Bright sun, returning bird song, and blossoming spring flowers remind us of just how lucky we are to be here on the ranch, surrounded by nature’s glory. With Earth Day around the corner, our thoughts turn to Wyoming conservation and how we can continue to preserve this beauty for others to enjoy.
One can be forgiven for not putting environmental conservation and guest ranching together at first blush. When you think about it, however, the connection is obvious. You can’t have a beautiful Wyoming guest ranch experience in a desolate wasteland.
Red Rock Ranch, for example, is located in the “Path of the Pronghorn,” the annual pronghorn migration route across Wyoming. Every spring and fall, 300 to 400 pronghorn migrate 150 miles between their summer home in Grand Teton National Park and their winter grounds near Pinedale, WY.
This is just one of many reasons why we are protective of the lands surrounding our ranch and support a variety of Wyoming conservation initiatives.
We Belong to Trout Unlimited
One of the shiniest gems in the Red Rock Ranch treasure chest is Crystal Creek. Anyone who has stayed at the ranch knows how beautiful the creek is and how popular the fishing is.
That wasn’t always the case.
When David and Deborah MacKenzie first purchased the ranch, the creek was in pretty sad shape. They worked with a variety of experts, determined to restore it. Engineers, excavators, and hydrologists all helped to make the restoration project a great success.
Today, the Ranch offers world class, catch and release, dry fly-fishing on a private, 2.5 mile stretch of pristine creek waters. We’re also a member of Trout Unlimited, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of freshwater streams, rivers, and other fish habitat.
We’re Part of the Jackson Hole Land Trust
Red Rock Ranch is located on land that is part of the Jackson Hole Land Trust.
The Jackson Hole Land Trust is a private, non-profit organization, established in 1980, that works to preserve open space in western Wyoming. More specifically, it protects critical wildlife habitat, magnificent scenic vistas, and the area’s historic ranch lands and heritage.
The Trust works in cooperation with private land owners to ensure the permanent protection of over 55,000 acres in and around Jackson Hole and the Yellowstone area. As long as the trust stands, these lands will never be developed.
We Actively Support Living With Wolves
Red Rock Ranch supports, and Ranch owner Carolyn Stimmel is a founding board member of, Living With Wolves.
Wolves are a “keystone species,” animals whose presence is vital to the healthy balance of the ecosystem. Wolves directly influence the population numbers and the foraging behavior of their prey. Their behaviors have a ripple effect on other plant and animal communities – even the landscape!
Research has shown that the 1995 reintroduction of wolves to the American West had a very positive effect. Habitat improved and populations of countless species increased, including birds of prey, pronghorn, and even trout.
Living with Wolves is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and promoting wolves. The organization actively engages with the public through education, outreach, and research to promote truth and understanding about these important animals.
Wyoming Conservation at Our Guest Ranch
These are just a few of the many ways we work to protect the world around us here at Red Rock Ranch. We’ve instituted a variety of other initiatives as well, to reduce our overall footprint on the environment.
The best conservation practices help to preserve the natural balance of the land around us. This, in turn, ensures our own health and well being. It also leaves us with lush, beautiful landscapes filled with wildlife to enjoy.
Come visit Red Rock Ranch in Kelly, Wyoming and see what we’re talking about. We can’t wait to share it with you.
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