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Adventure Travel > Dude & Guest Ranches > Homeplace Ranch > Meet Us

HOMEPLACE RANCH Priddis, Alberta Canada www.homeplaceranch.com
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Us

History of Homeplace Ranch:

This page is dedicated to my relatives who established our tradition with horses. In 1903 my great grandfather and grandfather trailed to Alberta to sell horses to the new settlers who came west following the railroad and the lure of free land. They were so impressed with the land they returned to Nebraska, sold their holdings and headed north. One of the reasons they later told me was "crime was creeping into the mid-west." Ruby Makenny, my mother, was one of the 11 children who was born and grew up ranching west of Ponoka. She and all the children were born at home, many of the youngest in a sod roofed house, whose doorway was 5' 8" tall.

Mom

Mom met my dad, Bill, when he came to Canada to hunt moose. He came back in 1935 and when he was preparing to return to Connecticut he kissed her and said, "Ruby if you don't find anyone you like better than me, I'll be back next year (1936) to marry you." He did. In 1946, after returning from 5 years in the US Navy's Seebees, Dad, Mom and myself, along with my aunt and uncle, moved to Jasper to go into the outfitting and summer trip business.

Boys Dream

With 80 head of horse it was a boys dream, one which never left me even when going to university and working to make enough money to start my own outfit. Every summer it was back to Jasper to help out. Finally, in 1978, the opportunity was there to start The Homeplace Ranch.

Homeplace Ranch - 30 years on.

As 2005 marks the Homeplace Ranch's 30th Anniversary, we find ourselves reflecting over the past 30 years. As we look back, we marvel at the number of people who have touched our lives. We have such warm memories.

We sincerely thank you for making the past 30 years everything we hoped it would be.

We would love to read your favorite memories or perhaps just a single moment of your trip to the Homeplace Ranch. It doesn't have to be long, maybe one special moment sticks out in your mind, a funny story from the trail, anything, just to let us know what Homeplace Ranch has meant to you.

If you are planning to visit and celebrate our anniversary with us and have been here before, please bring a photo of your first visit. We would like to create a 'then and now' wall to add to our collection of photos.

From all of us, over the years, we wish you and your families a Healthy and Happy New Year.

Mac, Jayne, Jessi and Crew