History

This video is about Lurt and Alice Knee, and the Sleeping Rainbow Ranch as a guest ranch.

Timeline of the Ranch

Pleasant Creek

1882-1937

Ephraim Knowlton Hanks, is called on behalf of the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to settle colonies in southern Utah. It was Ephraim's family who initially built a small ranch near Pleasant Creek. Over the years they built a five bedroom home, planted crops, and grew an abundance of fruit trees in the area. In the Spring the fruit trees blossom, giveing inspiration to the name 'Floral Ranch'. Floral Ranch remained in the family until 1916 before passing through ownership over the next few decades.

Ranch Chimney

1938-1940

Lurt Knee and his first wife Margaret decide to purchase the land with the intent of beginning a guest ranch after their car breaks down on the property. By 1940, Lurt is able to build a series of new structures northeast of the original Hank House and covert the property into a day-tour operation. It is at this point that the ranch officially obtains its new name, 'Sleeping Rainbow Ranch'. According to Lurt Knee in a 1992 interview, when he first built the ranch and realized it was adjacent to a national monument, his goal was to make it into a National Park.

Ranch Chimney

1940 - 1968

The ranch operates as a commercial tourist operation. The Great Depression gratly affects tourism, but the industry recovers after 1945 during the time that Sleeping Rainbow Ranch comes into fruition. The ranch begins to offer jeep tours, horseback riding along trails, and overnight lodging. While operating the ranch, Lurt marries Alice, his second and final wife.

Ranch Chimney

1969 - 1975

Capitol Reef national monument is expanded, which includes 300 acres of Lurt and Alice's property. By now, the Knees have built and maintained an irrigation canal, a spring and pump water system, and telephone lines on the property. The guest ranch has been expanded to 15 outbuildings, pastures, and corrals. Lurt and Alice continue to run the ranch together until deciding to close the operation in 1974. The Knees spend the rest of their lives on the property, and Alice is considered its last resident after Lurt passes away in 1995. After Lurt's passing Alice quit-claims her rights to the property, and the NPS assumes ownership.

Ranch Chimney

2000 - Today

In March of 2000, a deal is struck between the NPS and the Utah Valley State College, or what is currently known as, Utah Valley University. Today, Sleeping Rainbow Ranch is the locale of UVU's Capitol Reef Field Station, sitting directly above the remnants of Sleeping Rainbow Ranch. Every season, students from all areas of academia come here to learn, build, and benefit off of all that this beautiful land continues to offer today.