B--K Ranch

The story

Written by AI from this property's National Register nomination and the record above; every sentence is checked against its sources before it appears here. Corrections: privacy@treealive.com

The B--K Ranch is a historic district of ranch and guest ranch buildings on 15 acres at 750 Lone Mountain Ranch Rd. in Big Sky, Gallatin County, Montana, built mainly between 1915 and 1950 in a rustic style.

Why it's listed

It was listed under criteria A and C, with local-level significance in exploration and settlement, agriculture, entertainment and recreation, and architecture. Its period of significance runs from 1927 to 1950, when J. Fred Butler acquired the Lytle Homestead.

Physical character

The buildings are built of round peeled logs with saddle notching, under wood shingle and shake roofs, and several have massive stone chimneys. In the 1970s Big Sky Corporation removed the original sod roofs, added a large gable roof to the barn, and built a wood frame bathroom addition onto the Bald Eagle Cabin.

Historical context

Clarence Lytle established the homestead here in 1915, and in 1927 Butler and the Kilbourne family spent $110,000 improving the property and damming a natural spring. Dr. La Forge sold the ranch to Earl Riser and partners in 1946, and in 1948 they converted it to a guest ranch and made it the first place in Montana with underground electricity. Sam Smeeding purchased the operation in 1962 and ran it as a guest ranch with a saloon, then sold it to Big Sky Corporation in 1970, which made the property headquarters for its Big Sky development through 1977.