
I change into more practical footwear and set off to TRR!!
This time I wanted to focus on details that I had missed before. I also wanted to venture inside a couple of the houses.. I didn't last time due to time restraints..
Once inside the development I make the decision to again NOT go inside... With more time on my hands to really take in the details of my surroundings I can see all the evidence of squatters.
First I look into the ground floor windows of the "big house" at the beginning/end of the road and see several sleeping bags and other personal objects... Later I find unbroken windows with blankets hung up to keep light out, and more objects suggesting that there were a group of people squatting..
Out of respect for their privacy and personal space I decided to remain outside... These people don't know me or my intentions and I don't wish to put them into a situation where they may feel that they have to react defensively. Interestingly the last time I was here I felt like I was being watched by a few of the houses. Perhaps I was.. I never did see anyone while I was there, just their belongings.
Of course once I realize that there were probably several squatters in the area my dad calls me on my cell thus disrupting the peaceful silence and alerting all that may not know of my presence that I was there! Thanks Dad!! Haha he has ALWAYS had the worst timing with his phone calls! THE WORST!
From what I saw through the windows it looked rather cozy inside.
the carpet was still plush looking and some places still had their walls intact.. Several houses looked like they had been gutted and terribly abused.. while others looked like they were spared some of the same cruel treatment.. perhaps because these houses were the houses people choose to dwell inside. 
I took my time walking around, poking my head behind houses and fences... The sun was still pretty high and intense which can make for some great photos, but the angle was not good for a few of the shots that I was hoping to get.. Still I think I made out pretty well!
There came a point when I thought for sure I was caught!!! I noticed that there was an official looking blue pickup truck driving down the dead end road that I had parked Simone.
I quickly jumped inside the garage of one house and after a few minutes peeked outside to see where the truck was heading... The truck was gone, but I couldn't be sure if it was really gone or just out of sight... I don't even know if the truck was someone with the gas company that owns the property..
I waited a few more minutes to see if anyone was gonna drive through the development and when it was clear that I was safe from being caught I continued exploring the rest of the road..
The solitude and stillness of Table Rock Road was intense! I found myself at the end just sitting in the middle of the road itself listening to the din of the birds and sharp buzz of a few insects.. The sun was warming and a gentle breeze was calming... I could have spend hours there relaxing and meditating at the spot...
Eventually I got up and walked back to Simone.. Cutting across the field and crawling under the barbwire fence I find myself back to Simone in no time! But before I reached her a sweet couple came up behind me to see if I was stranded! They saw the gas station sign and didn't realize that it was closed, but then saw me and wanted to make sure I was okay before they drove away.. It was kind of them :)
Onward to Cheyenne! :)
6 comments:
Hello Amber,
As an ex-Table Rocker, I have to tell you that your photos of the old Village saddened me and my kids. This was once a bright, vibrant community full of young, energetic souls. I spent 7 years living and working there, along with my now ex-wife and my now-adult children. This community shaped a lot of lives.
As you assumed in your original post, this community, which is properly referred to as "Table Rock Village", was built in the 70's to house employees of the toxic gas processing plant directly south of the Village and the associated gas field.
Table Rock Processing Plant and the Village were, of course, named for the prominent butte you no doubt noticed to the southwest. I've stood atop that butte many times and the view is incredible. I spent 3 summers photographing a pair of golden eagles that nested in the cliffs there.
The surrounding landscape is mostly BLM-owned, public land and is host to pronghorn, deer, wild horses and even a desert elk herd. There are hundreds of surprises hidden on the back roads of the Red Desert basin. I'm not going to give them all away here, because I'm writing about some of them myself.
Facilities like TRPP have a relatively short life expectancy, due to the corrosive nature of the gas they process and other factors, so the eventual demise of the community was inevitable. Nevertheless, it's sad to see what's become of our old home and those of our friends.
Next time you pass through the area, try to imagine 50 families living, working and playing together in those once-fine homes. My kids played on those swings. The big building in the center housed a full size gym and a raquetball court as well as a huge family room complete with fireplace. My troop of Boy Scouts erected the flagpole in front of that building and raised the flag every morning.
