CM Ranch and Simpson Lake Cabins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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CM Ranch and Simpson Lake Cabins
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 Location in Wyoming
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Dubois, Wyoming |
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| Area | 1,312.4 acres (531.1 ha) |
| Built by | Charles Moore |
| Architectural style | Log cabin |
| NRHP reference No. | 92001249 |
| Added to NRHP | September 15, 1992 |
The CM Ranch and Simpson Lake Cabins are two special places in Wyoming. They are part of a single historic area linked to Charles Cornell Moore. He was famous for running a dude ranch in Fremont County, Wyoming.
The CM Ranch is named after Charles Moore. It was a dude ranch from 1920 to 1942, then reopened in 1945. Moore bought the Simpson Lake Cabins in 1931. They were used as a hunting camp until 1997. That year, the CM Ranch was sold, and the Simpson Lake property went to the U.S. Forest Service. The two sites are about 13 miles (21 km) apart.
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CM Ranch: A Historic Dude Ranch
The CM Ranch is located in the beautiful Wind River Mountains. It sits at the entrance of Jakey's Fork Canyon. Red sandstone cliffs surround the ranch, which is about 7,000 feet (2,100 m) high. The canyon is named after Charles Moore's father, J.K. Moore.
The ranch started in 1920 as a dude ranch. It is the oldest one in Fremont County. Charles C. Moore grew up in Wyoming. He studied law at the University of Michigan. He even performed in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show!
Moore practiced law in Cheyenne. But he also started other businesses. One was a camping trip for boys near Yellowstone. As his businesses grew, Moore became a dude ranch owner. He even became the president of the Dude Rancher's Association. The CM Ranch did well, even during the Great Depression. It closed during World War II but reopened in 1945.
Moore sold the ranch to Les and Alice Shoemaker in 1952. He passed away in 1971. In 1997, the ranch was sold again to siblings Jay Kemmerer, Connie Kemmerer, and Betty Gray.
What the CM Ranch Looks Like
The CM Ranch has many buildings made of logs. They usually sit on strong stone foundations. Many guest cabins are spread around the main part of the ranch. The dining hall is the most important building.
Close by, you can find an office cabin and bunkhouses. There is also a place for employees to sleep. A barn and corrals are there for the ranch's livestock. The recreation hall used to be a cabin. Now it's a fun place for activities and quiet time. Some larger cabins were homes for long-term guests and the owners.
Simpson Lake Cabins: A Remote Hunting Camp
The Simpson Lake Cabins are in the Fitzpatrick Wilderness area. This is part of the Shoshone National Forest on Simspon Lake. You can only get there by horseback.
Before Charles Moore bought it, this place was called the Three Waters Hunting and Fishing Camp. Nobe Harrison, Earl Nichols, and Les Wright built it in 1928. They wanted to host hunters. But their business didn't do well. So, in 1931, they sold the camp to Moore.
The camp was run as a part of the CM Ranch until 1997. When the CM Ranch was sold, the camp went back to the Shoshone National Forest.
What the Simpson Lake Cabins Look Like
The camp has three cabins, a meathouse, and corrals. There are also two outhouses. All the buildings are made of logs and sit on stone foundations. Getting materials to the camp was a big job! Everything, even the furniture, was carried by horse to Moon Lake. Then it was floated across the lake and carried up to the site by horse again.
Why These Places Are Historic
The CM Ranch and Simpson Lake Cabins were added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 15, 1992. This means they are important historical sites.
The CM Ranch is still open and running today. The Simpson Lake Cabins have been repaired by a group called HistoriCorps. They are not currently in use.
