History

Authentic Working Ranch Since 1946

Sylvan Dale Ranch has a rich history. In the early 1900’s, Mr. and Mrs. Frend Neville owned a small cattle ranch at the mouth of the Big Thompson River. Wealthy doctors from St Louis came to the area to hunt deer and liked it so much they wanted to bring their families. So the Nevilles built some cabins and a lodge along the river and planted apple trees in the yard.

Years later, the facilities were sold to Cotner College, a Christian Church school in Lincoln, Nebraska. But during the Depression of the ’30s, Cotner College closed and Sylvan Dale was leased out as a youth camp. Maurice Jessup, then a college kid in Oklahoma, overheard a conversation about the Ranch and asked for a summer job. He hitchhiked to Loveland and caught a ride with the mail carrier. He was overwhelmed with the beauty of the mountains and the rushing water and immediately told Camp Director JB Weldon, “You know, I just love this place. Someday I’m going to own Sylvan Dale.” That was in 1934.

Twelve years later, the Ranch was for sale and Maurice Jessup was in the Army Air Corps. He received special permission to go and bid on the property. After scratching his bid on a piece of paper, he and his wife Mayme “Tillie” were awarded the 125-acre run-down property.

Through a lifetime of hopes and dreams solidly based on faith, dedication, and hard work, the Jessups and their two children, David and Susan, increased the 125-acre ranch to a 3,200-acre working guest ranch. The Big Thompson flood of 1976 threatened to put an end to the dream, but reconstruction efforts were successful and what was once a summer guest ranch became a year ’round facility.