John Jarvie Historic Ranch

Explore where the wild west is still wild, where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid hid out from the long arms of the law, where traders made a mint, and where a business complemented the turn-of-the-century frontier life in Brown's Park.

In 1880, John Jarvie, a Scotsman built a ranch along the Green River to offer store goods to those that lived or traveled in this wild territory. Jarvie chose this location due to a naturally occurring river crossing which was used by Indians, fur trappers, travelers, and local residents. At its height, the Jarvie ranch operation included a store, post office, river ferry, and cemetery. 

At the historic ranch, you’ll find the stone house, which is a one-room, rectangular building. It was built by outlaw Jack Bennett, using masonry skills he learned in prison. This is also the museum where displays decorate the walls and a video of the history of the ranch can be viewed. You’ll also get to duck inside the two-room dugout where John and his wife Nellie first lived. It is built into a hillside with a south-facing entrance overlooking the Green River. You can stroll over to the blacksmith shop and corral, which were constructed using hand-hewn railroad ties which drifted down from Green River, Wyoming, during high water. Finally, you get to pretend shop at the general store where Mr. Jarvie sold goods, which is a replica of the original which was built in 1881. It is furnished with many artifacts from the Jarvie period and also contains the original safe which was robbed from the men that murdered John Jarvie.

Developed camping is available at Bridge Hollow or Indian Crossing campgrounds nestled along the Green River, adjacent to the ranch. There you’ll have several launch points for floating the Green River. If you're an angler, you won't want to miss the blue ribbon fishing opportunity from the Flaming Gorge Dam down to the Colorado State line. All campsites within the Indian Crossing and Bridge Hollow campgrounds are first come first served.