The Red Rock Ranch

The Red Rock Ranch and memorable vacations have gone hand in hand for over 100 years. From humble beginnings during the late 1800s to setting the pace for ranching in the 1900s, our love for the land has guided many decisions. The legend goes something like this…

Around the time the Wyoming gained statehood, 1890, a hearty group of trailblazers with nerves of steel ventured up to Gros Ventre valley in an effort to build a better life for themselves. The harsh realities of life back in the 1800’s drew many out of the bustling cities but also made homesteading in the valley a survival of the fittest. The original four settlers of the Red Rock Ranch property laid claim around 1894. Not much is known of three of them but James Simpson, the last of the homesteaders went on to open a drugstore in Jackson after selling his 160-acre parcel to William Redmond.

William ‘Bill’ Redmond married the sister of one of the original homesteaders and eventually became full owner of Red Rock Ranch. One of the first major changes of this time was the addition of the Redmond House in 1920.

Eugene & Agnes Meyer were the second owners of Red Rock Ranch. A Yale graduate turned financier and then newspaper publisher, Eugene was an influential leader in American social life. He published the Washington Post from 1933 – 1946 and the newspaper remained in the family for the rest of the 20th century. However, the finance and publishing world weren’t his only passions. As the legend goes, he always wanted a ranch and a red Irish setter. Then, one night, he went to a dinner party and ended up with a ranch and a red Irish setter! Yearly summer visits from Washington D.C. to the ranch were coveted by the Meyer family who cherished the peaceful trails and streams compared to the hustle and bustle of the East. Nonetheless, in 1943 as World War II intensified, a bittersweet decision had to be made. Red Rock Ranch was sold to an established local rancher who Meyer trusted to care for the land and its wildlife.

Red Rock Ranch’s third owner was a pioneer aviator who also loved horses and the West. Major C.C. Moseley was born on July 21, 1894 in Boise, Idaho. He was a champion athlete and a fearless pilot during World War I. When he arrived in the Jackson Hole Valley in the early 1940’s he immediately set out to make a name for himself in ranching circles. He owned seven ranches in the area at various times. Blessed with a sharp eye, he was well known in the equestrian world as a top notch horse breeder and commercial cattle dealer. Many changes were made to the land, like the addition of a main house and rudimentary communication between Jackson and the ranch. There was no power or telephone even in the 60’s. It wasn’t until 1969 that a system was installed to transmit messages to the ranch through the Sheriff’s office. By the early 1970’s, the ranch fell into a state of disrepair as Moseley’s health began to fail. Like the other owners, Moseley was connected to the land and saw it as a sanctuary. When the sale of the ranch was imminent, he made it clear that it was not to be sold for redevelopment.

The Red Rock Ranch has been in the MacKenzie family for over 45 years now. David and Deborah handed the reigns over to their daughter Carolyn and her husband, Harley Stimmel. With a true sense of belonging to this land, they proudly accepted the challenge so that future MacKenzie generations can call Red Rock Ranch home. Continuing the heritage of welcoming others into the splendor of the West, they envision new ways to diversify and are exploring even more sustainable business models. They hope to evolve upon best practices that have allowed the ranch such a rich history while embracing new ways to improve the guest experience. The ultimate reward is in seeing the enjoyment on the faces of our family members and guests while spending time at the ranch.