Safari Club International Foundation American Wilderness Leadership School
History of Granite Ranch

1919-- Dr. William H. McKahan homesteaded this 160 acre ranch.  Doc McKahan was a US Army retired veterinarian  who was interested in starting a cattle ranch and raising pine martens.  In 1925, after improving the land and surviving 5  years, doc received the title for the 160 acres. 

At some point Doc McKahan took out a loan from a Mr. Johnson who had a cabin up on Jackson Lake.  When Mr. Johnson dies the administrators of his will put the ranch up for sale

1938-- Grover Cleveland "slim" Bassett who was familiar with the area purchased the 160 acre ranch for $3,500 from money he borrowed from Mr. LB.Maytag.  Maytag was a regular fishing partner of Slim's

1937-- Dr. Donald MacLeod came to Jackson, Wyoming to serve the community hospital as its second full time  physician with the passing of Dr. Huff.  Mabel Bassett was one of Dr. MacLeod's first patients.   The Bassetts became good friends and offered Dr. MacLeod two acres of land in exchange for medical services as he loved the area and enjoyed riding.  He built a cabin so he could stay there and take care of his horses and mules.  Dr. MacLeod's daughter, Janet, spend many summers with the Bassetts.

1960--The property was purchased by Dr. MacLeod along with his daughter Janet and her husband, Larry Moore.  They continued the outfitting operation of the ranch until 1976 when Larry passed away from a heart attack at the age of 44.  

1980--Safari Club International Conservation Fund became aware of the location from Mary and Marion Scott,  SCI hunting/ranching members from Gillette, Wyoming as a possible site for its American Wilderness Leadership School Activities.  The SCI Conservation fund leased the property from Janet Moore and Dr. MacLeod for three consecutive years. 

1982--The SCI Conservation Fund purchased 33.6 acres of the original 160 acre homestead that included most of the original cabins and support buildings at a cost of $375,000

2008--From the beginning of AWLS over 2000 High school students and 7000 teachers have participated in AWLS conservation Education opportunities.  

Other AWLS sites:  Maine(Conservation/Wildlife Ecology),  Minnesota (Wilderness Science--Boundry Waters Canoe Area Wilderness), and Iowa (Conservation/Outdoor Education program.)  Each of these programs is held one week during a summer.