Ranch History

The year was 1895, the days when the American West was known as the "Wild West." Not long after the shootout at the O.K. Corral, the TX Ranch was founded. William Tillett, at right, married Bessie Strong-Tillett, and their homestead was on Crooked Creek north of Lovell, Wyoming.

Why the TX? After all, we're not anywhere near Texas: The first herd of cattle was purchased by Bessie's father, Frank Strong, from Amarillo, Texas, and the right hip brand has never changed. This was the beginning of the TX brand on the Montana | Wyoming border. Fast forward to 1976: The TX Ranch was established as a working guest ranch.

We credit Abbie Tillett for the mother-lode of the TX Guest Ranch. Abbie started it over 30 years ago to help the ranch get back on its feet during difficult times for all ranchers. Abbie took care of ranch bookings and cooked for the guest ranch for over 20 years on an open fire using cast iron skillets and on a wood cook stove. Abbie still loves to cook and help out cooking for the ranch hands. We all take off our hats to Abbie.

Since that time, Hip Tillett, Abbie's son, Loretta Tillett Hip's wife with their daughter Desiree Tillett and other Tillett family members are hard at it helping with the guest ranch. We feel fortunate to have met friends from every walk of life and around the globe. To date, nearly 70 percent of our guests return to the ranch when possible. We wish to thank each and every one you have helped keep the Tillett family ranch a whole ranch.

On behalf of Curtis Productions LTD, TX Ranch participated in "The Real Cowboy: Portrait of an American Icon" for The History Channel, which aired several times throughout the season.

The rest is history...

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