The history of the elk at Minnehaha Springs

 

 The history of the elk at Minnehaha Springs, West Virginia, is a story of both success and loss. In 1913, the Allegheny Sportsmen's Association (ASA) imported a herd of 67 elk from Yellowstone National Park to the town of Minnehaha Springs. The ASA hoped to establish a sustainable elk population in the area, and they also wanted to provide hunters with a new game species to pursue.

The elk thrived in their new home, and they quickly multiplied. By 1920, there were an estimated 300 elk in the Minnehaha Springs area. The elk became a popular tourist attraction, and they also helped to boost the local economy.

However, the elk population began to decline in the 1930s. The Great Depression led to a decrease in tourism, and the elk were also hunted more heavily. By 1932, the elk herd had disappeared from Minnehaha Springs.

The exact reasons for the decline of the elk herd are unknown. However, it is likely that a combination of factors contributed to their disappearance, including habitat loss, hunting, and disease.

The elk were never reintroduced to Minnehaha Springs, but their legacy lives on. The town still bears the name of the fictional Indian princess Minnehaha, and the old ASA clubhouse is now a bed and breakfast. The elk herd may be gone, but the story of their time in Minnehaha Springs is a reminder of the beauty and fragility of nature.

Here are some additional details about the history of the elk at Minnehaha Springs:

• The elk were imported to Minnehaha Springs in two shipments, on January 9 and February 6, 1913.
• The elk were initially kept in a fenced enclosure until they were acclimated to their surroundings.
• The elk were released on the property of the Allegheny Sportsmen's Association, which is a private hunting and fishing club.
• The elk population peaked at around 300 animals in the early 1920s.
• The elk began to decline in the 1930s due to a combination of factors, including habitat loss, hunting, and disease.
• The elk herd disappeared from Minnehaha Springs in 1932.
• The elk were never reintroduced to Minnehaha Springs.
• The town still bears the name of the fictional Indian princess Minnehaha.