|
|
 |
|
| The History of King Mountain Ranch Resort |
| |
 |
The original
buildings on the King Mountain Ranch Resort property were built in
the 1920s and include the long dormitory, then used for guests,
and the stone building that now houses the bowling alley,
ping pong table and pool table. A fox farm was operated on the property until 1931 when the
owner lost the property and released all the foxes. This
is why you see the occasional fox in the area. |
|
|
|
|
 |
In the early 1940s, the property served as a hunting lodge.
It was purchased in 1959 by legendary oilman John King to
be used as a private retreat for his clients, friends, and
family. John King named the ranch Little King Ranch after
the King Ranch in Texas because of the ranch's 117 acres in
comparison to King Ranch's one million and seventeen acres,
although there is no relation between the two Kings. With
his wealth, John King invested over $8 million worth of additions
to the ranch.Additions made included the trap and skeet range,
airstrip, reservoir, and three-story guest lodge. He also
turned a ranch building into an eight-bedroom home for his
family, now known as the King House used for guest lodging.
In the main lodge, he added an indoor shooting range and elaborate
office, the King Office, with a full view of the ranch. Because
of all the additions, a land swap was arranged with the US
Forest Service, and the ranch expanded to 320 acres. |
|
|
 |
As John King's private retreat, the ranch hosted many celebrities
including various presidents, all of the Mercury and Gemini
astronauts, and movie stars. One interesting story surrounding
these well known visitors involves astronaut Wally Shirra.
He and John were attempting to startle the guests by flying
John’s private plane up to the dining room windows and
veering off to the side at the last minute. Unfortunately,
John’s timing was a bit off which resulted in the shattering
of all the dining room windows. Perhaps if the astronaut had
been behind the controls, they would have smoothly pulled
it off. |
|
|
 |
In 1970 King lost $780 million and the ranch. In 1975, Leonard
Ross, a Hollywood businessman, bought the foreclosed Little
King Ranch for a mere $2 million. Ross' company, Rossco, turned
it into the King Mountain Club, an exclusive resort where
memberships could be bought, by invitation only, for $5000.
The Board of Directors included famous names like James Caan,
Robert Stack, and Andy Williams. |
|
|
 |
The ranch passed through several
corporate ownerships who used the ranch for private corporate
retreats. Then in 1986 the ranch was bought by Wynmark Development
Corporation of Washington D.C. to become part of the Clarion
Hotel chain. They added on the tennis courts and various other
small amenities. Then in 1990 the ranch was sold to the Resolution
Trust Corporation.
In the early 90s Baljit Nanda
purchased King Mountain Ranch Resort and has been running it as
a dude ranch ever since. |
|
| |
| |
|
|
