Charlie “Beaver Tooth” Neil and wife Henrietta homesteaded land on what is now the Buffalo Valley Ranch in 1914. They built a one room log house, two log stables, one wagon shed, two store houses, and a drought cellar. Charlie also ran an illegal fur business from the drought cellar.
In 1918 the Neil’s opened a “Bargain Store” where the Buffalo Valley Café now stands. The store was always stocked with staples and Charlie never turned anyone down who asked for credit. They eventually expanded it to an eight cabin road camp.
Dance halls became just as popular in Moran, WY as they were in the rest of the United States in the 1920’s. In Elk, WY (about where Heart Six Guest Ranch now stands) the Neil’s opened one of the valley’s popular dance halls. Portions of the dance hall still stand today and have been incorporated into the main lodge of Heart Six Guest Ranch. Local stories lead one to believe there was a “little” gambling in the basement and, perhaps, a red light on the door. The dance hall was very popular until Charlie became a little “too friendly” at some dances. He then closed the doors and “left it to the bats!”
The property was then bought by “Dad” Turner and Mr. & Mrs. Maurice Scott. Turner’s half became “Boggy Bench” (where Heart Six now stands) and Scott’s half became the “Buffalo River Ranch.”
In 1953 “Boggy Bench” Ranch was purchased by Kenny Sailors, an All-American basketball player. He played for the Celtics and Nuggets. Sailors was also a Colonel in the Air Force and a pilot for General Eisenhower. The Ranch was used as a hunting camp and renamed Heart Six.
Sailors then sold the ranch to his brother Bud Sailors. The Buffalo Valley Ranch was sold to Mary and Louise Price in 1955. During the 1960’s new cabins were built on Heart Six property and was first operated as a Dude Ranch. Bud Sailors then sold the ranch to Dr. and Mrs. Hurst in 1974. The Hurst’s were from Conroe, TX, a suburb of Houston. The Hurst’s wanted to get away from the ill effects of the ever growing city. Mr. Hurst ran a small practice in town and Mrs. Hurst focused her energies on making the ranch run efficiently.
The Hurst’s sold Heart Six Guest Ranch to Brian and Mille Harris of Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1984. The Harris’ have operated the property as a guest ranch, hunting lodge, and winter snowmobile haven ever since.
