History
The Covered Wagon Ranch was founded in 1925 by Vic Benson Sr. and his wife Eda. The first cabins he hand built in the same year and are still being used! They are our Daly Creek and Big Springs Creek Cabins. The rest of the cabins were hand constructed in the years to come. Of 10 guest cabins, 8 have wood burning stoves for heat. All now have private baths.
Vic Sr. and Eda ran this ranch as a Guest Ranch ever since the first cabin was built! In keeping with their Montana Tradition, the Covered Wagon Ranch has been entertaining guests right here for over 80 years!
Vic Sr. and Eda had only one son…Vic Jr. After his parents passed away Vic Jr. took care of his inheritance. In 1985, Will King came in to the picture as a partner, and helped run the ranch until Vic Jr.’s passing in the spring of 1998. Will developed the excellent horse program that we are still so proud of; and also added the Main Lodge to the ranch. These changes have enabled the Covered Wagon Ranch to grow, without sacrificing the rich Montana traditions that we offer our guests today! We believe in keeping it the way it was when guests were visiting us in the 20’s, 30’s, 40’s and on!
After 20 years, Will put the ranch on the market for the first time in its’ eighty year history. In June of 2005, Debi Naccarto and Jerry (Jt) Taylor, of Bozeman, purchased the ranch. They have brought renewed energy to the ranch and a great deal of expertise. It is their goal to maintain the legacy, left behind by Vic Sr., Eda, Vic Jr., and Will, of the Covered Wagon Ranch as the Crew and the Guests (Family) continue to make History here in the Gallatin Canyon! In 2012, Kurt and Melissa Puckett have entered into an agreement to purchase the ranch.
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