Kelly Campus

An Idyllic Location
Situated on the eastern side of Grand Teton National Park, Teton Science Schools’ Kelly Campus rests a step above the cottonwoods of Ditch Creek, nestled between Shadow Mountain and Lobo Hill. The campus enjoys a view that extends from the foot of the Gros Ventre Mountains through the sage flats of Jackson Hole to the Snake River and beyond, to the rising of the majestic Teton Range.

Ecological work at this campus specializes in field science experiences within the wilderness setting. Home to the Murie Museum (our private collection of Olaus and Mardie Murie’s specimens and artifacts), the Kelly Campus is Teton Science Schools’ original campus.

A Brief History
The Ditch Creek designation originates from 1870-71, when prospectors searching for gold excavated the first ditch in Jackson Hole, diverting water 3.5 miles northwest from Ditch Creek to Schwabacher's Landing on the Snake River. Many prospectors searched the valley during this early period, but found little but "color" in the water.

Settlers followed the prospectors to Jackson Hole, with ranchers claiming the best lands along rivers and creeks. According to local sources, between 1900 and 1911, Grant Shinkle was the first squatter to claim the land presently known as the Kelly Campus. Shinkle homesteaded the site, but in 1911 relinquished his claim to Ransom "Mickey" Adams, who had received a patent to homestead 160 acres.

A couple of property shuffles later, Jack and Dollye Woodsman purchased the property in 1928 and established a dude ranch known as the Flying V Ranch. The ranch included a large 11-room main lodge, heated cabins and floored tents for sleeping quarters. The two-story, cross-shaped main lodge was one of the most impressive buildings among dude ranches in the valley.

In 1932, fire destroyed the main lodge, which, in addition to the depressed economy, prompted Woodsman to sell the ranch to Gustav Koven and Paul Petzoldt in 1935 for $5,000. Petzoldt and Koven hoped to establish a profitable dude ranch, hunting camp, and climbing school at the ranch, but after two years Petzoldt withdrew from the partnership. That same year, the current main lodge was finished, although the ranch remained idle until 1941 when Koven renamed it Ramshorn Ranch. Koven rented the ranch to Bill and Tom Jump, who ran the ranch for five years until 1946 when it was purchased by Greer Sugden, David Alleman and Robert Irwin.

The Ramshorn was a dude ranch in the summer, a hunting lodge in the fall and a ski retreat in the winter and spring. Increasing popularity and numbers of visitors brought the installation of electricity to the ranch in 1947. But over the next four years, a succession of partners bailed out of the partnership until only Sugden and Alleman remained. They sold the ranch to Alvin Adams in 1953, who hosted the Prime Minister of Pakistan during his tenure at the ranch. After several attempts to sell the property, and prolonged negotiations with the National Park Service, Adams sold the Ramshorn to the federal government in 1956 for $68,000.

From 1958 to 1973, Katy Starratt leased the land from the Park Service and operated the property as a guest ranch. She renamed it the Elbo Ranch after a tourist facility previously located on Cottonwood and Taggart Creeks in the late 1920s. Katy Starratt was a longtime friend of Joan and Ted Major, founders of Teton Science School, which eventually led to the establishment of the Teton Science School at the Elbo.

In December of 1973 Teton Science School was granted a special use permit by the National Park Service, making it one of the few cooperative, yet independent, environmental schools in the national park system. The school’s first summer programs took place at the new campus in summer, 1974.

Today, the rustic log buildings preserve an historic western setting. Some were built during the dude ranching days, while others have been moved from other locations in Jackson Hole. In addition to the Main Lodge and Dining Lodge, there are the Murie Museum, two bunkhouse-style dormitories and numerous cabins that serve as residences for faculty, staff and graduate students.