Cleo's Ferry Museum & Nature Trail — Attraction in Idaho

This is a VERY strange place, and quite heavily Christian.

You won't find it unless you stop at Dan's Ferry Service. Dan's is a gas station and pleasant convenience store. If you pull into the parking lot at Dan's (I hope you go in and buy something. The people there are friendly - great beer selection too), look to your right and you will see a narrow, paved road with a small sign directing you to Cleo's. Turn down that little road.

You'll see some interesting old buildings that were part of the ferry station (there was a time when ferry boats traveled the Snake River, and the ferry station at Cleo's is called Walter's Ferry), a home where the owners and caretakers live, and a dirt lot for parking. There are also two donkeys back there, in a little area that looks too small for them. I don't know if the donkeys are friendly, and therefore, I don't advise trying to pet them. I didn't.

No fee to visit, but there is a locked donation box. Please put money in it. The caretakers do a good job keeping up the place, and don't charge anything, so please be nice to them by leaving a donation.

The walking path is mostly paved, but not entirely. You will see massive collections of lawn ornaments, a large area featuring many life-size statues of people in a parade (this was impressive), some odd little buildings, and a few graves.

Not a cemetery though, like another reviewer wrote. I like walking through old cemeteries. I"m not the ghost-hunter type - I like the artistry of the headstones and the history of such places. (Want to see a very interesting old cemetery? Go to the one just outside Idaho City).

But there's no cemetery at Cleo's to walk through, and if you are not looking, you might miss the graves.

I liked the themed collections of lawn ornaments, the statues, the old buildings. And, even though I'm not a religious person, I did like the little garden of prayer - I think that is what it was called.

There's a little chain link fence gate (close the gate behind you). You'll see a shaded area, with some statues and a small pond. Good place to sit and rest, especially if you visit Cleo's on a warm day, like I did. I didn't mind that little area being Christian. Nice, actually.

I did NOT like how every few feet I walked, I saw a little sign with a positive affirmation or Christian message.

I did not visit Cleo's Ferry Museum to read a self-help book, nor the Bible.

The little signs distract the eye, and I kept finding myself reading the signs instead of looking closely at the exhibits.

One cool thing to do is follow a trail up the hillside. After you walk through the dirt trail forested area, you'll come back to black top. Instead of turning, walk the dirt trail up the hill. There are some benches up there. Sit awhile, and enjoy the view.

I'd suggest retracing your steps down the hill. It seemed there was a trail going off toward the entrance, but the trail I was on just faded away, and I ended up walking through the brush downhill. Good thing I was wearing jeans.

This is the first roadside attraction I've ever visited. I went to this place alone, and there were no other people on the entire trail with me. I felt a bit creeped out at times.

If you go with family or friends, you will probably feel just fine.

This place is definitely family friendly, except if you have small, unruly children. If your youngsters are very well-behaved, they'll do fine, but if they are little monsters, they will probably want to run around and play with the lawn ornaments and statues.

One last thing - I was disappointed there was no guide, and that the old buildings were locked. I would have liked to have seen inside. On the Cleo's facebook page, I noticed that occasionally the people who run the place do open the buildings and are around. But not usually.

This place is worth visiting, but it would be a more enjoyable experience if all the little signs were taken down, if it were a mostly non-sectarian place, and if we could see inside the buildings and learn more about them and the...

What an incredible jewel in the Owyhees. We have driven past this place multiple times without realizing it was even there. We even stopped at the gas station next to it and didn't see it. So they could benefit from some additional signage maybe.

Entrance is free, though I recommend doing a donation into the box provided. Sign the guest book. If you're wondering why so many peacocks are hovering around the entrance gate, there are two food dispensers along the fence by the gate. You can feed the peacocks for a quarter. Bring some quarters. Watch out, the peacocks don't have any manners and are not interested in waiting for you to give them the food. The first time I tried having them eat out of my hand, it was...interesting. After that I bought the food but left it in the little shoot of the dispenser, I just lifted the little door and the peacocks just pecked it clean in seconds.

There is a paved 1-mile trail through the area. Lots of cute bird houses, many statues, and lots of other interesting things to observe and enjoy. Many of the spots are Christianity based themes or points of interest. It is all created with so much love. It is beautiful. I can't imagine how long it took to put together. There are so many peaceful spots to sit and take in three nature surrounding you or just to meditate or pray. When it is later in spring I imagine it is even prettier when everything is green.

I definitely recommend visiting this wonderful little jewel. If you want to make more of a day of the drive out to this area, you can hike one of the trails in the Wilson creek area in the morning, then visit this spot before noon, then drive into Marsing to have lunch at The...

Truth Tell as always, myself & three others drove out to Marsing to look at some used cars, thinking this is it? Well the driver, said since we don't get out much, let's go for a scenic drive on our way back to Caldwell. Sure, why not. It was scenic alright, if you like the Winter Desert look of farmland, except for a few Big homes with white picket fences with horses included & here I thought the look belong to the state of Kentucky only. As the drive continued heading east we saw a manmade rainbow sitting on top of a hill. One person spoke up in the car saying, that's like a Museum outside, so headed that way without Goggle help. 👍 A Phillips gas station seem a little out of place, but convenient & thinking myself this is going to be Bore-Ring! Pulled up, opened & no one there except someone looking through the window for Security purposes, I guess. First look kinda creepy, as no one around at all. The rest you will have to experience for your self as a terrific walk through of much Love that was put into that Beautiful place in a Desert winter. Put on some comfy shoes & go as it is a Christian Family of Love & Heart that Created their Faith in God with the Vision for Others to See. Way Better than my thoughts couldn't even realize, let alone the many bird houses & the uplifting, positive signs of enlightment through the Whole walk that I could not imagine, until now. Oh yeah, No dogs aloud, Animal Kind. 🙃 Worth the trip during all seasons, with winter of cold & "No crowds"unlike Indian Creeks Festival of Lights....