Your Hosts
In 1958, C.B. and Helen Rich moved to the Blackfoot/Clearwater Valley from the Rich family homestead in the Stillwater Country near Billings, Montana, along with their five children: MaryAnna, Betty, Peggy, Sharon, and Jack. Continuing with their ranching and rural heritage, they built an outfitting and guest ranch business next to the renowned Bob Marshall Wilderness, sharing their passion for Montana’s mountains and outdoor lifestyle with guests near and far.
In the early 80s, Jack and Belinda took over the reins and have had the privilege of raising their three children, Shannon, Kelly, and David in the family business, while watching them grow and become an integral part of this rewarding lifestyle. Jack’s sister, Peggy, and husband Ralph, along with some of their children, have stayed active and supported throughout the years this multi-generational dream and family tradition of living and working in the mountains of western Montana.
The Crew
There’s an old western saying that we refer to often:
“Do what you love, and love what you do,” and we strive for the Rich Ranch family and crew to embody this philosophy.
These roots go back to CB and Helen who had 5 biological children and countless others that they took in under their wings as family. This philosophy is still carried on by the Rich family today. Most of the ranch “family” are not related by blood but instead are brought together by a common desire to share the rural Montana lifestyle and western way of life with others. As such, over the years we have been blessed to have our Rich Ranch crew become our extended family. This extended family ranges from infants to 80 year old’s and includes crew members past, present, and future. These are the faces of the Rich Ranch crew.
Our Family’s Montana Heritage
Beginnings
Beginning with their pioneer arrival by wagon train in 1864, six generations of the Rich Family have called Montana home. Their first 95 years were spent in the upper Yellowstone and Missouri River Country. Then in 1958 C.B. and Helen Rich found their way to the scenic Blackfoot/Clearwater Valley of western Montana – establishing an outfitting and guest ranch operation next to the renowned Bob Marshall Wilderness Area. Today their children and grandchildren carry on a forty-plus year family tradition, graciously sharing their rural country lifestyle, Montana history, and knowledge of the outdoors with friends and guests from near and far.
Hunters Hot Springs
Andrew Jackson Hunter (great-great grandfather of Jack, Peggy, and Mary Anna Rich) was a southern doctor from Virginia. In April of 1864 he left the war-torn south with his wife Susan and 3 young daughters- traveling by wagon train to Montana Territory. While in route he discovered a mineral hot springs on the Yellowstone River near the present day town of Livingston.
The family moved on – but after 3 years of practicing medicine in the ruff and tumble gold mining camps in the upper Missouri (including Virginia City, Bannack, and Helena) they returned to the springs – and built a home/boarding house – which was the first permanent white settlement in the Yellowstone Valley. Dr. Hunter and his family survived years of Indian troubles and isolation – and by the late 1870’s his health-spa (Hunter’s Hot Springs) had became the gathering place for many of the west’s famous travelers. In 1879 his daughter Lizzie married Frank Rich – a young teamster from Bozeman.
Frank Rich – Mule Team Freighting Business
Frank Rich, born in New York State, left home in 1866 at the age of 18 and traveled by wagon train with legendary guide Jim Bridger over the “Bloody Bozeman” Trail to Montana. He proceeded to put together a freighting business with long-line mule teams – and for over 20 years hauled supplies from Corrine, Utah back to Bozeman – and on to the other settlements and gold mining towns in the new Montana Territory. In the early 1900’s Frank, Lizzie and their son Clarence, with his wife Anna, homesteaded the first “Rich Ranch” – and began raising horses, cattle and grain in the Stillwater River Valley just north of Yellowstone Park.
Outfitting, Guiding, and Guest Ranching
In 1945, C.B. Rich (son of Clarence and Anna) returned home from World War II and bought the family cattle ranch. That same year – to supplement the ranch income – C.B. began guiding hunters and fishermen into the Beartooth Mountains north of Yellowstone Park. In 1958 his love of packing and guiding led he and his wife Helen to move from the Yellowstone country and into the Blackfoot/Clearwater Valley of western Montana – establishing an outfitting and guest ranch next to the spectacular Bob Marshall Wilderness Area. Today, C.B. and Helen’s son Jack – along with his wife Belinda and other family members – operates the 2nd generation guest ranching and outfitting business – and they continue to share a pioneer Montana legacy and love of the out doors with friends and guests from all walks of life.
