4 Lazy F Dude Ranch
| Company type | Private ranch |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hospitality, dude ranch |
| Founded | 1927 |
| Founder | William Frew family |
| Headquarters | Jackson Hole , United States |
Area served | Grand Teton National Park area |
| Products | Seasonal lodging, dude ranch experiences |
The 4 Lazy F Ranch, also referred to as the Sun Star Ranch, is a dude ranch and seasonal home situated in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It was founded in 1927 by the William Frew family from Pittsburgh. Designed primarily as a private family getaway rather than a commercial cattle operation, the ranch showcases rustic architecture using logs and board-and-batten techniques. The historic area encompasses seven cabins, a main lodge, a barn, corrals, and several smaller structures positioned along the west side of the Snake River, just north of Moose, Wyoming. This property was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
History
The site originally came under development in 1914 by Bryant Mears, who hailed from Philadelphia. At that time, the property—known as Sun Star Ranch—spanned 18 acres and included two log cabins, a barn, corrals, fencing, a well, and irrigation ditches. Mears cultivated oats, barley, and hay until his military service from 1917 to 1919. In 1927, ownership transferred from Edward Mears to William Frew.
William Frew, a prosperous businessman based in Pittsburgh, renamed the estate 4 Lazy F to represent the "Four Lazy Frews." He managed it as an exclusive dude ranch and family retreat, welcoming guests solely by invitation. The Frew family maintained a life estate until 2006; following this period, the National Park Service took over management and performed restoration efforts in 2010. By 2016, recommendations were made to utilize the ranch as housing for seasonal staff within Grand Teton National Park.
Description
The ranch complex comprises seven cabins alongside a combined lodge and dining hall, as well as a laundry and utility building. Additional features include a barn, garages, storage sheds, and a corral. Situated on the Snake River's west bank, all buildings are characterized by "dude ranch vernacular" style with log construction complemented by board-and-batten siding. The logs are finished with brown varnish while roofs are covered with asphalt roll roofing in red or green hues. Most cabins preserve their original structural elements but have been enhanced with rear additions housing toilets; interiors display exposed log walls and wooden flooring.
Previously an inholding within Grand Teton National Park until 2006, the property was conveyed through a life estate from Emily Frew Oliver to the National Park Service and is currently fully managed by the NPS. The 4 Lazy F Ranch was entered into the National Register of Historic Places on April 23, 1990.
See also
External links
- The Dude Wranglers, Grand Teton Historic Resource Study, National Park Service and Grand Teton Natural History Association
- at the National Park Service's NRHP database
- 4 Lazy F Ranch at the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office
- Buildings and structures in Grand Teton National Park
- Dude ranches in Wyoming
- Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Wyoming
- Ranches on the National Register of Historic Places in Wyoming
- Rustic architecture in Wyoming
- National Register of Historic Places in Grand Teton National Park
- American companies established in 1927
- 1927 establishments in Wyoming