Idaho’s state parks have been called the jewels of the Gem State. The story of how those jewels came to be involves political intrigue, much resistance, some philanthropy, and a touch of irony. Sen. Weldon B. Heyburn famously said that state parks were always a political embarrassment. Idaho’s first state park was named after him. Today, Idaho’s 30 state parks host five million people a year. Visitors come to boat, camp, bike, climb, hike, fish, and make memories in the great outdoors. This book tells the story of Idaho’s diverse state parks–from Priest Lake in Idaho’s panhandle to Bear Lake in the southeast corner of the state–through a wealth of historical photographs. A variety of parks are featured, including ones that were lost, found, or never came to fruition.