Zane Grey, famed author and fisherman, has his days

LACKAWAXEN, PA — The Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, in partnership with the Zane Grey’s West Society, will present the first of Zane Grey Days on July 17 and 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to celebrate the life and writings of the “father of the western novel.” On Sunday at 3:00 p.m. the event will join in with the Battle of Minisink Commemoration.

National Park Service Superintendent Dave Forney said, “I am greatly anticipating Zane Grey Days. It will offer the public a great opportunity to celebrate and learn about one of our nation’s most renowned western authors.”

Zane Grey moved to Lackawaxen in 1905. It is there that his writing career took off with the publishing of “Heritage of the Dessert” in 1908. Zane Grey is best known for “Riders of the Purple Sage” published in 1912. The Grey family continued to live in the Upper Delaware River Valley until their move to California in 1918.

Charlie Zaimes, a Lackawaxen resident and avid fisherman, will talk about Zane Grey’s fishing career on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Professor Al Hall of East Stroudsburg University will discuss Zane Grey’s amateur baseball career on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. At 3:00 p.m. National Park Service Curator Dot Moon will talk about Zane Grey’s cultural landscape plan. Moon will examine the relationship between Dolly and Zane Grey on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Pike County Historian George Fluhr will speak about the author and his relationship with the area on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. John Wells will present a program on birds of prey on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

Many of Zane Grey’s novels have been turned into films. “Man of the Forest” starring Randolph Scott and Shirley Temple and “Thundering Herd” starring Gilbert Roland will be shown at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Saturday and at 10:00 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. on Sunday.

Children’s programs will take place under the maple trees in the back of the museum. Children can participate in arts and crafts, learn about the west with the popular Cowboy Dentist and play games popular in the early 1900s as well as other fun activities.

The Zane Grey Museum will be open for tours from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on July 17 and 18. Free tours of Zane Grey’s office and study area will be offered every half hour with the last tour at 4:30 p.m.

For more information call Ingrid Peterec at 570/685-4871.