In the 1950s a tourist attraction known as Rip's Retreat occupied what is now the North-South Lake Campground's beach picnic area near North Lake. One memorable feature of the attraction was a puppet theater with a show retelling Washington Irving's Rip Van Winkle. Thanks to postcards in our collection, photographs donated to the Society's archives, interviews with folks who remembered the puppet show, and the hard work of volunteers, the show has been revived and is now a popular feature at MTHS events.
GNH Lumber donated some of the materials and Platte Clove Community built the theater. Chris Cade designed the puppets, Linda Nichols directed the production and the original 12 minute recording used at Rip's Retreat, a children's record featuring Walter Huston as Rip, was used for our production. Each year since our first production, local youngsters recreate the show for the entertainment of attendees of our Open House.
