Rogue River Ranch National Historic Site

The original homestead was built in 1903 by the Billings family in this remote southwest Oregon canyon. The two-story structure served multiple purposes over the decades. It was a base for mining operations on Mule Creek. It functioned as a general store, selling tools and supplies to canyon residents. It also worked as a hotel for travelers and seasonal workers. The Billings family operated the area's first post office here from 1929 until it moved downriver. The property changed hands in 1927 when the Anderson family of Beverly Hills purchased it. They added a barn, tack house, and blacksmith shop. They improved the rough mule trail into a drivable road. The federal government acquired the ranch in 1970 as part of the newly designated Wild and Scenic River Program. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The BLM now manages the site as a historical landmark.

The location holds significance well beyond its 20th-century ranching history. Archaeological work in the 1980s confirmed that Native Americans inhabited this area for roughly 10,000 years. The confluence of Mule Creek and the Rogue River provided excellent fishing. The surrounding forests supplied food, plants for basket weaving, and other resources that sustained communities.

Access to this site remains as challenging as it was a century ago. You reach it by foot or by river. Conditions and access change seasonally and with weather. Contact the BLM office before arrival to confirm current rules and trail conditions.