The Skyline Story

The Skyline Guest Ranch legacy started in 1933, during the height of the Great Depression, back when miners were trying their luck in gold and silver mines in the Cooke City area. The tiny, isolated community was built around the rudimentary mining industry and Victor Orin (V.O.) Jackson found his treasure not in the mines but in serving the mining community. V.O. brought dairy and beef cattle to the mountains to provide milk and meat for the miners. In addition, he and his children harvested ice from the river in winter. In the summer, he sold milk, meat, and ice to the people of Cooke City, later opening a butcher shop and small grocery.

After World War II, the mines closed down, and V.O. turned his focus to the newly developing tourism industry. He traded his milk cows for horses and mules, and Skyline Guest Ranch was born.  Visitors would come to ride horses, fishing, hunt, and camp. First, he built a barn and corrals, followed by a motel, restaurant, and gas station. 

As the years advanced, V.O. sold the buildings but retained the horse business, running it until he was 85 years old! The family legacy carried on when his grandson and namesake, Vic Jackson, bought the horse business.
​
Vic and Liz Jackson carried on the tradition of providing great outdoor adventures from 1978 to 2021. They raised five children who spent every summer of their childhood learning to work together in these mountains. The dream seemed a long time coming, but, in 1999, Vic, Liz, and many others worked together to build the beautiful lodge, which is now the hub of Skyline activity. In the fall of 2021, Victor and Liz passed the family legacy on to their oldest daughter Lara and her family. 
​
Luke and Lara Morris, along with their children, bring the tradition forward yet another generation as they continue to work together to bring you the finest experience in hospitality and backcountry adventures.
​
Fifth-generation grandchildren have joined the Skyline team and together welcome you to join our family in exploring and appreciating the marvels of mother nature that surround us in this rocky mountain paradise.