Recognizing the Triangle X Ranch Centennial

Floor Speech

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Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate the centennial of the Triangle X Ranch.

Located at the base of the Grand Teton Mountains in Moose, the Triangle X Ranch is a fully operational guest ranch. This Western icon has introduced thousands of visitors to Wyoming over the past ten decades.

Triangle X Ranch's centennial aligns with America's 250th anniversary. It took the same tenacity and bravery that America's founders demonstrated to forge a life out of the harsh Western frontier. These two milestones align in a way that allows us to honor the independence and hard work required to craft a life on a new frontier.

On June 20, 2026, Triangle X Ranch will celebrate its 100th anniversary as a successful ranching operation, serving five generations of the Turner family. Purchased on July 6, 1926, by John and Maytie Turner, the ranch has a storied history steeped in beauty and overcoming challenges.

That summer, John and Maytie packed up their lives in Morgan, UT, moving to the valley with their sons John C. and Burt. By the fall of 1926, they welcomed their first official guests: a group of big game hunters.

While game was abundant and the land was well suited for cattle, early life on the ranch presented its own challenges. Situated 26 miles out of town, the commute to Jackson was always long, and winter made it treacherous. Since the valley roads went unplowed, the family had no choice but to become fiercely self-sufficient.

For most of the winter, they were confined to the ranch. The infrequent trips to town required a covered horse-drawn sleigh, heated by a small wood stove. Without electricity on the ranch, the Turners relied on wood stoves to heat just two rooms of the main house. During the winter months, the family cut ice chunks from nearby beaver ponds and stored them in piles of sawdust for the summer.

In the late 1920s, the Turners sold the ranch property to John D. Rockefeller, Jr.'s Snake River Land Company. The family negotiated the right to continue operating the Triangle X Ranch as a working dude ranch. In 1950, Congress expanded the boundaries of Grand Teton National Park, fully incorporating the Triangle X Ranch property and making it an authorized concessioner of the National Park Service. The ranch remains the last dude ranch within any National Park.

Today, the Triangle X Ranch is a top destination for visitors from around the world. As a premier dude ranch, it offers guests the opportunity to experience the cowboy lifestyle and immerse themselves in the beauty of the Jackson Hole Valley. Much like its early days, guests can take a horseback ride, hike, hunt, fish, or raft down the Snake River.

In addition to hosting guests, it also offers outfitting and guide services, pack trips, and big game hunts. Folks from around the world make the trip to Triangle X ranch to experience firsthand their own Western adventure and experience the grandeur Grand Teton National Park has to offer.

Triangle X Ranch's commitment to conservation is impressive. For generations, the ranch has been a leader in land stewardship efforts and wildlife management. Their guiding principle of caring for the land has also fostered conservation leaders.

John F. Turner served the State of Wyoming first in the State house and then the State senate from 1970-1989. John went on to serve as the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and then as the Assistant Secretary for the State of Oceans and International Environmental Affairs within the U.S. Department of State. He was instrumental in expanding the National Wildlife Refuge System and ensuring protection for millions of acres after seeing the benefits of quality management on the Triangle X Ranch.

Each member of the Turner family has been instrumental in preserving the Western legacy of the Triangle X Ranch. Their hard work and dedication have preserved the beauty and resilience of the ranch. The family successfully bridges the gap between the values of a working ranch and the luxury experience of a western dude ranch. Over the years, members of the family have dedicated their lives to the ranch, including:

John S. and Maytie Turner

John C. and Louise Turner

Bert Turner

Harold and Berniece Turner

John F. and Mary Kay Turner

Donald and Anne Turner

Matt Turner

John Turner

Robert Turner

John Tote Turner

Kathyrn Turner

Mark Turner

Lucas Turner

Elizabeth Turner

From humble beginnings to a legacy as one of the most iconic ranches of the West, Triangle X Ranch has preserved the true spirit of Wyoming cowboy culture. For generations, the ranch has embodied the cowboy code. Its deep family ties, incredible location and dedication to excellence have solidified its status as an icon of the American West.

In honor of the 100th anniversary of Triangle X Ranch, I urge my colleagues to take part in celebrating the legacy of this iconic symbol of Wyoming and America. I applaud the Turner family who, for generations, has worked every day to ensure the ranch remains a leading Western destination. I join the Triangle X Ranch staff, friends, and family in celebrating this momentous anniversary.

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