Ranch History

The Crater Lake Cattle Company Ranch Cabin is built on the historic Nicholson Ranch in Fort Klamath, Oregon.

In 1898 William Elmore Nicholson purchased the 320 acre “home ranch” from George Shepard.  By 1925 the ranch had expanded to 720 acres.  In October of 1898 William Elmore married Nellie Sturges and together they raised their four children; Francis, Stewart, Theodore and Lloyd.  The latter two were born at the ranch.  

In 1925 due to poor health, William turned the ranch over to his sons Theodore and Stewart who formed a partnership.  The Nicholson brothers farmed the land as well as starting the Cloverdale Dairy.  They raised some of the best alsike clover seeds in the Klamath Basin along with increasing their dairy herd to 100 cows.  Unfortunately, Bang’s disease struck the dairy herd and army worms infested the clover crop.  Undeterred, the brothers developed the ranch land to pasture commercial beef.

In the early 1940’s Theodore and Stewart dissolved their partnership.  Stewart, along with his wife Anita (Kight) and their children William S. and Marie took over ownership and operation of the ranch.  

In 2000 a partnership was formed with William and his sons Larry, Gary, Brad and Jeff and daughter Lisa keeping the original home ranch in the family.  The property continues to be a working cattle ranch.  

The Nicholson Ranch is designated by the state of Oregon as a Century Ranch.  The designation is a statewide recognition program honoring farmers and ranchers who have worked the same land for at least 100 year.