What is considered Red Horse Mountain Ranch today has had a rich history of being an important part of the guest ranches in Idaho since 1946. The same tradition of celebrating life and the western experience lives today. Red Horse Mountain Ranch is just shy of 600 acres and surrounded by the Panhandle National Forest. This unique place in Idaho has a wealth of history and beauty. The ranch was purchased by a long-time Idaho company with roots starting in Potlatch, Idaho. The Terteling Company has been a supporter of important conservation concerns like the Peregrine Fund, who today continues conservation on the California Condor. The Terteling Company donated a region near Boise and turned the tide for the Idaho delegation to honor our Idaho military veterans with a state cemetery, giving peace and comfort to the men and women who want - and richly deserve - to be remembered. Today, the ranch manager is Cory Inouye. He and his family live on the ranch year 'round. Cory grew up in Idaho, working for a number of it's top outfitters and manufacturers of recreational equipment.
Since the beginning, Red Horse Mountain Ranch has become a vacation getaway and group retreat for those families, persons, and groups starving for adventure and relaxation. As Red Horse Mountain continues with the mission of being good stewards of the landscape and exceeding the expectations of our guests, it's open doors are made to reawaken the spirit of adventure in all ages.
Although the history of Red Horse Mountain Ranch being operated as a guest ranch goes back some 50 years, we should probably start a few years earlier. The ranch is part of what was annexed by President Harrison from the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation. An arrowhead-shaped piece of land, the reservation today includes the edge of the western Rockies, half of Lake Coeur d'Alene, and portions of the fertile Palouse country. French fur traders named the tribe Coeur d'Alene--"heart of an awl" or "sharp-hearted" --saying they were the finest traders in the world. The tribe's trade involved year-long trips to the Pacific coast as well as to the Great Plains to exchange goods. They called themselves Schee chu'umsch, which, in their native Salish language, means "those who are found here."
Homesteaders and Early Day Dude Ranch Begins.
In the late 1800's, what is known now as the Red Horse Mountain ranch was first homesteaded by the Nederhood family. John Nederhood married Myrtle Wilbur on April 20, 1904. He had taken 160 acres as a homestead, but did not call his wife and children to come to the ranch until the home was completed. Today, a lilac plant marks the first homestead near the main entrance to Red Horse Mountain, and as the story goes, Myrtle had a beautifully planted homefront. The original home was made by hand from logs off the ranch and painted white. John did plant the open pasture with Timothy hay, which is still being used today. This is also the location of high ropes challenge course and climbing wall. The original apple orchard planted by Nederhood is still growing today. John's first job was working with the Red Horse Mining Company.
They had five years of happy married life together and three children: Maude, Albert, and Oliver. Then John became ill and passed away from quick consumption. Three weeks after his death, Nellie was born. John was only 36 when he passed away. Mirtle stayed on at the ranch, vowing to keep the children in school.
By luck, the Jenicek family moved in a short time after, taking the homestead closer towards the present day Lodge and became good friends with the Nederhood Family. Marie and Joseph Jenicek were from Czech, and moved to Idaho in 1927 with their son Frank. As the Janecik and Nederhood family moved on to other parts of Idaho, the homesteads were sold to John and Gladys Jones.
Gladys and John Jones moved into their new Model Log House on April 26th, 1953, which is the present day Homestead on the ranch. As the years go on, a little more land is cleared or purchased, and Hereford Cattle are raised and summered on the surrounding National Forest Lands. It is here that their sons, Lloyd and Evan, and their wives, three grandchildren and many friends gather for visits and enjoy Gladys's good meals and the Jone's hospitality.
The First of an Idaho Guest Ranch
The Jones Family & Bar BQ Ranch
1946 ~ 1979
Excerpt from the Harrison Searchlight, July 1985, by Don Heikkila
 Lloyd and his wife Rowena purchased another 320 acres and began the idea of a dude ranch in 1946. In the late 1950's they added another 2100 acres of property with a partner named Paul Sievert. It was the first an only guest ranch in North Idaho for some time.
