Evel Knievel’s Snake River Canyon jump hits 50th anniversary

Published at 11:28 am, September 8, 2024 | Updated at 11:36 am, September 8, 2024

Don Nelson, KIVI

Fifty years ago, on Sept. 8 1974, Evel Knievel took off in this steam-powered Sky Cycle X-2 rocket to attempt to jump the Snake River Canyon. | KIVI — Fifty years ago, on Sept. 8 1974, Evel Knievel took off in this steam-powered Sky Cycle X-2 rocket in an attempt to jump the Snake River Canyon. | KIVI

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TWIN FALLS (KIVI) — Fifty years ago on Sunday, September 8, 1974, this mound of dirt was at the center of attention for just about everybody. Because everybody wanted to see Evel Knievel climb in a Skycycle and take off and land on the other side of the Snake River Canyon.

The ramp Evel Knievel used to launch into the sky in a Sky Cycle x-2 rocket in his attempt to jump the Snake River Canyon. | KIVI

Evel Knievel had already made a name for himself as the world’s most famous daredevil. He jumped over cars, trucks, water fountains, and just about anything he find, always pushing himself and crew to entertain his fans. Knievel was intrigued about jumping over a canyon, but not just any jump or any canyon.

The Snake River Canyon is in a place called Twin Falls, Idaho. An engineer named Robert Truax designed a Skycycle, powered by steam that would launch off a rail, soar high over the canyon, deploy a parachute and land safely on the north side of the rim. That’s where the story turns for the worse.

The site where Evel Knievel attempted to jump the Snake River Canyon on Sept. 8, 1974. | KIVI

Twin Falls was inundated by thousands of curious fans and onlookers in the days leading up to the launch, gathering all around right here, many very close to the rim itself.

Now depending on who you talk to around Twin Falls, you’ll get various opinions about the crowds that Knievel attracted. Nevertheless the launch date was set for September 8th, 1974 and broadcast by ABC’s Wide World of Sports. With a wave, Knievel climbed into the Skycycle and off he went into the wild blue yonder.

Evel Knievel takes off in his rocket at Twin Falls in 1974. | Courtesy ABC's Wide World of Sports via KIVI — Evel Knievel takes off in his rocket at Twin Falls in 1974. | Courtesy ABC’s Wide World of Sports via KIVI

But something went wrong. For some unknown reason the parachute deployed prematurely.

Evel Knievel's parachute unexpectedly deployed early during his flight. | Courtesy ABC's Wide World of Sports via KIVI — Evel Knievel’s parachute unexpectedly deployed early during his flight. | Courtesy ABC’s Wide World of Sports via KIVI

Knievel and the Skycycle floated down and slammed into the rocks at the bottom of the canyon.

Evel Knievel descends into the Snake River Canyon. | Courtesy ABC's Wide World of Sports via KIVI — Evel Knievel descends into the Snake River Canyon. | Courtesy ABC’s Wide World of Sports via KIVI

Evel Knievel survived but left noticeably angry over what had just happened.

And that’s where the story ended. Why the jump was unsuccessful had been debated for, 50 years. Ironically, Knievel’s son Kelly and Robert Truax’s son worked together with Hollywood Stuntman Eddie Braun to do what Kelly’s dad could not. On September 16th, 2016 Idaho News 6 was there to watch Braun jump from the north rim just east of the Hansen bridge and land successfully on the south side.

Hollywood stuntman Eddie Braun successfully completed Evel Knievel's attempted jump over the Snake River Canyon on Sept. 16, 2016. | Courtesy KIVI — Hollywood stuntman Eddie Braun successfully completed Evel Knievel’s goal on Sept. 16, 2016. | Courtesy KIVI

Five decades later, the legacy of Evel Knievel’s jump has not faded at all. In the eyes of many, Twin Falls will forever to be synonymous with Knievel’s infamous and daring attempt to jump the Snake River Canyon.

The Perrine Bridge spans across the Snake River in Twin Falls. | KIVI

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