Friday, April 3, 2026 |
Photo – Elk Mountain Museum – Bigfoot99 file photo
The Elk Mountain Museum has produced a short film featuring stories from longtime residents.
The public is invited to attend the premiere of the Elk Mountain Museum’s Legacy Film on Monday, May 25th, Memorial Day.
Elk Mountain Museum Director Angie Hobbs explained that residents have often discussed the importance of recording the stories of older residents before they’re lost forever. Hobbs said Historic Elk Mountain Hotel owner Christine Neel recommended hiring Clinton Haby from StoryKeeping Legacy Film Service to document longtime community members’ stories.
Hobbs reached out to Clinton Haby, who agreed to create a legacy film about the town of Elk Mountain and its history. The next step was finding the $30,000 needed to fund the project. The museum director said she received a $25,000 grant from the Wyoming Semiquincentennial Task Force, and Elk Mountain resident Margaret Karstoft donated the remaining $5,000.
Hobbs said Haby drove from his home in San Antonio, Texas, to Elk Mountain last summer to film the documentary. Christine Neel donated a room at the Elk Mountain Hotel for Haby to use during his stay, which Hobbs said helped keep the production under budget. The museum director said Haby spent four days in town interviewing residents and recording background footage.
Haby interviewed longtime Elk Mountain residents Shorty Richardson, Bill Jones, Cheryl Bowen, Powd Boles, Bob Johnson, and Margaret Karstoft. Hobbs said the hardest part of creating the film was convincing older community members to tell their stories on camera. Despite not getting as many interviews as she had hoped, the museum director said participants still had interesting stories to share.
Bigfoot99 asked Hobbs what her favorite Elk Mountain story was from the movie. The museum director said she appreciated every recollection, adding that the film will allow future generations to enjoy those stories as well.
Hobbs said that while working on the film, she received vinyl records of former Elk Mountain Hotel owner Mark Jackson and his band, which were digitized and used in the movie. For nearly 40 years, Jackson owned the hotel and the nearby Garden Spot Pavilion and persuaded many of the era’s biggest stars to perform in the small northern Carbon County town.
The 30‑minute Elk Mountain Legacy Film will premiere to the public on Monday, May 25th at the Elk Mountain Museum during the town’s annual Memorial Day celebration. Afterward, the film will run continuously in the museum and will also be available at HOME | Elk Mountain Museum.
