Jackson, WY — Trail Creek Ranch, a beloved 270‑acre dude‑ranch‑turned‑guest‑ranch near the base of Teton Pass, celebrates over 80 years of continuous female management. Founded by Olympic skier Elizabeth “Betty” Woolsey in 1943, the property remains in the hands of women who honor her simple‑living ethos while adapting to modern demands.
From Betty’s Dream to Today’s Guest Ranch
Betty Woolsey opened the ranch as a full‑service dude ranch in 1946, assisted by two right‑hand women: Margaret “Muggs” Schultz and Marian “Sis” McKean Wigglesworth. After Sis passed away in 1989, Woolsey chose Alex Menolascino as her successor. Alex and her longtime friend Jules Buchenroth spent their first summer on the property that same year, learning the ropes from the pioneering women who had built it.
When Woolsey died in 1997, she placed a conservation easement on the land through the Jackson Hole Land Trust, ensuring the ranch would remain protected from development. Alex assumed full leadership, converting the operation to a bed and breakfast in 2000 and later to a guest ranch in 2005—a format that continues today.
Family, Faith, and Hard Work
Both Alex and Jules credit their families and faith for the ranch’s endurance. Alex married her husband on the ranch, with Jules by her side, and says most weddings hosted at Trail Creek are for local couples who cherish the backdrop of the Sleeping Indian. “The business is really fun, but keeping up with property taxes and changing things is challenging,” Alex admits. Property taxes have risen from $6,000 to $65,000, a burden many local landowners share.
Despite the financial strain, Alex emphasizes the ranch’s self‑reliance. In Woolsey’s autobiography, Off the Beaten Track, she wrote, “I never tired of life in the valley… I lived as simply as possible, saving every penny to put back in the ranch.” Alex strives to preserve that simplicity, noting, “Betty sort of put it on me to keep it going the way it was, so we take great pride in having it be just the way it was.”
Guest Experience and Future Plans
Today Trail Creek Ranch can host up to 20 guests in eight summer units and six to eight guests in three winterized units. The owners are working to expand capacity while maintaining the intimate, rustic atmosphere that draws visitors from around the world. In addition to lodging, the ranch holds five to seven small weddings each summer and offers year‑round horse boarding, with a seasonal surge in the summer months.
Jules, who split her time between Jackson Hole and Little Cayman for many years, returned permanently in 2012 after Alex “kept after her.” She describes the ranch as her “happy place,” spending summers on the property and wintering in Alex’s nearby guest house.
Generations of Knowledge
Even in her 90s, Margaret “Muggs” Schultz remains an active presence. She still tends the horses, knows every neighboring parcel, and can recall water‑right details from memory. Alex says, “Muggs is always a consult. She was on the tractor until she was 88. Even at 95, we can go back into her brain and she’ll remember stuff. It’s amazing.” Muggs jokes, “No one else would hire me, I guess,” but adds, “I liked it up here. I wasn’t going to be stuck behind a desk anyway.”
The three women—Alex, Jules, and Muggs—now each have children in their 20s who appreciate the ranch’s simple, faith‑centered lifestyle. Their shared commitment to stewardship, hard work, and community hospitality keeps Trail Creek Ranch a unique slice of Wyoming heritage.
Looking Ahead
While the ranch faces rising taxes and the need for modest upgrades, its owners remain optimistic. “I brought my kids up here. It’s a nice lifestyle, and I can’t think of any other place we’d like to be,” Alex says. With a focus on preserving Betty Woolsey’s original vision and serving guests who value authenticity, Trail Creek Ranch stands as a testament to women’s leadership in the heart of the American West.
Original reporting: Buckrail (Jackson WY) — read the source article.