The History of the Rich Family
Beginnings of a Montana Legacy
Ancestors of the Rich family arrived in the newly created Montana territory in 1864. Dr. A.J. Hunter and his wife Susan (Jack’s great-great grandparents) and their young daughters followed John Bozeman to the Gallatin Valley, which would see a town established in Bozeman’s name. Two years later, in 1866, 18 year old Frank Rich (Jack’s great grandfather) arrived following Jim Bridger to Bozeman. As a young man Frank started up a mule team freighting business, hauling supplies with covered wagons nearly 600 miles from the Montana gold fields to the railhead at Corrine, Utah and back. Frank Rich married Lizzie Longstreet Hunter, joining the two pioneer families.
Frank and Lizzie eventually homesteaded in the upper Stillwater Valley north of Yellowstone Park. They raised a family, ranched, freighted, and began the legacy of a Montana rural way of life with horses, mules and the great outdoors. Jack, Belinda, and their family carry on this way of life still today. Montana, known as the “Land of the Shining Mountains” and “Big Sky Country”, has been home to the Rich family for a span of 160+ years, with 7 generations and counting.
Outfitting and Dude Ranching
The roots of the Rich family’s outfitting and dude ranching heritage began in 1946 with Jack’s parents, Helen and C.B. Rich. At the end of WW2, they purchased the original Rich Ranch family homestead in the upper Stillwater River Valley north of Yellowstone Park. They ran cattle, raised horses, and began guiding hunters and fishermen in the adjacent Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness.
The Double Arrow Days
In 1958, C.B. and Helen Rich relocated to the Blackfoot/Clearwater Valley of western Montana with their five children: daughters MaryAnna, Betty, Peggy, Sharon, and 2-year old son Jack. Continuing with their ranching and rural heritage, they bought the Double Arrow Guest Ranch (originally built in the late 1920’s) with the dream of growing an outfitting and guest ranch business. Located next to the renowned Bob Marshall Wilderness, here they could share their passion for Montana’s mountains and outdoor lifestyle with guests near and far.
Unfortunately, their guest ranch dreams did not work out. The ranch’s log lodge, cabins and outbuildings looked romantic and inviting, but years of neglect and lack of maintenance had taken their toll. Helen and C.B. worked hard to refurbish and renovate the place, but eventually the money ran dry and in 1966 they were forced to sell the land and buildings. They retained and continued to run the outfitting business for another 15 years.
Passing the Torch – A new Rich Ranch is Born
In the early 1980s, Jack and Belinda took over the reins of the family outfitting business. In 1994, they were able to rekindle the family dream, purchase land, and establish a “new” guest ranch located just 15 miles from the old Double Arrow where Jack grew up. They paired it with their outfitting business and named the new venture “Rich Ranch” in tribute to the original Montana family homestead.
Jack and Belinda have had the privilege of raising their three children, Shannon, Kelly, and David in the family business, while watching them grow and become an integral part of this rewarding lifestyle. Their oldest daughter Shannon is stepping into the leadership role of the ranch operation and epitomizes the generational family commitment to the ranch legacy.
Jack’s sister, Peggy, and husband Ralph, along with some of their children, have stayed active and supportive throughout the years. This multi-generational dream and family tradition of living and working in the mountains of western Montana has given great joy to both families. Our hope is that the “journey” will continue for present and future generations to enjoy.
The Legacy Continues
There’s an old western saying that we refer to often: “Do what you love, and love what you do,” and we strive for the Rich Ranch family and crew to embody this philosophy.
These roots go back to CB and Helen who had 5 biological children and countless others that they took in under their wings as family. This philosophy is still carried on by the Rich family today. Most of the ranch “family” are not related by blood but instead are brought together by a common desire to share the rural Montana lifestyle and western way of life with others. As such, over the years we have been blessed to have our Rich Ranch crew become our extended family. This extended family ranges from infants to 80 year olds and includes crew members past, present, and future.
The following words of C.B. from one of his poems still rings true in our hearts…
”We extend a hearty welcome in a good old fashioned way,
From our good old-fashioned buildings in their mountain hide-away,
Hope someday you’ll come to join us in the things we like to do,
Until then this will convey the “best of everything” to you.”
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