Steeped in Wyoming History
This ranch is deep in the history of the historic Bozeman Trail. As western migration began, settlers sought gold and greener pastures. Trading posts along the way provided needed supplies. In 1878 August Trabing established just such a trading post – “Trabing Station-Crazy Woman Creek Crossing” one of three major creek/river crossings used by Bozeman Trail travelers. This route was one of many to connect with the Oregon trail. Trabing eventually moved his store to the “Clear Creek Crossing”, present day Buffalo. The route from the trading post to town eventually took his name … Trabing Road. The post at “Crazy Woman Crossing” remained and was used as a post office, a stage station, school house, blacksmith shop and stable. A large memorial southeast of Buffalo marks the place of the past Trabing Station.
As more settlers came, also came more Indian raids, which led to establishment of several military forts along the various trails leading to the Oregon Trail. Routes were occasionally closed until the military was able secure safe passage. Buffalo became home for many who tired of waiting and finding this area a good place to settle.
Powder Horn Ranch has many “signs” of the past. Deep wagon ruts are still engraved and large tipi rings grace hillsides as a reminder of the first settlers to the area. The government incentivized homesteading and awarded sections of ground to those who cultivated them. This ranch, located along Trabing Road trail, has had two owners in the past century. The Jack Meldrum family homesteaded the property and in 1998 sold it to the now Powder Horn Ranch.
There is a marker in Buffalo dedicated to those who passed through the Bozeman trail. This is, however, only the beginning of the area’s great history. A museum in Buffalo recounts the story/myth behind the “Crazy Woman”, the Johnson County Wars, the TA Ranch, Tisdale Divide, Occidental Hotel and the Kaycee hide away of Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid. There is also a rich history of the many Basque who brought and tended sheep in Johnson County, one of the largest sheep/wool centers in the nation still today.
