Dude Ranchers Association
Encyclopedia
The Dude Ranchers Association was founded in Cody, Wyoming
in 1926.
In the 1920’s as the railroads expanded dude ranch
es appeared across the west and the southwest. In 1926 Ernest Miller of Elkhorn Ranch in Montana
and Max Goodsill of the Northern Pacific Railway
recognized an opportunity for a mutually beneficial relationship. Goodsill passed the idea along to A.B. Smith, passenger traffic manager for Northern Pacific who arranged a meeting at the Bozeman Hotel. This became the first official meeting of the Dude Ranchers Association on September 27 and 28, 1926.
Ranchers, railroad officials and national park officials attended the two-day event to discuss the five objectives: 1. Establish cooperation among ranchers and railroad officials; 2. Discuss the transportation and proper care of guests; 3. Create advertising and publicity for the association; 4. Standardize practices; and 5. Create an efficient sales organization. Later, the ranchers added a sixth objective – the organized protection of fish and game.
Larry Larom
of Valley Ranch was instrumental in starting the organization and became the organizations first president. Ernest Miller was named secretary-treasurer. Twenty-six ranches signed up as charter members in 1926 and the number grew to 47 the second year.
Today, the Dude Ranchers Association is an active industry trade group
that has over 100 ranch members and over 150 affiliated members.
Cody, Wyoming
Cody is a city in Park County, Wyoming, United States. It is named after William Frederick Cody, primarily known as Buffalo Bill, from William Cody's part in the creation of the original town. The population was 9,520 at the 2010 census...
in 1926.
In the 1920’s as the railroads expanded dude ranch
Dude ranch
The guest ranch, also known as a dude ranch, is a type of ranch oriented towards visitors or tourism. It is considered a form of agritourism.-History:...
es appeared across the west and the southwest. In 1926 Ernest Miller of Elkhorn Ranch in Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
and Max Goodsill of the Northern Pacific Railway
Northern Pacific Railway
The Northern Pacific Railway was a railway that operated in the west along the Canadian border of the United States. Construction began in 1870 and the main line opened all the way from the Great Lakes to the Pacific when former president Ulysses S. Grant drove in the final "golden spike" in...
recognized an opportunity for a mutually beneficial relationship. Goodsill passed the idea along to A.B. Smith, passenger traffic manager for Northern Pacific who arranged a meeting at the Bozeman Hotel. This became the first official meeting of the Dude Ranchers Association on September 27 and 28, 1926.
Ranchers, railroad officials and national park officials attended the two-day event to discuss the five objectives: 1. Establish cooperation among ranchers and railroad officials; 2. Discuss the transportation and proper care of guests; 3. Create advertising and publicity for the association; 4. Standardize practices; and 5. Create an efficient sales organization. Later, the ranchers added a sixth objective – the organized protection of fish and game.
Larry Larom
Larry Larom
Irving Hastings Larom, known as Larry Larom , was the founding president of the Dude Ranchers Association and an owner of the Valley Ranch near Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming....
of Valley Ranch was instrumental in starting the organization and became the organizations first president. Ernest Miller was named secretary-treasurer. Twenty-six ranches signed up as charter members in 1926 and the number grew to 47 the second year.
Today, the Dude Ranchers Association is an active industry trade group
Industry trade group
A trade association, also known as an industry trade group, business association or sector association, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry...
that has over 100 ranch members and over 150 affiliated members.