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The Black Cat Guest Ranch in the Canadian
Rockies offering horseback riding, hiking,
cross-country skiing, conferences, murder
mystery weekends, painting workshops,
writing workshops, . guest ranch, black cat,
dude ranch, Alberta, horseback riding,
horses, western, hiking, cross-country skiing,
x-country, wilderness, Rockies, Rocky
Mountains, Canada, murder mystery,
painting, writing, conference, retreat,
reunion, family reunion, photography,
wildlife, no smoking, non-smoking,
scrapbooking, spa
Why the name
Black Cat Guest Ranch?
Whenever people come to the Black Cat Ranch, there are always two questions they invariably ask:
The answer to the first one is easy enough. Over the years, through a progression of owners, the business has been known as: However, throughout these changes, the property itself has always been know as the Black Cat Ranch. Just west of the ranch is a small tree covered mountain, known as Black Cat Mountain. A forest fire burned over the mountain in 1885, laying most of the east face bare, except for a large stand of spruce which were in north facing draws and had enough moisture to resist the flames. This stand of trees was left in the uncanny resemblance of a black cat with its arched back. The formation was visible from as far away as 50 miles. It is reported that the Canadian National Railway used to stop the passenger trains so tourists could photograph the mountain. This photo was taken about 1940.
Around 1950, a second fire raced over the mountain, and part of the cat was damaged. Now, with that damage, and the natural regeneration of the trees, the cat is slowly fading away, but in the right light, particularly after an early autumn snowfall, the cat can still be seen.
As for the answer to the second question, you will just have to book a vacation at the Black Cat Ranch and ask us that in person!
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Copyright © 1996 - 2007 PB Guest Ranch Ltd
