In 1873, Daniel B. Funk purchased the winter camp grounds of the Sanpitch Indians in Arropeen Valley, one mile east of Sterling, Utah. With the help of President Brigham Young, he obtained from Chief Arropeen a deed to the valley. There he built the lake, planted 65,000 trees, and ran a pleasure resort until his death on Dec. 30, 1888. Later the resort was operated by Hyrum Moroni Bradley.