about us

We are the Hubbard family. Jim Hubbard brought us here in 1976 after reading Louis L'Amour books his whole life. Jim had started an insurance business, renting a neighbor's front porch for an office. He was successful and become a leading businessman in Decatur, Illinois. But Louis still nagged at his mind.

So Jim left the insurance business. He found the ranch we are on now in 1976 when he was a young man in his prime. He left his promising business career with no second thoughts in order to raise cattle and to find fame and fortune in the West.

Well, he soon discovered that the cattle business was not going to bring him fame or fortune, no matter how much he liked it. So he started doing a few other things he liked, also.

Jim started an elk hunting business, then started teaching people to be hunting guides. Pretty soon he had a fishing business, and soon after that he was teaching people to become fishing guides. Then he started a dude ranch so he would have people to ride horses with.

Jim's daughter, Nancy Hubbard-Schaefer, now runs the fishing business, while her brother, Mike Hubbard, runs the ranch and the elk hunting. Jim's son-in-law, Eben Schaefer, is helping Jim with the schools and bowhunting. In reality, though, Jim still runs everything up here.

We hope you will come see us and live a little of Jim Hubbard's dream. We think Louis L'Amour would be proud of what we have accomplished. You see, Jim knew all along that the secret to happiness isn't fame and fortune, its having fun and enjoying your work. Come see what we have done and tell us if you think Louis would approve.