"Have you ever been thrown out of a National Park?"

 While researching the Black Hills for "Western Justice" I visited several National Parks, National Monuments, and National Historic sites. Driving, touring, and walking the trails offered great insight into the area and provided a lot of food for thought about "Western Justice" and future books set in western South Dakota and eastern Wyoming.

I visited the "information" desks at numerous parks and met wonderfully informative rangers who showed me maps and discussed their fun, funny, and scary experiences with visitors and nature. At a minuteman missile site, I met two law enforcement rangers. When I asked if anything exciting ever happened, they told me about their involvement in the capture of a robber fleeing the local police after a holdup in Rapid City. That was clearly the "moments of terror" part of an otherwise monotonous job with "hours of boredom."

I have been warned NOT to approach rangers, as I did in Tuzigoot National Monument, with the opening question, "Where would you dump a dead body?" While the young ranger there had obviously never had that question before, after introducing myself and explaining the question, he was happy to show me the dead-end trail where a body might not be found for weeks. My cop consultant has warned me that other rangers may be less amused by that question, and I might find myself being escorted from the park (or arrested).

I've changed my approach. I now give the rangers one of my business cards, explain that I'm doing research for future books, then ask them about possible murder plots and locations. All of the rangers have been wonderfully interested and forthcoming with background. Right up to the point where I hit the wall in a Black Hills National Park, which will remain unnamed. 

Two enthusiastic young rangers were taking notes on where my other Fletcher mysteries had been set, when I asked the question, "Have there been any interesting events in this park that would make a great mystery?" That question landed like a bomb. The rangers looked at each other, then at me. "I don't think we can tell you about 'the event.'" With my interest piqued, I assured them that whatever they told me would be changed enough to make the location and actual event invisible to the reader. I always stir interesting items with other locations and characters, resulting in a fictional book with bits of reality. 

Pressing on playfully, they continued to refuse to divulge the mysterious event. One of them excused herself, returning with a middle-aged ranger who was carrying my card. "Sir, I have to ask you to direct your questions to the Park Service Public Information Officer, in Washington DC." Pointing out that I was asking for information, while standing at the "information desk", only inflamed the situation. He took my phone number and said he'd have the PIO call me. (I haven't received that call.)

While I wasn't "thrown out of" the park, the ranger made it clear that the rangers were not going to answer any additional questions, and my continued presence at the information desk was no longer welcome. That was the chilliest reception I've ever received and was akin to being "thrown out". 

I later learned, from law enforcement rangers at a different park, that human remains had been found at the park in question. Although it was apparent that the person had died over 100 years ago, the rangers had been advised not to share that information until the discovery could be documented and announced as an archaeological find. 

Even omitting that incident, I met dozens of friendly, helpful rangers and volunteers who provided dozens of future mystery locations and potential plots. Like "Western Justice", there will be several future Doug Fletcher, US Park Service mysteries set in the Black Hills. Each will be filled with juicy and fun tidbits gleaned from our visit.

Hovey, Dean - BWL Publishing Inc. (bookswelove.net)