SUBLETTE COUNTY – It was a busy weekend – and a very successful one – in Marbleton. More than 1,300 people came to the Sublette County Fairgrounds for the annual Sublette County Rock Hounds Gem & Mineral Show at least once to peruse the glittering, mysterious and fascinating world of stone.

Even without a state or regional convention to draw people, the Sublette County Rock Hounds Club tireless members, craftspeople, volunteers and dealers worked very hard to have this show stand on its own, said club president Jim Gray. He and wife Leane called the club into existence a handful of years ago. It now has dozens of members and many fans who have the annual show on their calendars.

“It was an excellent turnout,” Jim Gray said of the three-day show. “That’s really, really good for just our club. Last year we had 2,300 people for the state show.”

Gray said he started advertising early to get on families’ and travelers’ radar; the slowdown at Yellowstone also helped he said, as did banners put up throughout western Wyoming. The show, which takes place on Father’s Day weekend and the same Sunday as the Marbleton Catfish Fry, helped boost patrons at both events.

“It was a big boost for our economy here,” Gray said. “It’s becoming a very well-known rock show. If it wasn’t for our volunteers and club members, we couldn’t do it.”

The Grays are based at the JL Gray Rock Shop in Marbleton. Family memberships for the Sublette County Rock Hound Club are $15 or $20 for a family. Learn more on Facebook.