Double Diamond Dude Ranch Dining Hall

Frank Williams, originally from Colorado, was a local guide and former Bar B C Dude Ranch wrangler, who partnered with Clark, a young eastern dude from a wealthy Philadelphia family. Clark provided financial backing to open the Double Diamond in 1924 on a homestead claim that had been filed by Frank Williams' wife Emma. Clark, who had been to the Bar B C and who had met Williams at the Bar None ranch, later became mayor of Philadelphia and was a U.S. senator from 1957 to 1969. The ranch expanded from {{convert|14|acre|ha}} to {{convert|54|acre|ha}} in 1926 with the purchase of a portion of the neighboring Manges property. Catering primarily to boys from eastern families, accommodations consisted of tents, with a small dining hall, lounge and commissary. The ranch drew its clientele from the Philadelphia area, charging $800, including transportation from Philadelphia, for a June 15 - September 15 season. References were required for prospective dudes. The ranch had an initial capacity of 25 dudes, expanded in the 1930s to 35. Clark, who was launching a legal and political career, became less involved in the 1930s, finally selling his share to Harry and Nola Williams Brown in 1946, but buying back an acre for a summer cabin.{{cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/grte2/hrs14b.htm|date=2008-08-12|work=A Place Called Jackson Hole: A Historic Resource Study of Grand Teton National Park|title=Chapter 14: The Dude Wranglers|publisher=National Park Service|accessdate=April 19, 2011}}

Cabins were added in 1943 with a shift in emphasis to families. The main dining hall was built in 1945. Harry Brown and Nola Williams Brown, took half of the ownership in 1948. The Williams family continued to operate the Double Diamond until Frank's death in 1964, when the National Park Service bought the ranch for $315,000, retaining a lease to continue operations through 1969.{{cite web|last=Caywood|first=Janene|title=National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Double Diamond Dude Ranch|url={{NRHP url|id=98001028}}|publisher=National Park Service|accessdate=19 April 2011|author2=Hubber, Ann |author3=Schneid, Catherine |year=1997}}{{cite web|title=A Brief History of the GTCR|url=http://www.friendsofgtcr.net/?page_id=189|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130221124310/http://www.friendsofgtcr.net/?page_id=189|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 February 2013|publisher=Friends of the Grand Teton Climbers' Ranch|accessdate=19 April 2011}} The dining hall is a remnant of the ranch complex, which was mostly destroyed by fire.{{cite web |url=https://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkID=68&projectID=17483&documentID=70294 |title=Historic Properties Management Plan |publisher=National Park Service |accessdate=14 April 2020 |pages=220–221|date=January 2016}}

The 1945 dining hall is a one-story U-shaped log building. It features a large stone fireplace and chimney on the north side. The former dining room is now a library and lounge, while the original commercial kitchen is a communal kitchen and dining area. The exterior is stained a uniform brown. Following local custom, the log chinking is covered with 1/4 pole strips.

The five surviving original cabins (of 15 extant before the fire) are not part of the historic designation. New and relocated cabins have replaced those lost, in locations approximating the missing cabins. Two cabins, designed by Ogden, Utah architect Eber Piers,{{cite web|last=Hubber|first=Anne|title=National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form: Grand Teton National Park Multiple Property Submission|url=http://wyoshpo.state.wy.us/pdf/gtnp.pdf|publisher=National Park Service|author2=Caywood, Janene|date=November 20, 1997}} were moved from the Hunter Hereford Ranch, confusing the local historical context.

The complex, including the dining hall, has been leased to the American Alpine Club since 1970. Renamed the Climbers' Ranch, the facility is a hostel for mountain climbers. The cabins are used for dormitory-style climber accommodations, while the dining hall is a shared facility.{{cite web|title=Grand Teton Climbers' Ranch |url=http://www.americanalpineclub.org/pt/grandtetonclimbersranch |publisher=American Alpine Club |accessdate=19 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110421235642/http://americanalpineclub.org/pt/grandtetonclimbersranch |archivedate=21 April 2011 }}

The Double Diamond dining hall was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 18, 1998.

• Historical buildings and structures of Grand Teton National Park

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Grand Teton Climbers' Ranch}}

• [http://www.nps.gov/grte/historyculture/auto.htm Auto Camps] at Grand Teton National Park
• [http://wyoshpo.state.wy.us/NationalRegister/Site.aspx?ID21 Double Diamond Dude Ranch Dining Hall]{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} at the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110421235642/http://americanalpineclub.org/pt/grandtetonclimbersranch Grand Teton Climbers' Ranch] at the American Alpine Club
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110430124123/http://www.friendsofgtcr.net/ Friends of Grand Teton Climbers' Ranch]

{{NRHP in Grand Teton NP}}

{{NRHP in Teton County, Wyoming}}

Category:Buildings and structures in Grand Teton National Park

Category:Park buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Wyoming

Category:Rustic architecture in Wyoming

Category:National Register of Historic Places in Grand Teton National Park

Category:Log buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Wyoming

Category:1945 establishments in Wyoming

Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1945