Ogden family talks about being trapped by floodwaters in Gardiner, Montana

Rick and Tammy Creeger have of a lot of memories and pictures of Yellowstone National Park.

“It’s really special every time we get a chance to go. We spent our honeymoon there,” said Rick Creeger.

So, they were excited for their latest trip to Yellowstone for their son’s birthday. It was also their daughter-in-law’s first trip to the park. However, it quickly became a vacation they all know they will truly never forget.

“We watched the river swell and swell. It was moving so fast,” said Tammy Creeger.

They took video of those rivers.

When they arrived to Gardiner, Montana, they took more pictures of the river knowing it wasn’t supposed to be as high as it was.

“It’s hard to remember how big the river was when you look at it like this because it’s ten times the size it should’ve been,” Rick said.

Here is some updated video of the damage at @YellowstoneNPS as seen from Chopper 5. We’ll have a live report updating the situation coming up tonight on @KSL5TV at 10. #ksltv #Yellowstoneflood #Yellowstone pic.twitter.com/Tf9emyJuHV

— Alex Cabrero (@KSL_AlexCabrero) June 14, 2022

Then, when some of the bridges started to collapse, the Creegers realized they were trapped.

“We were an island, you know. It was an interesting experience. I’m 62 years old and I have been through earthquakes in California, the tornado in Salt Lake, harsh winters in Colorado, and I’ve never, never seen anything quite like this,” Tammy said. “It was tragic when we saw that cabin fall into the water. I have never seen so much water.”

They were stuck in Gardiner for about a day, along with hundreds, if not thousands, of other park visitors.

All anybody could do was watch the river rise.

“Some of the sizes of the logs was amazing,” Rick said. “It was something to see as they went down the river.”

Tuesday morning, word spread there was one road that was re-opened and people could leave if they left right away.

The Creegers packed up and left to go back home to Ogden.

They’re sad knowing lots of places were damaged, but can’t wait to go back one day.

“It is a very special place and it will be again,” Tammy said.

“One for the history books,” Rick said. “Literally.”