[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 100 (Monday, June 15, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2780-S2781]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING THE TRIANGLE X RANCH CENTENNIAL

  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate the centennial 
of the Triangle X Ranch.
  Located at the base of the Grand Teton Mountains in Moose, the 
Triangle X Ranch is a fully operational guest ranch. This Western icon 
has introduced thousands of visitors to Wyoming over the past ten 
decades.
  Triangle X Ranch's centennial aligns with America's 250th 
anniversary. It took the same tenacity and bravery that America's 
founders demonstrated to forge a life out of the harsh Western 
frontier. These two milestones align in a way that allows us to honor 
the independence and hard work required to craft a life on a new 
frontier.
  On June 20, 2026, Triangle X Ranch will celebrate its 100th 
anniversary as a successful ranching operation, serving five 
generations of the Turner family. Purchased on July 6, 1926, by John 
and Maytie Turner, the ranch has a storied history steeped in beauty 
and overcoming challenges.
  That summer, John and Maytie packed up their lives in Morgan, UT, 
moving to the valley with their sons John C. and Burt. By the fall of 
1926, they welcomed their first official guests: a group of big game 
hunters.
  While game was abundant and the land was well suited for cattle, 
early life on the ranch presented its own challenges. Situated 26 miles 
out of town, the commute to Jackson was always long, and winter made it 
treacherous. Since the valley roads went unplowed, the family had no 
choice but to become fiercely self-sufficient.
  For most of the winter, they were confined to the ranch. The 
infrequent trips to town required a covered horse-drawn sleigh, heated 
by a small wood stove. Without electricity on the ranch, the Turners 
relied on wood stoves to heat just two rooms of the main house. During 
the winter months, the family cut ice chunks from nearby beaver ponds 
and stored them in piles of sawdust for the summer.
  In the late 1920s, the Turners sold the ranch property to John D. 
Rockefeller, Jr.'s Snake River Land Company. The family negotiated the 
right to continue operating the Triangle X Ranch as a working dude 
ranch. In 1950, Congress expanded the boundaries of Grand Teton 
National Park, fully incorporating the Triangle X Ranch property and 
making it an authorized concessioner of the National Park Service. The 
ranch remains the last dude ranch within any National Park.
  Today, the Triangle X Ranch is a top destination for visitors from 
around the world. As a premier dude ranch, it offers guests the 
opportunity to experience the cowboy lifestyle and immerse themselves 
in the beauty of the Jackson Hole Valley. Much like its early days, 
guests can take a horseback ride, hike, hunt, fish, or raft down the 
Snake River.
  In addition to hosting guests, it also offers outfitting and guide 
services, pack trips, and big game hunts. Folks from around the world 
make the trip to Triangle X ranch to experience firsthand their own 
Western adventure and experience the grandeur Grand Teton National Park 
has to offer.
  Triangle X Ranch's commitment to conservation is impressive. For 
generations, the ranch has been a leader in land stewardship efforts 
and wildlife management. Their guiding principle of caring for the land 
has also fostered conservation leaders.
  John F. Turner served the State of Wyoming first in the State house 
and then the State senate from 1970-1989. John went on to serve as the 
Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and then as the 
Assistant Secretary for the State of Oceans and International 
Environmental Affairs within the U.S. Department of State. He was 
instrumental in expanding the National Wildlife Refuge System and 
ensuring protection for millions of acres after seeing the benefits of 
quality management on the Triangle X Ranch.
  Each member of the Turner family has been instrumental in preserving 
the Western legacy of the Triangle X Ranch. Their hard work and 
dedication have preserved the beauty and resilience of the ranch. The 
family successfully bridges the gap between the values of a working 
ranch and the luxury experience of a western dude ranch. Over the 
years, members of the family have dedicated their lives to the ranch, 
including:

       John S. and Maytie Turner
       John C. and Louise Turner
       Bert Turner
       Harold and Berniece Turner
       John F. and Mary Kay Turner
       Donald and Anne Turner
       Matt Turner
       John Turner
       Robert Turner
       John Tote Turner
       Kathyrn Turner
       Mark Turner
       Lucas Turner
       Elizabeth Turner

  From humble beginnings to a legacy as one of the most iconic ranches 
of the West, Triangle X Ranch has preserved

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the true spirit of Wyoming cowboy culture. For generations, the ranch 
has embodied the cowboy code. Its deep family ties, incredible location 
and dedication to excellence have solidified its status as an icon of 
the American West.
  In honor of the 100th anniversary of Triangle X Ranch, I urge my 
colleagues to take part in celebrating the legacy of this iconic symbol 
of Wyoming and America. I applaud the Turner family who, for 
generations, has worked every day to ensure the ranch remains a leading 
Western destination. I join the Triangle X Ranch staff, friends, and 
family in celebrating this momentous anniversary.

                          ____________________