About
A Brief History of the Board Ranch
The Board Ranch, now Board’s Lower Ranch Subdivision, is arguably the most uniquely authentic neighborhood in the Sun Valley and Ketchum resort area. Located in Warm Springs Canyon on the North “backside” of the Sun Valley’s Bald Mountain Ski Area, it is separated from the ski runs by Guyer Ridge. The Board Ranch which is only a five minute drive to the parking lot of the Warm Springs base of the ski area, and a ten minute drive or easy bike ride four miles to downtown Ketchum.
The Charles Board family’s heritage in the Wood River Valley dates back to the 1880’s. The family was in the lumber and sawmill business. Charles’ sons, Hedley and Fred Board, began logging operations in the Warm Springs Alturas area by the early 1900’s. Hedley Board married June Mizer in 1915. In 1916, Hedley Board was granted a homestead, by then president Woodrow Wilson, for what became the 150 acre Upper Board Ranch. Hedley and his brother Fred built an original log cabin on the property, and later built a small log house that remains today. The Board Brothers had logging operations in Warm Springs and used the Upper Ranch for grazing cattle. In the 1920s the Boards moved to into a house located next to the sawmill in Hailey.
In 1956, Hedley and June Board purchased 160 acres in Warm Springs, about 4 miles downstream from the Upper Board Ranch, and closer to Ketchum from John Kornher and Mary Clauser. It later became known as the Lower Board Ranch. They originally purchased the land to pasture their cattle as they drove them to market from the Upper Ranch. They built a small summer house on the property which became known by the family as the “Sunset House.” During the 50’s and 60’s they offered short term year-to-year campsite leases to friends and acquaintances to place trailers and basic cabins on the land. These “camps” were used primarily in the summer months.
In 1969 Hedley and June formed a corporation to hold title to their land in Hailey and Warm Springs. That Corporation was known as “Board’s Mill and Sunset Ranches, Inc. (BMSR).” Short-term residential leases on both the Upper and Lower Ranches continued. By 1978 there were approximately 75 leases on the Lower Ranch and 15 on the Upper Ranch. It was in 1978 that new leases were signed by the company for nearly all parcels then leased. The new leases had a fixed 50-year term.
By the late 1990’s, with the 4th generation of the family becoming involved in the company, and less than 30 years remaining on the lease terms, it became time to consider business options for the property. With declining lease terms, the tenants had fewer incentives to continue to improve the quality of the properties. It was decided in 2005 to convey the stock in BMSR to an investment group that could manage the ultimate sale or re-leasing of the various properties.
The 4th generation of the family still has property on the Lower Board Ranch, and frequently enjoys the beautiful legacy created by their grandparents.
Because there was no plan for transfer of title to the lessees prior to 2005, the limited capital invested in the dwellings caused the neighborhood to stand still in time while rapid growth and development occurred in Ketchum and Sun Valley. When the new ownership of the corporation sold the title to most of the lots to the lessees a new era of investment in remodeling of older structures and construction of new residences began, but stalled by the economic recession that began in 2007. Although some change at the Board Ranch is evident, the historic roots and character still dominate the mood of the neighborhood.
In spite of its humble, rustic, and eclectic appearance, the residents and part time residents of the Board Ranch are rich in diversity including Board family members, farmers, artists, authors, doctors, educators, bankers, athletes, media and press, politicos, contractors, local business owners, philanthropists, lots of dogs, and plenty of wildlife.
Concurrent with the transfer of title to the lots, the Board’s Lower Ranch Home Owners Association, Inc. was formed with the primary purposes of enforcing the Conditions, Covenants, and Restrictions (C.C.&Rs) including Design Review, and the maintenance of the private roads that serve the neighborhood.