***Locations***

Wicket Valley- A semi-large, long valley located in the Rocky Mountains. Once private land, much of the valley is now a national park. A large, loose L-shaped lake occupies much of the northwestern section of the valley. Forests line most of the northeastern and southeastern portions of the Wicket Valley. A grassy plain that turns into a hilly countryside comprises the valley's southern end. Historically, it's been called a hidden valley as there are only three entrances in and out. Gully Road is the main road located near the SE corner. It's just wide enough to hold a two-lane road. Saddleway is located in the NE. A narrow gulch, it's accessible only on foot or horseback. Mine Road, a winding road up the mountain, is located in the SW section. It's a gravel path that leads up to the old mine and mining town. In the past, this was the backway to the mine.

Meltwater River streams down from the mountains in the NW section of the valley, forming Shimmer Lake. Rumored sightings of a hermit in the western mountains or southern hills have percolated over the years, with locals scoffing at them.

An additional stream, Coldwater Creek, runs down from the mountain near the eastern side of the valley. The Rickety Bridge, an old wooden bridge, allows the road to cross over the creek while on the way to Rusty Buckle Lodge. The bridge is about a fifteen-minute drive south of the bridge.

Shimmer Lake- Gifted with crystal clear waters, the lake is what brings a small number of tourists to the park valley. Loosely L-shaped, the lower section of the lake is the more widely used. In this lower portion, the Wicket Valley Campground occupies the NE section. Traveling around the bend, a sandy, public beach occupies the SE corner. A boat launch is located a short distance from the beach. On the southcentral shoreline is Camp Wee Wicket.

Wicked Bay, a small cove, is located along the far southwestern shoreline of Simmer Lake, where the forest meets the mountains. The privacy offered in Wicked Bay coined its name as camp counselors from Camp Wee Wicket have used it as the perfect skinny-dipping spot for decades. Another feature is a water-filled cavern along the cove's north side. If a tourist is feeling brave, they can explore the cave network starting in its rear.

The more extended northern section of the lake features shear cliffs on the west side. Several fishing shacks and one-room cabins line this portion of the eastern shore. About a generation or so ago, an aspiring entrepreneur began offering tours of the lake, especially its cliffs and the waterfall that Meltwater River causes when flowing down to the lake. However, a rockslide ended that venture, leaving the tour boat at the bottom of the lake.

Camp Wee Wicket- Located on the southcentral shoreline of Shimmer Lake. Nicknamed Camp Wicked by some campers and locals. Owned by Mickey Matcham, the descendant of former outlaw and Lazy Loop Ranch owner, Moe Matcham. It's operated from early June to late August every summer. Mickey's daughter, Marcy, is learning the ropes of the business. It consists of a dining hall, office, recreation center/lounge, boathouse, several storage sheds, four cabins for camp counselors, and twenty small cabins for campers. The cabins do not include bathrooms, so guests need to use one of the two shared restroom/shower facilities. The rec center/lounge features a fireplace, several old, comfy chairs and couches, a pool table, a ping-pong table, air hockey, and several old arcade machines. A small nurse's office is located as an add-on to the center, with entrances from inside the rec center and outside the building.

Rusty Buckle Lodge- A hunting lodge located in the middle of the northern forest. Owned by the ancestors of Barton Buckle. Twentysomething siblings Brody and Bentley Buckle often visit. The lodge and its sleep cabins are offered for rent most of the year, except for the Buckle family's main sleep cabin. It consists of the main lodge building, six modern sleep cabins, a barn, and a stable. Guests to the valley can rent horses at Rusty Buckle or hire a tour guide to show them the sights. Multiple game trails are located through the surrounding area, including hunting blinds. A fire watchtower can be found just a little bit further north of the location. Owner: Dutch Buckle.

Lazy Loop Ranch- An abandoned ranch located in the southernmost section of the valley. Officially founded by Moe Matcham, a former outlaw, in the late 1880s. The ranch had previously been the Ghost Gang's hideout after robbing banks or trains. During its heyday, the Lazy Loop raised a small herd of cattle and horses that were sold to the miners in Mistcreek. The ranch eventually shut down after the mine closed and Moe Matcham died. His ancestors still live in the area and own the ranch and Camp Wee Wicket. The ranch once consisted of the main ranch house, three bunkhouses, a stable, barn, woodshed, and a stone corral. One bunkhouse and the barn were partially burned during a fire that completely destroyed a second bunkhouse. The main ranch house has slowly rotted away, leaving several holes in the ceiling. Further south, a fire watchtower can be seen.

