Under the Homestead Act of 1880, John Lingren acquired this land, cleared the sagebrush, raised vegetables and dairy products, started a nursery, and planted hundreds of fruit, evergreen, shade, and ornamental trees. It became Idaho Falls' first amusement park when in 1904-5 a picnic area, baseball diamond, dance pavilion, boating pond, and swimming pool were added. In 1920 Idaho Falls purchased the park, and later the old buildings were demolished, leaving only a log structure which had been used for school, church, and tourist accommodations.