The West Elk Mountains and the Gunnison Valley below were long the home of the Ute Indians, who lived and hunted here for thousands of years. In the l9th Century, frontiersmen and explorers described the area as a land of tree covered mesas and mountains and the lower valley, a sea of head tall grass. When the area was opened for settlement in the l800’s, cattlemen and farmers quickly staked claims on the fertile land and the cattle ranches and fruit orchards that still sustain the area today were born. With no mining booms, no railroad, no tourists, "Crawford Country", as the area is called, has managed to keep its old-west character and out-of-the-way charm for over a hundred years.

Toward the end of the 19th Century, in the Smith Fork Valley, miles above the town of Crawford, two ranches were staked out. At one point, one of the ranches was traded for a banjo before1928, when the Ferrier family, including newlyweds Grant and Mamie, bought the two places and made them into one ranch.

Mamie Ferrier (approx 1950), wrangler, guide and historian

Grant Ferrier, horseman, outfitter extraordinaire

Early ranch homestead

Grant and Mamie lived in a log cabin with only a bed, cream separator, cookstove, table, and dresser for furnishings. There they raised their family by living off the land and selling extra farm goods they produced.

Ride to the ranch, early 1900's. Saddle Mountain in background.

Through high country cattle ranching, they gained an intimate knowledge of the nearby wilderness and in the l930’s they put that knowledge to use by bringing a group of photographers on vacation from California up into the mountains. This group said they "had traveled to Europe and over the United States but this was the best vacation they ever had".

In l939, Grant and Mamie made their guest ranch official, opening to visitors from all over the world. They led these early outdoor enthusiasts on pack trips and fishing trips and guided big game hunters into the vast wilderness surrounding the ranch. They were successful enough to construct a lodge, cabins, guest house and restaurant. In the mid l940’s they dug and stocked six trout ponds to attract more fishermen. The Ferrier family ran the guest ranch successfully for over thirty years before selling it to absentee owners in the l970’s. Over the ensuing years the ranch suffered neglect and fell into disrepair.

Guests at early ranch camp

Mamie leading pack trip

In early 2000, the ranch was rediscovered and purchased by the Hodgson Family. They have worked hard to restore the ranch, savoring its original character and renaming it Smith Fork Ranch. It is open now as a world-class destination for vacationers and outdoorsmen.