Boothill Graveyard- Located in the SE corner of the valley near the entrance on Gully Road. A short turn to the east on a quarter-mile stretch of dirt road leads to the creepy, overgrown graveyard. Somehow an old, wooden shed still stands near the rear of the cemetery.

Serenity Grove- Nicknamed Séance Grove by locals and regular tourists. A mysterious, grassy-plain clearing that's located deep in the heart of the northern forest. Nobody can explain why nothing grows in the clearing beside the grass, or why it's eerily silent when surrounded by a forest filled with sounds. Some people believe it's the burial ground of an ancient, unknown tribe. Others point fingers at witchcraft. A modern theory is that the clearing is the landing zone for UFOs.

Creaky Town- A ghost town formerly known as Mistcreek. Located up in the mountains west of Wicket Valley, prospectors struck silver around 1889. A boomtown called Mistcreek sprang up after the discovery. Independent prospectors flocked to the area. Some found success, while most only experienced failure. Taking advantage of the disheartened miners or by unscrupulous actions, Barton Buckle acquired nearly all of the claims within a decade. Having a good idea of where the best silver lode might be located, Buckle struck paydirt with his first significant mineshaft. For nearly two decades, Buckle Mining Company thrived. However, by the 1920s, far too many serious accidents and deaths dried up a considerable portion of his workforce. Barton cut a deal to use convict labor at the mine to combat that issue. However, Barton Buckle had turned into a paranoid man by the decade's end. Claiming that ghosts were at fault for suspicious accidents and outright sabotage, Barton eventually walked over to the mineshaft one moon-filled night. In front of more than a dozen witnesses, the company owner stepped off solid ground, plummeting down the shaft to his ****. Afterward, the mine and Mistcreek were abandoned as most experts felt its silver lode had been played out.

Although built of wood, many of Mistcreek's original structures remain standing, although some only partially. But due to the construction, strong winds often cause a cacophony of creaks, leading to the ghost town's new name. Visitors wishing to brave their chances of encountering the ghost of dead miners, including Barton Buckle, will find a two-story hotel, saloon, general store, a company office, the owner's house, a stable, a watchtower, and the old prison. Added onto in the 1920s during the convict worker phase, the prison was partially constructed from bricks.

Drygully- Population: 47. Located along Gully Road on the other side of the southern mountain range that creates Wicket Valley. A one-intersection town, it primarily serves as a place for tourists to restock during their trips to the park.

• -Last Stop General Store- The name says it all. Owner: Early Tillman.
• -Bandito's- Small tavern with a grill. The only place to get a hot meal in town. Owner: Nestor Serrano.
• -Hawkes' Recreation World- A camping, fishing, and boating store. Either purchase or rent. Owner: Hayes Hawkes.
• -Shagbark Motel- A Bates Motel-looking motor lodge. The long building has ten rooms to rent. Owner: Gomer Fessel.
• -Morning Glow Bed & Breakfast- A more recent addition to the town, it's located about a half-mile from the lone intersection. Owner: Gertrude "Gertie" Griswold
• -Ranger Station- A small ranger station with roughly 4-5 rangers on duty. Chief Ranger: Virgil Rangel.

The Ghost Gang- A notorious gang of outlaws that roamed the region from the mid-1870s to the late 1880s. Initially, they robbed banks before shifting to more high stakes, high reward train robberies. They gained their name by often vanishing with posses pursuing them. Their secret? Knowledge of the few ways in and out of Wicket Valley, which they used as their hideout. Legend has it that they performed one last score, stealing a shipment of silver intended to be shipped out of the region. Word has it that an inside man tipped them off. However, legend also tells of two members attempting to steal the silver. They hid it in or near the valley before their betrayed friends found them. Most of the gang died in the ensuing shootout.

Notable members:

Henri Despard- the second leader, planned most of their robberies.

Frank Chudley, "Tulsa Tom" Stubbs, Paulo Grillo, Reno Nesnow, Abraham "Abe Ox" Oxton, Moe Matcham, and "Pistol Penny" Pringle.