Our Roots
Brooks Lake Lodge has a rich history, steeped in the grand tradition of the Great Western Lodge. Construction of the massive Lodge began in April 1922 and was completed in record time a few months later, in July of 1922. At the time, its main purpose was to serve as a stopover for the many tourists passing through the area on their way to Yellowstone. Shortly after its opening Brooks Lake Lodge was renamed the Diamond G Ranch. It was then that it began operating as a dude ranch, catering to well-to-do Easterners in search of a Western-style vacation. Rather than just serving as a Yellowstone stopover, Brooks Lake Lodge became a destination and guests typically stayed for two to four weeks at a time. Dude Ranching vacations declined in popularity during the 1950’s. However, during the 1980’s a newfound interest in ranch vacations emerged and the lodge underwent a major restoration and historic landmark designation. The current owners are dedicated to continuing the long tradition of the Great Western Ranch and preserving the Western Craftsman style. We hope that future generations will visit us and share in the awe of Wyoming's seventh govenor Bryant B. Brooks who, when discovering the area in 1889, declared, “Among the pines glistened a lake…what a sight! Tracks of elk and bear. Where I sat on my horse stretched a broad, peaceful valley. I stood closer that day to nature’s heart than ever before.”