The start of Skyrider Wilderness Ranch
The Skyrider Wilderness Ranch—nestled in the hills of Tabiona, Utah, and home to abundant wildlife and stunning vistas—held a special place in Young Living Founder D. Gary Young’s heart. The ranch occupies over 17,000 acres in one of the largest pinyon pine forests in the world. It’s also home to 8–12 beehive colonies that pollinate the plants and help maintain a healthy ecosystem.
Young Living Founder D. Gary Young and Co-Founder Mary Young purchased the ranch in 2017. At the time, the property was—and still operates as—a working livestock ranch. The region has always held a special place in their hearts and serves as Gary’s final resting place. “I like to tell people, if you didn’t get a chance to know Gary in person, come to the Skyrider Wilderness Ranch,” says Ranch Manager Skyler Olson. “Everything about the place is Gary.”
Young Living Founder D. Gary Young and Co-Founder Mary Young purchased the ranch in 2017. At the time, the property was—and still operates as—a working livestock ranch. The region has always held a special place in their hearts and serves as Gary’s final resting place. “I like to tell people, if you didn’t get a chance to know Gary in person, come to the Skyrider Wilderness Ranch,” says Ranch Manager Skyler Olson. “Everything about the place is Gary.”
The last hunt
As of September 2021, Skyrider Wilderness Ranch has ended its hunting outfitter operations. Conservation has always been at the core of the Skyrider ranch’s hunts, and it will now move the ranch in a new direction. In a first-of-its-kind partnership with the state of Utah, the ranch has ended its hunting operation and converted the high-fence elk space to be habitat for a nursery herd of desert bighorn sheep, relocated from Nevada.
Einkorn highlight
At this ranch, Young Living grows einkorn—an ancient grain and one of the first plants cultivated by early farmers. Whole-grain einkorn, an ancient grain that even today retains its original, unhybridized DNA, offers remarkable nutrition and very little gluten. This precious grain is considered by many to be one of the most nutritious grains ever grown.
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"The Skyrider Wilderness Ranch in Tabiona, Utah, in the foothills of the Uinta Mountains, was a special place for Young Living Founder D. Gary Young. It became the home of the D. Gary Young Wildlife Sanctuary, with nearly 17,000 acres of forests, stunning peaks, and the Duchesne River. The sanctuary offers protection to all the natural inhabitants, including deer, elk, and bison; and beginning this summer, it will become Utah’s first nursery for the magnificent desert big horn sheep. Here you can also see the golden fields of ancient Einkorn grain thriving in this environment of peace and beauty."
–Skyler Olson, Ranch Manager
Did you know?
The elevation where the main lodge sits is at 6,800 feet (2,072 meters) above sea level.
It’s common for several feet of snow to fall overnight during seasonal storms.
Our focus on conservation
Championing nature conservation. The ranch is also the site of the D. Gary Young Wildlife Sanctuary, a conservation easement held by The Nature Conservancy that spans about 10,880 acres (17 square miles). The donation of this land was the largest in the Utah chapter’s history.
Protecting the local wildlife. The sanctuary is part of an area called the “Utah Serengeti” due to the large herds of elk and deer that migrate through the area. The ranch maintains plots of land specifically to help the animals through the harsh winters. Additionally, it serves as Utah’s first nursery for vulnerable desert bighorn sheep through a partnership with the states of Utah and Nevada.
Protecting the local wildlife. The sanctuary is part of an area called the “Utah Serengeti” due to the large herds of elk and deer that migrate through the area. The ranch maintains plots of land specifically to help the animals through the harsh winters. Additionally, it serves as Utah’s first nursery for vulnerable desert bighorn sheep through a partnership with the states of Utah and Nevada.
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Exciting things are always happening at Young Living! Browse our Farm Events page to see all of the unique experiences we have to offer.
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