A Brief History of the Crail Ranch - Sweeping views of the Spanish Peaks, the Madison Range, and the Gallatin Canyon provided a magnificent setting for Franklin Augustus Crail to locate his ranching headquarters. Prior to coming to what is now Big Sky, Franklin arrived in Virginia City in 1864. He carried freight from the Missouri River town of Fort Benton to Salt Lake City until troubles drove him east to the Gallatin Valley. In 1902, he arrived in "Big Sky" with his wife Sally, and their three children, Lillian, Eugene, and Emmet. The original homestead was 160 acres and was eventually expanded to 960 acres. They settled in the small log cabin while they built the main house, establishing a water-powered sawmill nearby where the milled lumber for private and commercial use. Crail grew a special kind of wheat and raised sheep. By 1934, the Crails' success allowed them to close the sawmill and raise cattle instead.
Most area ranchers who weathered the Great Depression turned to dude ranching, but the Crails' continued to run their working ranch until 1950. For fifty years, the ranch structures were the only evidence of human habitation in the Big Sky meadow valley. Today, the house and cabin are the sole survivors of the once-sprawling complex. The older log cabin has a unique roof of rough sawn lumber three layers deep. The sturdy main residence, built with care and skill circa 1905, is of hand-hewn logs chinked with mortar. The marks of the ax used to flatten the dove-tailed logs are plainly visible. The two dwellings, now nestled among modern residences, are a rare monument to early homesteading and a poignant reminder of this bygone era in the Gallatin Valley.
The home is furnished with pieces typical to those used by the Crails. Of particular interest are the two stoves. The one in the kitchen came from a cabin up Dudley Creek drainage. The parlor stove belonged to the pioneer family of Dorothy Michener Vick, the sixth child born to Thomas and Mary Elizabeth Michener. They moved into the Gallatin Canyon following their marriage in 1898 and remained here until 1919. Mrs. Vick lived off and on in the Canyon until her death in 1999.
Restoration of the Historic Crail Ranch is a project of the Crail Ranch Conservators with support from BSOA, the Big Sky Resort Area District (tax monies) and interested citizens.
You can view the HCR Charter here .
For additional information or to contribute to this project, write:
Crail Ranch
POB 161315
Big Sky, Montana 59716
Location - Crail Ranch is located in the Meadow Village at Big Sky, Montana. From Route 191, proceed west on the Spur Road 1.9 miles to the Meadow Village Center (Right onto Little Coyote Road), go past Chapel and ponds to the first left-hand road, or Spotted Elk. The ranch is to the left on Spotted Elk.
Sunday, June 29, 1 p.m.
Annual meeting of the Conservators highlighted by presentation of a western saddle hand made by Frank Crail, grandson of the original homesteaders. Music by the Gallatin Valley Junior Fiddlers 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday, July 5, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Kids at The Crail Fly Fishing Clinic -- local fisherpersons explain the basics
Sunday, July 6, noon to 4 p.m.
Sunday Market, showcasing a variety of arts/crafts (jewelry, basketry, rustic furniture, photography, ironwork, paintings, etc.) by a group of local crafts people
Sunday, July 13, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Kids at The Crail Fun Day -- a day of old fashioned games, co-sponsored with the Moms of Big Sky
Saturday, July 19, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, July 20, noon to 5 p.m.
Colors of Kyrgystan -- two-day trunk show of handmade woolen rugs, hats, slippers, ethnic dolls, scarves and crafts from Central Asia
Saturday, July 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
5th Annual Quilt Show featuring demonstrations, displays, music, and sale of quilt items. Music by Liberty String band
Saturday, August 9, 10 a.m. until sold out
Annual Bake Sale; your choice of breads, cookies, cakes, and other goodies
Sunday, August 17, 2 p.m.
Community Appreciation Concert sponsored by 3 Rivers. Open Range Band will play the western swing music of Bob Willis, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline and others. This is a fun family event!
Most area ranchers who weathered the Great Depression turned to dude ranching, but the Crails' continued to run their working ranch until 1950. For fifty years, the ranch structures were the only evidence of human habitation in the Big Sky meadow valley. Today, the house and cabin are the sole survivors of the once-sprawling complex. The older log cabin has a unique roof of rough sawn lumber three layers deep. The sturdy main residence, built with care and skill circa 1905, is of hand-hewn logs chinked with mortar. The marks of the ax used to flatten the dove-tailed logs are plainly visible. The two dwellings, now nestled among modern residences, are a rare monument to early homesteading and a poignant reminder of this bygone era in the Gallatin Valley.
The home is furnished with pieces typical to those used by the Crails. Of particular interest are the two stoves. The one in the kitchen came from a cabin up Dudley Creek drainage. The parlor stove belonged to the pioneer family of Dorothy Michener Vick, the sixth child born to Thomas and Mary Elizabeth Michener. They moved into the Gallatin Canyon following their marriage in 1898 and remained here until 1919. Mrs. Vick lived off and on in the Canyon until her death in 1999.
Restoration of the Historic Crail Ranch is a project of the Crail Ranch Conservators with support from BSOA, the Big Sky Resort Area District (tax monies) and interested citizens.
You can view the HCR Charter here .
For additional information or to contribute to this project, write:
Crail Ranch
POB 161315
Big Sky, Montana 59716
Location - Crail Ranch is located in the Meadow Village at Big Sky, Montana. From Route 191, proceed west on the Spur Road 1.9 miles to the Meadow Village Center (Right onto Little Coyote Road), go past Chapel and ponds to the first left-hand road, or Spotted Elk. The ranch is to the left on Spotted Elk.
The Historic Crail Ranch on Spotted Elk Road in Big Sky is open to visitors every Saturday and Sunday in July and August from noon to 3 p.m. Special events are planned as follows:
Historic Crail Ranch 2008 schedule of summer events
Sunday, June 29, 1 p.m.
Annual meeting of the Conservators highlighted by presentation of a western saddle hand made by Frank Crail, grandson of the original homesteaders. Music by the Gallatin Valley Junior Fiddlers 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday, July 5, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Kids at The Crail Fly Fishing Clinic -- local fisherpersons explain the basics
Sunday, July 6, noon to 4 p.m.
Sunday Market, showcasing a variety of arts/crafts (jewelry, basketry, rustic furniture, photography, ironwork, paintings, etc.) by a group of local crafts people
Sunday, July 13, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Kids at The Crail Fun Day -- a day of old fashioned games, co-sponsored with the Moms of Big Sky
Saturday, July 19, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, July 20, noon to 5 p.m.
Colors of Kyrgystan -- two-day trunk show of handmade woolen rugs, hats, slippers, ethnic dolls, scarves and crafts from Central Asia
Saturday, July 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
5th Annual Quilt Show featuring demonstrations, displays, music, and sale of quilt items. Music by Liberty String band
Saturday, August 9, 10 a.m. until sold out
Annual Bake Sale; your choice of breads, cookies, cakes, and other goodies
Sunday, August 17, 2 p.m.
Community Appreciation Concert sponsored by 3 Rivers. Open Range Band will play the western swing music of Bob Willis, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline and others. This is a fun family event!
For more information, visit the Historic Crail Ranch website.
