Oldest dude ranch in United States dangerously close to Elk Fire

The eastern slope of the Bighorn Mountains boasts the home of the Eatons' Ranch. For five generations this ranch has been bringing the western way of life alive for visitors to the dude ranch. In fact, the Eatons' Ranch is the oldest operating dude ranch in the United States.

The Eatons' Ranch is located eighteen miles west of Sheridan, Wyoming and consists of about 7,000 acres. The facility offers amenities including lodging, great food, and plenty of activities. Unfortunately, just north of Wolf, Wyoming - home of the Eatons' Ranch - there is a 75,000 acre wildfire burning.

The Elk Fire is just 10% contained and still burning strong with unfavorable wind conditions. The cause of the fire has been determined to be lightning. Starting on September 27, the fire has been extremely damaging. There are now more than 850 people working to battle the blaze. In just about a week, the fire has grown to be one of the biggest in the Bighorn National Forest history.

Fortunately, as of Tuesday evening according to a post on X, the Eatons' Ranch has been spared but the fire got entirely too close for everyone's comfort.

According to a report from the Cowboy State Daily, Bighorn National Forest Supervisor Andrew Johnson spoke at a community meeting about the fire.

“We are seeing unprecedented weather conditions for this time of year and unprecedented fire behavior,” Johnson said. “Case in point: In the last 100 years … the largest wildfire we’d had on the (Bighorn National) Forest is roughly 18,000 acres. That fire took a month to grow to 18,000 acres.

“On Friday night, this fire grew 25,000 acres in a matter of hours.”

Right in the path of the growing fire was the Eatons' Ranch. Officials dumped fire retardant on several areas of the ranch and it seemed to help.

As shown on the X post, areas all around the buildings belonging to the Eatons' Ranch burned but the structures were spared.

The Tongue River Fire District-Ranchester Fire Chief, Jeff Barron talked about the importance of trying to save the ranch.

“That part of the country has a lot of history up there, and there’s a lot more to Eaton’s Ranch than just a place to live,” he said. “It’s important to us.”

“It’s highly emotional for a lot of people,” he said. “There’s a helpless feeling, but there is some progress. This is just a fire like no one’s ever seen before. It just is.”