The original Tee-O-Bar ranch was established in Roscoe, Montana by John P. Branger and his wife, Christina Rosina in 1920.

The couple moved to America from Switzerland to make a new life separately and met in Lewiston only to discover they grey up miles away. The couple fell in love, married and moved to East Rosebud lake; a tiny community deep within the Valley of East Rosebud in Roscoe. The Brangers built log cabins and hotel which is currently a small community of Summer dwellers. Down the road sat a homestead which would become their home and ranch.

The Tee-O-Bar ranch began with building the home from river rocks (scientifically proven to be the oldest in the world) and pine trees blanketed along the valley for their big red barn. John and Rosina raised three boys and housed three extended families, worked cattle, sheep, rams and chickens.

In the 1930’s, the Brangers opened the ranch to city dwellers as one of the first dude ranches in America. City slickers from the East took a train to Colombus and finally delivered within a deep valley for a stay on a genuine cowboy ranch.

Tee-O-Bar was sadly sold in the 1960’s to a family from Billings with over 2400 acres. The land was then parceled off and turned into the Black Butte homeowners association. All but a few including Mourning who now owns the original rock house and barn live in the valley full time.

The rock house and barn still stand almost perfectly preserved and are owned by the artist Danielle Mourning who purchased the property in 2017. As an artist passionate about history and making work most of her career surrounding the honoring of those who came before us, she is upholding the legacy of the Brangers’ creative vision and establishing the barn into an arts foundation. Raising of funds has begun to restore the infrastructure and create both studio, entertainment and living spaces inside.

THE WORKS FOR SALE WILL HELP SUPPORT THIS VISION.

John and Rosina Branger

Papa Branger and his boys