A 5th generation working cattle ranch

Nelson’s Spring Creek Ranch

The Nelson Family Through the Generations

The headquarters of Nelson’s Spring Creek Ranch sits on the site originally homesteaded in the 1860’s. The Nelson Family can trace their roots to the earliest homesteaders in the valley. Andrew Nelson, great great grandfather of Roger Nelson, purchased the northern end of Nelson’s Spring creek in the early 1900’s. In 1951 the Nelson family purchased the adjoining parcel with the spring creek. Five generations of Nelsons have called the ranch home. It has always been, and remains today, a working cattle ranch, complete with 500 mother cows, working horses, beautiful hay fields, tractors, and a cowhand or two.

The CREEK was originally used for stock water, with an occasional fishermen stopping by to cast a fly into its hidden waters. It was famed angler Joe Brooks, a close family friend, who first saw the creek’s potential as a fishery and called it to the attention of Edwin Nelson, Roger’s father. As fly-fishing gained in popularity, and fishermen flocked to the stream, it soon became necessary to limit the number of rods on the creek each day. Thus, rod fees began to be charged in order to regulate the flow of anglers and as a means of generating the capital necessary for proper stewardship of the creek. Over the years, the Nelson family has undertaken and completed projects in bank stabilization, creek bed restoration, and waterfowl habitat development. The creek’s original use as a watering hole for livestock has gone by the wayside. Stock tanks are used to water cattle. Fencing now protects the creek’s banks and surrounding vegetation.

Today, the ranch continues to operate as a family ranch. The Nelsons’ are a seventh generation Paradise Valley family and invite you to come and share in an authentic western experience.

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LOCATION

Paradise Valley, 10 Miles South of Livingston, MT

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SERVICES

Lodging, Spring Creek, Guiding, Fly Shop

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SEASON

All Year Round

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Our Family – The Nelsons

ROGER & MARY NELSON:

Roger and Mary Nelson own and operate Nelson’s Spring Creek Ranch.They are both very hands-on in all aspects of the business. Roger runs a 500 head cattle operation, and oversees management of the Spring Creek’s habitat and maintenance. Mary manages the lodge and reservations for the Spring Creek. The work on the ranch is varied and integrated. Most mornings you will find Mary preparing breakfast for the lodge guests, but you might catch her later in the day on horseback helping Roger with the cattle, or filling in at the fly shop. Roger is kept busy with the many aspects of ranching, including irrigation, hay production, and animal husbandry. He does take time each morning to share breakfast at the lodge with the guest anglers and has been known to change a light bulb or two around the lodge. Roger and Mary welcome you to their ranch and look forward to sharing their unique lifestyle with you.

TUCKER NELSON:

Tucker is known for his hard work ethic. He is constantly striving to be the best at everything he does. This is the very attribute that makes him such a great fishing guide, rancher and dad. When he is not guiding fishermen, tending to the cattle on the ranch or building and remodeling structures on the property, you can find him doing what he loves most, fly fishing or duck hunting. Tucker is 5th generation growing up on Nelson’s Spring Creek Ranch and is 7th generation in Paradise Valley. His passion for the ranch lifestyle is what drove him to get a degree in Agriculture from MSU in Bozeman and brought him back to work on the ranch with his mom and dad.

JACQUIE NELSON:

You will most likely see Jacquie’s smiling face when you step into the S-Bar-N FLY SHOP that she owns and operates . She is a full time GUIDE in the spring, summer and fall and a busy mom of two energetic and adventurous kids, Morgan (age 9) & Ander (age 7). Jacquie was raised in Washington State. She moved out to Montana when she was 18 and attended college at MSU in Bozeman. She graduated with a bachelors degree in agriculture. She met Tucker at MSU and was married fall of 2007. She loves ranch life, fishing, hunting and every other outdoor activity you can imagine.

PATRICIA & RYAN HAMILTON

Tricia is the daughter of Roger and Mary. She was born and raised on Nelson’s Spring Creek and has been helping on and off with the ranch ever since. Most mornings she’s in the lodge helping with breakfast prep. She’ll also be found out helping with cattle or landscaping. Her children Langley and Viola are often tagging along with her and finding their own adventures along the way. Her husband, Ryan Hamilton, works as a mechanical engineer from their home on the North side of the ranch. He is sometimes caught in the bustle of the lodge while dropping off and picking up kids, helping with minor repairs, or working cattle when his job permits it. Nelson’s Spring Creek is a wonderful place to raise a family and they feel blessed and fortunate to live where there is so much space, beauty, and love.