The Petersons were the first settlers in the valley, which is surrounded on all sides by steep mountains. To get their wagons into the valley, Peterson and his sons dug and graded a new road through a narrow entrance to Weber Canyon known as "Devil's Gate". In 1846, early adopters of the Hastings Cutoff had used the same entrance only in reverse, as an exit on their way from Fort Bridger to California.
The Petersons were the initial inhabitants of the valley, which is completely surrounded by steep mountains. To bring their wagons into the valley, Peterson and his sons excavated and leveled a new road through a narrow passage to Weber Canyon known as "Devil's Gate". In 1846, early pioneers of the Hastings Cutoff had utilized the same entrance only in reverse, as an exit on their way from Fort Bridger to California.