Hoback Ranches Service Improvement District
HOBACK RANCHES is a rural residential subdivision located in Western Wyoming, in the Northwest corner of Sublette County, whose access lies approximately 3 miles south of the Bondurant Wyoming Post Office along US Highway 191. The 6500 acre development was established in 1973 by Doyle Child, businessman and real estate developer from Star Valley with a vision to create a “partnership with nature” where the community is dedicated to preserving the environment, along with the natural flora and fauna for all to enjoy. While the early homesteads often lacked modern conveniences such as electricity, telephone, and running water, therefore initially serving as summer residences, today there are over 125 homes blending into the rugged high desert terrain, situated on some of the 240 separate parcels, with over 300 residents, many who live year round in the ranches.
The Bureau of Land Management officially describes it in the following context:
“Hoback Ranches was formerly part of a private ranch that was divided into multi-acre sites for permanent and seasonal recreational homes. Approximately 9 sections comprise Hoback Ranches. These sections are bordered by approximately 4 sections of public land administered by the BLM Pinedale Field Office, and 10 sections of USFS lands, administered by the Big Piney Ranger District, Bridger/Teton National Forest. Other adjacent land ownership includes private and State of Wyoming lands. Structures within Hoback Ranches vary in age (ranging from new foundations to homes more than 15 years old) and in size (from sheds and one-room cabins to multi-thousand square-foot homes). Hoback Ranches provides residents an acceptable summer commute to Jackson and Pinedale, Wyoming.”
The Hoback Ranches Service Improvement District was established in 1985 under Wyoming statute with the goal of ensuring the safe and effective protection of Hoback Ranches, providing for fences and roads, requiring maintenance for the over 20 miles of fencing and 26.2 miles of improved and gravel roads.
