History

Tarryall Land & Cattle Ranch

Tarryall Land & Cattle Ranch

History of Tarryall Land & Cattle Ranch

A legacy shaped by water, work, and the West

Spanning 244 acres along the Tarryall Creek, Tarryall Land & Cattle Ranch is far more than a private fly fishing destination. Its history reflects the grit, perseverance, and quiet determination of the early homesteaders who helped shape the Colorado Rockies during the westward expansion of the United States.

Its story reflects the grit, perseverance, and quiet determination of the early homesteaders who helped shape the Colorado Rockies during the great westward expansion of the United States. These weren’t wealthy land barons or fortune seekers chasing gold strikes. They were ordinary people with extraordinary courage—farmers, ranchers, and families who looked at this unforgiving landscape of towering peaks, dense forests, and wild rivers and saw not obstacles, but opportunity.

They arrived with little more than hand tools, livestock, and an unshakable resolve to build something lasting. They cleared land by hand, built cabins that could withstand Rocky Mountain winters, and learned to read the seasons in ways that meant survival. They understood the creek not just as a source of water, but as a lifeline—for their cattle, their crops, and their very existence in this remote corner of Colorado.

Tarryall Land & Cattle Ranch

A Place Where History Lives On

For more than a century, this stretch of the Tarryall Creek has supported ranching families, wildlife, and anglers alike. Generations of sportsmen have cast flies into these waters, drawn by the same qualities that make the creek special today.

We invite you to become part of that ongoing story. Spend a day fishing water shaped by history, stewardship, and time, and experience what fly fishing in Colorado was always meant to be.

Tarryall Land & Cattle Ranch

The Derby Years

From gold rush to homestead life

The story of the ranch begins in 1862, when William A. Derby followed his two brothers west to Colorado Springs in search of gold. Like many of that era, the promise of mining soon gave way to the reality of ranch work. The three brothers eventually established cattle operations along the Tarryall Creek in Park County.

By June of 1886, William Derby had officially filed a homestead claim along the creek, staking his place in the rugged Colorado landscape. There, he built a modest log cabin to house himself and his new wife, Inez, a structure that would become the heart of their life on the frontier. Shortly after, their daughter, Ela May, was born, bringing new hope and purpose to the family as they began the painstaking work of carving out a life from the wilderness. Within the first year, the Derbys had cultivated roughly fifty-five acres of land, carefully planting hardy crops like potatoes and turnips—vegetables resilient enough to withstand the short, unpredictable growing season. The remainder of the property remained wild, composed of rolling grazing lands dotted with timber and rocky outcrops, a landscape as beautiful as it was challenging.

Life on the ranch was defined by resilience, ingenuity, and a deep connection to the land. Every day brought new tests—harsh winters, sudden storms, and the demands of raising livestock in untamed terrain—but the Derbys met each challenge with quiet determination. Their early years laid the groundwork not only for a thriving cattle operation but for a rich legacy of stewardship, endurance, and respect for the natural rhythms of the Tarryall Creek valley—a legacy that continues to define the ranch to this day.

Tarryall Land & Cattle Ranch

Hardships on the Frontier

Loss, resilience, and change

Life on the ranch was demanding, and the Derby family’s success was the result of tireless effort, careful planning, and unyielding determination. Each day required long hours tending to cattle, maintaining fences, and managing crops in a landscape that could be as unforgiving as it was beautiful. The rewards were real, but so too were the risks. In the summer of 1889, the ranch faced a severe setback when bears struck, killing several head of cattle and dealing a significant blow to the family’s operation. It was a harsh reminder of the constant challenges posed by living so close to untamed wilderness, where nature’s unpredictability could swiftly turn triumph into hardship.

Just as the family was striving to recover, tragedy struck again in the following winter. Inez Derby, the heart and soul of the household, passed away unexpectedly, leaving William and young Ela May to navigate the cold months of the Colorado Rockies without her steady presence. Her loss weighed heavily on William, casting a shadow over the ranch and testing his resolve in ways no one could have anticipated. Grief and the cumulative strain of frontier life ultimately led him to make a difficult decision.

Tarryall Land & Cattle Ranch

New Owners and a Growing Legacy

From cattle ranch to sporting destination

The property changed hands several times in the years that followed. In 1900, it was sold to Edwin M. Armor, who soon transferred ownership to Civil War veteran William E. Moses. In April of 1916, the ranch was purchased by Alma and L. Paul Terhune, a couple from Iowa who would leave one of the most lasting marks on the land.

The Terhunes owned and operated the ranch for more than four decades. During the 1920s, they rented a small cabin on the property to visiting sportsmen who came to fish the Tarryall Creek, marking some of the earliest recreational use of the water. After the passing of her husband, Alma Terhune continued to operate the cattle ranch on her own, while also serving for several years as secretary of the local school board.

Following Alma Terhune’s death in 1961, the ranch was acquired by longtime local residents Lee E. and Elsie Wallace. In 1963, they sold the property to their daughter and son-in-law, who continued running a cattle operation on the ranch for more than 30 years.