Naming the West : Stories High River

High River Student Story 2:
High River - Round T Ranch

The Round T Ranch is an old ranch in the High River area. It was started in 1879 and still in use today. Guy Weadick described the ranch this way.

“Laying for some miles along the north bank of the Highwood River are the verdant acres of the outfit. The head quarter’s buildings being a short distance from the present town limits of High River Alberta.”

The ranch had both horse and cattle operations, which had been carried on continuously on this property since 1879. Before that it was the location used by early white traders to do business with the native hunters, trappers, wolfers, and freighters. The ranch has been the home of some of Alberta’s most prominent pioneers.

David Thompson, explorer and map maker, is recorded as having spent some time in the area as early as 1800. Why has this ranch been around for so long? It has been successful. Good grazing means good cattle and good horses. Once again, in the words of Guy Weadick:

“It’s the age old story of good grass, water, and shelter. As for good stock country, there’s no better than on this ranch.”

I’m sure that’s the reason why the early settlers picked this as their headquarters. Why, they had the whole country all around to choose from. After the coming of the North West Mounted Police and the signing of the treaties with the natives, the ranch became a meat supplier to the government. The buffalo had been wiped out and the natives were starving, so the government of Canada bought beef from the Round T Ranch. Some of the original buildings are still standing today, and visitors to the area can visit the ranch after making a short detour after Longview or Coal Trail.