FLDS

Someone asked me recently what was happening with the local FLDS properties ... two 60-acre parcels bought several years ago by Warren Jeffs' son-in-law. Rapid building occurred on one parcel, appearing to taper off as the group focused on the YFZ property in Schleicher County, Texas.

Except for a brief flash when Texas authorities raided the YFZ site over a year ago, the Mancos FLDS folks have flown under the radar ... and still do. I've asked Brooke Adams ("Plural Life" blog) a couple of times whether she hears anything about Mancos; got no response.

November was the last time we went up that way, so I haven't been by there in a long time. We went up there on the way to the Pickers Reunion last night. They've been busy.

The first thing I noticed was the two riding horses in a paddock (bottom pic); I think this is the fourth year they've been there for the summer.

Also, selective logging is being done on the USFS land across the road from the FLDS, a development they may not be pleased with.

We stopped at the upper property first, which has been largely abandoned since shortly after it was acquired a year after the lower parcel. Surprise! It's been hayed! That's the first time I've seen that kind of economic activity on the FLDS properties. Don't know whether that's a contract deal with a local rancher, whether they're hauling the hay to Texas or Short Creek or what.

A beam supporting the porch roof on one of the cabins is sagging and the propanel roofs are in need of painting. No investment going on there.

The lower property, where the horses and signs of active living are, has also been hayed, also for the first time. I remember one year when that big field was just yellow with dandelions.

One quickly sees that the big garden put in last year is flourishing (though it could use some weeding). I'm guessing it's planted to either beans or potatoes or both (the right half appears to be slightly different from the left, but still low bushes).

Gleaming in the afternoon sunlight, a big water tanker is now parked in the edge of the woods above the big six-bedroom log-faced house that was built down in the canyon, where it's hard to see from the road. More need for potable water at that residence?

As usual, no voices were heard and no one was seen on the property.

At least one new building has been constructed, several new sheds seem to dot the place, a flatbed trailer is loaded with sections of split-log facing and plastic water tanks and there appears to be remodeling going on in the open-bottomed barn that was converted to a four-bedroom residence. The new building appears to be a residence, with a new shed next to it that has a carport holding a four-seater ATV on the end nearest the new house. There's also a big Chevrolet truck parked back in the woods facing the road with an enclosed box on it.

So, they appear to be consolidating, developing and increasing their self-sufficiency. Now, how does all this fit into the larger FLDS picture? Is it a hideaway, as some FLDS observers originally suggested? At the very least, it still seems to represent a significant initial and ongoing investment of FLDS funds. tv