Tucked away in the rolling forests of Latah County, where the roads narrow and the trees seem to stretch endlessly into the sky, Bovill, Idaho sits quietly—just as it has for over a century. To most, it’s a dot on the map, a place you might pass through on the way to somewhere else - just another small town with yet another stop sign. Idaho wasn’t even on my radar until my Aunt moved during my teenage years. Years later, with my first camera in hand, I ventured into the abandoned Bovill Hotel and fell in love with photography, with exploring the past, with capturing the beauty in places left behind.
So yeah—Bovill may be a tiny dot on the map, but for me, it’s a whole story. Let me take you through it.
At one point, Bovill was the third-largest town in Latah County, full of saloons, boarding houses, and an opera house that doubled as a movie theatre.
(Now it ranks 192nd out of 236 cities in Idaho; population: 256.)
Bovill Hotel - Est. 1903
At the heart of this town’s history stands the Bovill Hotel, founded by Englishman Hugh and Charlotte Bovill in 1903. The English couple envisioned the area, known then as Warren’s Meadow, as a hunting retreat for sportsman, never realizing they were actually laying the foundation for a booming logging town.
As the demand for homesteads increased, the value of timber rose, and Bovill expanded to keep up. It became a hardworking town, full of people who made their living in the Idaho woods and wilderness.
Front Exterior - Bovill Hotel, 2019
Front Exterior - Bovill Hotel, 2019
This front portion is where the store and Post Office was located.
In the summer of 2019, I had only been using my first camera for a few months—just enough to understand the basics, but still figuring out how to truly see through the lens. This was the summer I solo ventured into the abandoned Bovill Hotel, a building that barely feels like it’s still standing. I did not tell my aunt where I was going, other than out for a walk, as I had no real plan—just curiosity and a camera.
I approached the Bovill Hotel with caution, unsure if there was even a way inside. The building stood in a fragile, timeworn state, and I had no intention of disturbing what remained other than the dust. So when I found a path upstairs, I moved with the slowest, most deliberate steps of my life—the inside air was thick with dust, the wooden floors groaned beneath me, and the shadows stretched deep into the spaces where light no longer reached.
Wildflowers behind Bovill Hotel, 2019
Upstairs Interior - Bovill Hotel
Rear Exterior - Bovill Hotel
I explored the upper level of the Bovill Hotel first. Though long vacant of guests, the space still felt occupied in a different way—as if time itself had settled in, filling the silence. Scattered furniture sat forgotten, coated in dust, chairs positioned as if someone had just stepped away decades ago. The walls, once vibrant, were now peeling and curling at the edges, revealing layers of history underneath.
Downstairs, it was even more eerie. The darkness was complete, swallowing everything beyond a few steps ahead. Not having any plan or foresight to bring a flashlight, I relied on my flash not just for photography, but to navigate. Each burst of light cut through the void and revealed traces of a past that hadn’t quite let go—a tattered curtain hanging in place, a doorway leading nowhere, a forgotten object left behind. But there were also more recent remnants—crushed beer cans, scattered trash, and the lingering evidence of those who left their mark in far less delicate ways.
The Bovill Hotel wasn’t just an abandoned building to explore; it was an introduction to the way light, shadow, and history intertwine. This experience changed the way I see photography and it was also the first time I truly felt the pull of photography as more than just a hobby—it is a way of storytelling. A photo doesn’t just document the decay of time, it's also captures the quiet stories still imprinted in these walls, preserving what remains before it fades completely. Even if only for a moment.
With a handful of streets, a historic opera house, a one-room jail, and a post office that’s been delivering mail since 1907, Bovill is a place where time moves slower, the past lingers in the air, and every old building has a story to tell.
It’s the kind of place I love—not because it’s bustling or famous, but because it’s still standing, quietly waiting to be noticed.
Bovill Jail House 1910
The Bovill Jail is a small but enduring piece of the town’s history, a reminder of the rowdy logging days when Bovill was a bustling timber hub. Tucked next to City Hall, this modest structure once held those who got a little too carried away at the local saloons or found themselves on the wrong side of the law. Though no longer in use, the jail still stands—a simple, weathered building that whispers stories of a time when the town was wilder, louder, and full of life.
