This was a "special" recreation branch. There were only three in existence at the time. (Late 90's) One was near Snow Canyon/St. George area.
There were meetings held with the hierarchy to determine how these branches should operate in light of the fact that hundreds of people attended each week as 'visitors.' There really are no "branch members" so to speak. Even the Branch Presidency has their own home wards (usually in Panguitch)where their membership records are retained.
Anyway, there was a proposal to make a large, open, log-type structure for the fishermen/biker/camper crowd that congregate on Sunday as visitors. Eventually the LDS corp. squelched the idea, and built the same stucco, foot-print of chapels all across the world. When it was held in the A-Frame there was just a one hour Sacrament Meeting. After the Chapel was built they switched to the 'block' schedule.
As I said it was unique. It still IS unique, but the spirituality of the services has died, and it has become as boring as the regular Church meeting held elsewhere on Sunday. Perhaps it was these experiences of heightened spirituality that helped me to see my way out of Mormonism. Once the organization killed the Spirit, it was all down hill from there.
My guess as to the program being changed is that too many people were abusing it to use it as an excuse to be able to not keep the Sabbath Day holy. If they could go to church for an hour and then go boating, fishing, skiing, etc, that would justify it in their minds. This is contrary to the Gospel, and my guess is that the Church nipped it in the bud when it became evident it was being abused by passing through members that way. That's my suspicion anyway...