We braved truly harsh winters with temperatures of minus 30 to 40 (real)degrees common and snows that allowed us to take our snowmobiles over those snow fences you see along the highway.
We rode our motorcycles, hiked, hunted, fished, explored and partied like only company employees could. We carpooled the 45 miles into Rock Springs for groceries. We raised our families. We lived the good life in spite of and partly because of the isolation. There are countless memories of truly priceless moments in those houses and hills. There are equally as many tragedies.
If you're willing to share, I'd love to post some of your photos alongside my own of the "live" years on my own blog.
Regards -Doc
I lived here from age 4 to about 11. I have so many fond and sad memories of this place. Mostly good ones. I have some wonderful stories and seeing these photos and how it has been destroyed and abandoned makes my heart so sad. I still have frequent dreams about Table Rock and they always leave me with a longing. I loved living here in the middle of nowhere. Free to roam, adventure, play, and explore. I miss it and knowing that my house isnt there anymore really saddens me. :(
Ahhhhh, Table Rock. No words could be any sweeter. This is Sherri Burrows-Marsh. I was one of the first original families to inhabit the tiny "village" that we loved as our stomping grounds growing up. Some of my treasured memories come from the countless hours of playing basketball on the courts in the summer, tennis, and late night ditchum'...all the while yearning for winter when we were able to flood the tennis court as our glacial ice-skating rink.
I too made the trek through the village upon returning from visiting my parents who now make their home in Texas. I can't say I have had so many emotions shooting through my body at one time. I know my humble home is now comfortable situated in Rock Springs, and the tree that lined our fence is still there.
To me it was an Opie Taylor lifestyle, safe and sound, quaint and wonderful! Thank you for your pictures. Even though it is a lost era for most of us, no matter how it looks now we will always remember the serene life and many life long friendships that started at Table Rock Village... I just reunited with my best friend from there this summer...nothing can take away that beautiful experience!
I moved to Table Rock with my parents from Texas right after I was born and lived there until I graduated high school. My family stayed there a couple more years until my father passed away. I take so many good memories from TRV. On those streets I learned to ride my bike, and roller skate and also drive a car. Where I recieved my first injury requiring stiches thanks mike), and had several different moms kiss several different boo boos. In the parks I spent hours with my friends swinging as a child and just hanging out as I got older. In the gym we had countless parties and dances, girl scout and boy scout meetings, easter egg hunts, derby races, tournaments,clubs, wedding receptions, baby showers, and even a funeral or two.
We all grew up together, as an extended family. We watched out for each other took care of each other and fought with each other. We watched people come and go. Kids born and kids move away to college, only to return home for the holidays :)
It was a life unlike any ordinary life, but a life I long for today, a secure atmosphere I would love to raise my daughter in now. Where she could walk the streets and I would feel she was safe, where I knew all her friends and the families they came from. Where the best job for a teen girl was babysitting and a teen boy was mowing a lawn so there was no lack of people to call for either. I think the best thing about the village was the relationships made. You can talk to most (not all but most) of us from the village and we are still friends or at least still speak to many of our friends from then. Not many adults can say they have a friend they have been friends with their whole life, As an adult I can say I have many!!
Thanks for taking a moment to wonder who we were and notice we were there, thanks for walking through our streets with curiosity and respect. Welcome to what was our home, welcome to Table Rock!
Hello again, Amber and please let me reiterate the thanks for respecting our past. I've finally launched an informative site about Table Rock: Table Rock Was Us
Pax,
Doc
I would like to direct you to:
http://tablerockwas.us/2011/01/27/calling-all-table-rockers/#comment-20
I think you would find it interesting for you to be able to read what Table Rock really was like. I love your pictures, you portray it so well now. However, enjoy knowing that it was an amazing life we had out there. :0)
Sherri Burrows Marsh
(one of the first original families of Table Rock).
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