Get set for the 18th Zane Grey Festival in Lackawaxen, home of the famed Wild West author

Zane Grey, the highly acclaimed author of novels about the Wild West, lived in Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania, in his large house overlooking the Delaware River where he loved to fish. This landmark, today the Zane Grey Museum, owned and run by the National Park Service, is the setting for the 18th Annual Zane Grey Festival on Saturday, July 13.

The event is hosted by the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River . The Park Service unit purchased the home in 1989 and has preserved and promoted Zane Grey's legacy. The festival, free and open to the public, runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum is located at 135 Scenic Drive, Lackawaxen.

According to the Park Service press release, the Zane Grey Festival is geared toward fun for the entire family. There are many activities and events for children and adults, including:

• Bill Streeter of the Delaware Valley Raptor Center hosts a live birds of prey program, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Brookvalley Farm features horse-drawn wagon rides, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• The Lackawaxen River Conservancy will present Preserving & Protecting the Lackawaxen River from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.
• The Upper Delaware Puppeteers will present A Wildlife Journey Down the Upper Delaware, with a special guest appearance from the Wayne County Library, from 1 to 1:20 p.m.
• The Northeast Spirit Barbershop Quartet will present a compellation of melodies from 1:30 to 2 p.m.
• Local musician Dan Engvaldsen will perform folk music from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Steamtown National Historic Site will be demonstrating the "Ring of Fire" and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will host its interactive WoodMobile throughout the event. There are craft activities planned for children of all ages, a children's scavenger hunt, primitive skills, weaving and 19th century woodworking demonstrations, “National Parks on Air” hosted by the Wayne County Radio Amateur Radio Club , and free popcorn courtesy of Honesdale National Bank, the Park Service announcement states.

Strawberry and banana crepes will be sold by Soigne Crepes Catering. Other items planned include hamburgers, hotdogs, pulled pork, French fries and ice-cold drinks. Only cash will be accepted for payment.

Born in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1872, Grey wrote more than 80 books and is known for his novels of the old West. He authored approximately 60 Western novels, nine books about fishing, three books on the fate of Ohio Zanes, a biography of the young George Washington and several short story collections.

He also loved playing baseball and had his own dental practice in New York City.

He found a respite from the city vacationing in Lackawaxen, where in 1900 he met Lisa Elise Roth while canoeing on the Delaware. Known as Dolly, they were married five years later. She encouraged him to continue his passion for writing. While on their honeymoon in the American West, Zane was inspired to author Western-themed stories.

They lived in Lackawaxen from 1905 to 1918. The novelist and his family later lived in California but kept their property in Lackawaxen. A private owner later started the Zane Grey Museum, which was continued when the Park Service acquired the property.

Also on the museum grounds, visit the Little Free Library. The historic Roebling Bridge, also owned by the Park Service and originally a Delaware & Hudson Canal Company aqueduct, is nearby.

For more information, call 570-685-4871 or email upde_interpretation@nps.gov .

Peter Becker has worked at the Tri-County Independent or its predecessor publications since 1994. Reach him at pbecker@tricountyindependent.com or 570-253-3055 ext. 1588.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Get set for the 18th Zane Grey Festival in Lackawaxen, home of the famed Wild West author