The History - Two Feathers Ranch

Chief Joseph Ranch

DEEP TIES TO MONTANA'S HISTORY

The acreage of the Two Feathers Ranch is 357+ acres in size. This constitutes approximately 15% of the acreage of the original CJR and is one of the largest of the remaining undeveloped parcels. Here is the history of the CJR provided by a quick online search.

The Chief Joseph Ranch, now famous as the filming location for Yellowstone, has a rich history tied to the Ford-Hollister family, Luke Weiss, and later, Mel Pervais. Originally, the land was homesteaded in 1880, and its prominent phase began in 1914 when William S. Ford, a glass tycoon from Ohio, acquired the property along with federal judge Howard Hollister. They expanded the ranch to 2,500 acres, with Ford investing in an ambitious three-year project to build an impressive 6,000-square-foot lodge. Designed by Bates & Gamble, the lodge and its extensive barns set a new standard for log architecture in the West. The Ford family later transitioned the ranch from an apple orchard to a dairy operation, and eventually, a Hereford cattle ranch, before opening one of the first guest ranches in the West after Ford’s death in 1935.

The ranch was renamed Chief Joseph Ranch in the 1950s, paying homage to the Nez Perce leader, who had crossed the land in 1877 during his people's retreat from U.S. forces. In 1987, Melvin Pervais, an entrepreneur and member of the Ojibwa Nation, purchased the deteriorating property. He dedicated substantial effort to restoring the ranch to its former glory, including the lodge and barns. He added personal touches, such as a pet bobcat named Toma, after Chief Joseph's wife, and focused on preserving the historical authenticity of the estate. Pervais eventually sold the ranch to multiple buyers which created the opportunity for Two Feathers Ranch to be born as the southern portion including Tin Cup Creek frontage and USFS access. The headquarters of the ranch began offering guest services and then the recent owner shared the ranch on a lease during the summer and early fall seasons with Paramount Productions for the filming of Yellowstone. The ranch is still occupied as a full-time residence and ranching activities maintaining its deep ties to Montana’s history and heritage.

The Valley History

A RICH AND RUGGED WESTERN HERITAGE

The valley was the ancestral home of the Salish tribe of the Flathead nation.

In early September 1805, the Lewis and Clark Expedition crossed Lost Trail Pass from present-day Idaho in order to connect with the overland route through the Rocky Mountains. Passing down Camp Creek and the East Fork, they followed the Bitterroot River northward to the point where it connects with the Nez Perce Trail and Lolo Creek. Before continuing their difficult journey to the west, they named their camp Traveler's Rest. Returning to this site in early July of the following year, they split their Corps of Discovery, furthering their explorations both to the northeast (Lewis) and to the south (Clark).

The first 'white' settlement in the valley was the founding in 1841 of St. Mary's Mission, near present-day Stevensville, by Father DeSmet. Fort Owen was established nearby in 1850, and difficult relations occurred between the white settlers and the Salish until 1891, when the native tribes were relocated to the north. In 1877 Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce tribe passed south through the Bitterroot Valley, fleeing the U.S. Army. They exited the East Fork via Gibbons Pass, near where they fought at the Battle of the Big Hole.

The Bitterroot Valley had nearly a million apple trees in the early 1900s, and was one of the world's largest producers of MacIntosh apples at that time. Irrigation was provided by about 80 miles of canals. Although the Bitterroot Valley's orchards became less competitive with apple orchards in Washington State after hailstorms in 1922 and 1923, it is still home to one of the nation's largest cider orchards.

Settlement has continued since that time. The population of Ravalli County in the 2000 census was 36,070; 40,212 in the 2010 census, and 53,000 in recent the estimate. The major industries are ranching, agriculture, forestry, and tourism.