Bovill City Hall
The Bovill City Hall, located at 100 Railroad Avenue, serves as the administrative center for the city of Bovill, Idaho. Since October 1, 2019, Christine Childers Jewell has been serving as the City Clerk and Treasurer for the City of Bovill, Idaho. In this role, she oversees the city's administrative functions and financial management.
For any inquiries or assistance, you can reach the City Hall at (208) 826-3603.
Bovill Opera House - Est. around 1911
Built in the early 1900s, the Bovill Opera House has seen it all—theater productions, lively dances, musical performances, a miniature golf course, and even a bowling alley. It has stood against time, enduring the fires that reshaped the town, and remains a lasting symbol of Bovill’s deep-rooted history.
The Bovill Opera House isn’t just a relic of the past—it’s a recognized piece of Idaho’s history, officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. That designation isn’t just an honorary title—it means the Opera House has been acknowledged for its historical and cultural significance, and steps can be taken to help preserve it for future generations.
The Bovill Improvement Group (BIG) has been leading efforts to restore the Opera House, replacing the roof, securing funding, and working to one day reopen the space as a gathering place for the community once again.
Walking past the Bovill Opera House, it’s easy to see that time has left its mark. The building’s exterior stands as a weathered but proud reminder of the town’s past, a place that once buzzed with performances, social gatherings, and the hum of community life.
Step through its doors, and you’re stepping into a time capsule of early 20th-century entertainment. The dust-covered machinery now serves as a quiet monument to Bovill’s golden years. The old film equipment, once the heartbeat of the town’s entertainment, remains tucked away in the corner of the projection room, gathering dust but refusing to be forgotten. The wooden stage, worn from years of dances, performances, and town meetings, still holds the echoes of voices long gone. Even the faded curtain, barely clinging to its frame, seems to wait for its next cue.
Despite the wear of time, the essence of the Opera House remains, preserved in the untouched artifacts of its past. It’s more than just a building—it’s a forgotten story waiting to be told again, a piece of Idaho history waiting for its curtain to rise once more.
Bovill, Idaho
Main Street Exterior
Make a wish in Bovill
Camas Prairie Winery
207 Main Street | Bovill, Idaho, 83806
https://camasprairiewinery.com/
When you think of small-town Idaho, winemaking probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But in Bovill, a town better known for its logging history than its vineyards, Jeremy Ritter is proving that great wine—and especially great mead—can come from unexpected places. As the winemaker of Camas Prairie Winery, Jeremy has taken Idaho’s oldest independent winery, originally founded in 1983, and turned it into something uniquely its own. In 2015-2016, the business made a bold move—relocating from downtown Moscow to a renovated 1914 storefront in Bovill, bringing both a historic building and the town itself back to life.
the winery has garnered numerous accolades, particularly for its meads. Notably, the Huckleberry Mead secured a Gold Medal at the Great Northwest Invitational Wine Competition in 2019, and the Raspberry Mead was awarded Gold and Best Sweet Wine at the Idaho Wine Competition in 2017.
Huckleberry Mead
Camas Prairie doesn’t just make good wine—they make wine that tells a story. Their huckleberry mead, for example, isn’t just a drink; it’s a taste of the wild Idaho mountains, where bears and foragers alike seek out the coveted berries in the summer. Their fruit wines are bright and full of flavor, a contrast to the rustic simplicity of their surroundings.
Camas Prairie Winery Signature Fruit Meads
- Strawberry Honey Mead: Crafted in small batches, this mead offers the unmistakable aroma and taste of fresh strawberries, delivering a crisp and delicately sweet profile.
- Raspberry Honey Mead: This award-winning mead combines the rich taste of ripe raspberries with the smoothness of honey, resulting in a vibrant and refreshing beverage.
- Blackberry Honey Mead: This mead blends the deep, robust flavors of blackberries with the subtle sweetness of honey, creating a rich and satisfying drink.
Cabernet Sauvignon
So next time you’re driving through Idaho’s backroads, take the turn toward Bovill. You might just leave with a bottle in hand and a newfound appreciation for the little towns that still have life left in them.
Bovill is a place that keeps drawing me back. I’ve spent summers here with my daughter, wandering through its quiet streets and uncovering more than I ever expected. And I know there’s still more to see, more to photograph, and more stories waiting to be told. I’ll be back.
