The Ranch

The Star Valley Trout Ranch is 60 miles south of Jackson Hole, Wyoming near the town of Afton. The Trout Ranch has a unique history, established in 1945 just after WWII, fish rearing ponds were dug out by hand in which were found buffalo skulls, Indian artifacts and ancient calcified beaver dams. These earthen ponds are still used to raise the Snake River Cutthroat trout. Because the Trout Ranch maintains the only private Snake River Cutthroat brood stock in the world we are able to offer them to you from our menu.

The Trout Ranch is nestled next to the Caribou National Forest, which lies at the very edge of the Wyoming over thrust. This creates a unique geological formation that has produced an unusual underground aquifer. Water is collected from rain and snow in a vast wilderness behind the Trout Ranch. It percolates through the ground into this aquifer and bubbles out in two major springs, one of which runs through the Trout Ranch. Scientists believe that the water that is now coming out of the ground fell from the sky 1,000 to 2,000 years ago. It is some of the purest water ever tested. This can be attributed to the fact that it has been filtering naturally since Roman times. In addition to the fabulous tasting fish being raised in this water, the Ranch has developed a special collection system at the spring that enables us to supply drinking water that hasn't seen the light of day for thousands of years until it is poured into your glass.