Henry’s Fork Foundation renovates old Ashton hospital

The Henry’s Fork Foundation made some upgrades to its facilities to better engage the community with a $1.5 million renovation.

The foundation is close to finishing renovations to the old Ashton hospital after a year of construction. The hospital closed in 1980. The building then became an assisted living facility until it closed in 2003. The building was then vacant until the foundation bought it in 2016.

A lot of work had to be done to the building including clearing asbestos and lead paint.

The Henry’s Fork Foundation aims to protect and conserve fish and wildlife around Henry’s Fork. The new building will give them a chance to show their work and connect with the community.

“This facility allows us to tell our story in a way we’ve not been able to tell it before,” Brandon Hoffner, Executive Director of the Henry’s Fork Foundation, said. “We’re going to have the Henry’s Fork country interpretive center. We can welcome in guests, visitors and really tell them about the history of the area. Not only fly fishing and the foundation, but agriculture, hydropower, this community. And we think that’s something that will be really beneficial here.”

The educational areas will feature a country interpretive center, which will showcase the foundation’s history as well of history of fly fishing and agriculture, and a 300-400 gallon tank which will showcase a variety of native fish species.

The educational centers will open in June of next year.