Noll Wallop, the 8th Earl of Portsmouth, purchased Canyon Ranch from Bear Davis in 1889 and since that time the Wallop family has loved and tended to this sacred piece of ground. It is a true blessing that over a century later we are honored to live on the ranch and continue to take care of it.
In the early 20th century Noll and Buffalo Bill had shooting contests at the ranch where the lore tells that Noll out-shot Buffalo Bill. Another famous guest was Theodore Roosevelt who stopped to visit Noll as he was traveling through the Wild West on his quest to preserve America's most beautiful lands. It was during this visit that President Roosevelt determined that the Big Horn Mountains would become designated and protected declaring the area the Big Horn National Forest.
The Wallop family is rich with history in the area and in the State of Wyoming. The stories are numerous and if you are interested in hearing more we'd be happy to share while you are staying at the ranch.

As the home of the oldest Polo Club in America, the Big Horn Polo Club was started in the early 1900's by the Wallop and Moncrieffe families at the Polo Ranch near Big Horn which is adjacent to Canyon Ranch. The Wallop and Moncrieffe descendants established one of the finest lines of horses that were provided to the Queen of England in her efforts to battle the Boer War. These Wyoming bred and trained horses were prepared for the battlefield through the game of polo assuring the Queen of brave equine soldiers in the field.
Today, a visitor can enjoy a game of polo at the Big Horn Polo Club every weekend during June, July, August, and over Labor Day weekend. World Class Polo has taken hold in Big Horn at the Flying H Polo club at the neighboring ranch where Patrons, their players, and grooms from all over the world play very fast and impressive high goal polo every week during July and August. If you like to gold the Powder Horn Golf Club is a short drive from the ranch offering a highly rated 18 and 27 hole play. Additionally, there is an 18 hole Municipal Golf Course which is further from the ranch. Each Golfing option offers magnificent mountain views.
The Sheridan and Johnson County area has many historic Indian battle sites of the late 19th century. These include Fort Phil Kearny, the Fetterman Masacre, and the Wagon Box Fight. The Little Bighorn Battlefield in Montana, the site of Custer's Last Stand, is only about an hour drive from the ranch. The Bradford Brinton Memorial and Western Art Museum is an absolute must see and only minutes from the ranch. King's Museum, adjacent to King's Saddlery in downtown Sheridan, houses an incredible collection of saddles and other Western memorabilia. The Historic Sheridan Inn was the site of auditions for the Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. This distinctive 'House of 69 Gables', has house many famous people including Earnest Hemingway.
Canyon Ranch itself has hosted many famous guests of its own over the 120+ years.