Lloyd and Rowena bought 320 acres from Rudolph Reeser about 1946 and started the Bar BQ Dude Ranch. Lloyd and Rowena Jones and Paul Sievert purchased this property from Harvey J.Kelly in the late 1950’s according to Marian and Evan Jones. They then owned most of the property surrounding Blue Lake. The Jones also had their home ranch, which was not in the partnership with Sievert. It was the first and only guest ranch in North Idaho for some time. Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce manager Kyle Walker filmed many sessions at the beautiful setting.
 In a 1957 issue of The Harrison Searchlight they advertised lodging by the week, riding, boating, swimming, water skiing, fishing and hunting in season. The lovely old lodge with a big fireplace and views of Blue Lake was a fabulous setting. Several guest cabins behind the lodge served to accommodate guests.
Lloyd and Rowena’s children are: Diana, Renie, Lonnie, April and Cindy. In the summer and on weekends while not in school the children helped at the ranch. They had numerous guests who were notable at the time. Ed Reimers with Allstate Insurance was known well to television audiences and enjoyed many summers with the Jones. He was the one who coined the phrase, “You are in good hands with Allstate”, which is used to this day.
Lloyd and Rowena operated the Bar BQ Ranch from what they called their Home Ranch on the hill away from the lake. The food, hospitality and activities were the same but they no longer had activities on Blue Lake. They operated the ranch until about 1979, and then sold it to move to Ft. Steele, B.C., where they purchased and developed The Top of the World Ranch. They now enjoy retirement on their 80-acre private ranch near Wasa, B.C. Canada.
Timber Ridge Ranch
1974 ~ 1980
Excerpt from the Harrison Searchlight, July 1985, by Don Heikkila
Albie Wells of Santa Rosa, California purchased Timber Ridge Ranch in about 1974. Stan and Lise Gootrad managed the ranch for him. Gene and Dorothy Davis worked there from 1974-78. Timber Ridge included the 160 acre Nederhood homestead. At the time the Bar BQ ranch was also operating and guests from Timber Ridge would watch roping demonstrations at their arena by Gene, Lloyd and Lonnie Jones.
A brochure of the time said that accommodations at Timber Ridge Ranch are a rare blend of luxurious comfort and Old West authenticity. Our cabins built of native Tamarack by Charlie Scribner- 80 year’s young and one of the last of the master log builders- are museum-piece replicas of the axe-man’s art. The great log lodge, with its massive fireplace and enormous hand-peeled “sticks” of lodge pole pine, is yet another monument to the all-but-vanished craftsmanship of our pioneer past. And our tall tepees, standing in firelight silhouette against the evening sky, are a last remembrance of a splendid era when only the proud Indian and intrepid mountain man walked this unspoiled land.
An article in the July, 1975 Searchlight said the cabins built at Timber Ridge are of significant historical consequence since they are demonstrations of the last known artisan in this area to be able to master the type of Scandinavian dove-tail system used to assemble log homes in Finland and Sweden for centuries. He said that of the handful of Swedes and Finns who specialized in this type of building, practically all are gone. We are told that even the old country this skill is now almost forgotten.
Charlie said, “Personally, I prefer the Scandinavian dove-tailed system. It requires some careful axe work but it is substantial, neat appearing and if the work is carefully done, results in a tight wall that does not require mud or mortar ‘chinking’, to fill the cracks, provided well seasoned timber is used. Cracks, if any, may be caulked with compound or tow. The Swedes use moss.” In their brochure it said that, “The Timber Ridge Ranch is a family owned, family ran ranch and we will do our best to make our guests feel at home. The ranch also serves as a working cattle ranch and is operated year-round. It provides drug free, alcohol free environment for you and your family. We want to bring your family closer together in a western surrounding. Get to know your wife, husband and children.
Hidden Creek Ranch
1992 ~ 2005 A large portion of today's improvements on the ranch were done since 1992 by Iris Behr & John Muir, who named the ranch, Hidden Creek Ranch. John and Iris still keep in touch, but have moved on to beautiful Colorado where they enjoy hiking, riding and traveling to see old friends. Owners Iris Behr and John Muir shared their love for horseback riding and the great outdoors in an unspoiled environment surrounded by the beauty of nature. They believe in "being one with nature" versus "overcoming nature". In the spirit of this Earth philosophy, they helped their guests reconnect themselves with the earth and also awaken their awareness for a means to save Mother Earth.
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