WyoView: Red Rock Ranch

WyoView, a program of the Jackson Hole Land Trust, seeks to unite art and conservation to cultivate a deeper sense of place in Northwest Wyoming, raising awareness of the importance of open space protection for the valley’s wildlife and community.

This spring, the JHLT invited artist Bekka Ord to capture the historic Red Rock Ranch—protected by a conservation easement deep in the Gros Ventre Mountains of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. “As you drive to Red Rock Ranch, the grays and blues of the Tetons fade into the rich reds, purples, and greens of the Gros Ventre,” described Ord.

For three generations, the ranch has welcomed guests with authentic Western hospitality while stewarding the land for the future. Renowned for its stunning natural habitat, the property’s rich mosaic of sagebrush, forest, and wetlands also provides vital habitat for elk, moose, mule deer, bighorn sheep, bears, wolves, and more.

“Arriving at Red Rock Ranch,” Ord shared, “I was struck with the feeling of wilderness and remoteness—nestled between hillsides as Crystal Creek bubbled away. I wanted to choose a location to paint that emphasized the range of colors—from the spring-bright greens to the blue-tinged hillsides in the distance; the turquoise of the creek with the striking rust and oxidized tones within the rocky hillsides.”

She hiked to a ledge above the creek, settled into a wildflower-covered slope, and turned her gaze south, up the valley. “I spent the next several hours sitting, painting, drawing, looking, and listening. I wanted to emphasize the diversity of colors and textures that is spring at Red Rock Ranch.”

A returning creative partner of the JHLT, Ord continues to enrich our visual storytelling with her eye for beauty and sense of place. Check out Bekka’s vibrant portfolio of work on her website, bekkaord.com.

This project is funded in part with an Arts For All grant provided by Teton County and the Town of Jackson.