The Story of the Newland's and their Greenwood Ranches parallels the settlement of the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming. Theirs is a family operation which spans three states, three centuries, and five generations.  The Newland’s horse and cattle herds are firmly grounded in the ranching tradition with an eye on the future.

     Among the first white settlers to arrive in the Black Hills in 1876 was James A. Newland. He made camp in the beautiful Redwater Valley between present day Spearfish and Belle Fourche, South Dakota where he produced hay for the miners in the “Gold Rush” town of Deadwood.  A man of vision, his accomplishments included engineering the Belle Fourche ditch which brought drinking water over Redwater hill without a pump. His foresight and leadership took him to a term served in the Territorial Legislature, before South Dakota was a state.

     James’ son Wilbur F. Newland moved 25 miles to the west to Colony, Wyoming at the turn of the 20^th century and established the nucleus of the ranch which to this day is in the Newland family.  Wilbur’s son James I. Newland expanded the ranch through his own homestead and acquiring neighboring ranches as they became available. Eventually he had contiguous holdings in Montana, South Dakota, as well as Wyoming. Jim passed away in 2004 at the age of 91; he continued to live on his homestead until passing. In the early days transportation was horseback and horse drawn of necessity.  James I. made the choice to remain horseback and never bothered to learn to drive a car.   He was a local legend and you can see much of his history and his worn saddle that traveled the many thousands of miles displayed at the Tri State Museum in Belle Fourche.

     As the 21^st century began, Jim’s son Wilbur H. Newland, and his equal partner Dawn, continue to build on the heritage with their four sons.  In addition to their thriving black based cow herd they have designed a horse program with the needs of the modern horseman in mind, producing horses that excel in a wide variety of events.  The ranch now stretches from the sagebrush, hardpan, and gumbo of Colony, Wyoming to the rugged slate rock and mountain meadows of the Black Hills near Deerfield, South Dakota.  The rugged terrain and long hours of ranch work demands versatile and dependable saddle horses.  The US remount style of horses of Jim’s day have given way to the Doc Bar progeny the Newland's raise today.    Every mare they own goes back to Doc Bar, the legendary “Cowhorse” sire that the currant Quarter Horse industry revolves around.  Believing firmly that every good horse has a good mother; the Newland's prove every mare under saddle before she earns the right to raise foals for their remuda.  In a brilliant career move in 1991 Wilbur married Dawn Lange, who was the owner of Lucky Joe Lynx a grandson of Doc Bar.  This beautiful black stallion sired superior ranch and show horses, many earning their ROM’s in a variety of events. Lucky Joe’s daughters are the heart of the broodmare band and the saddle horse remuda today even though he has passed on to greener pastures.  The Newland's (Newland Ranch Quarter Horses) continue to raise and show some of the leading cow horses of the upper Midwest.   Any one visiting the Greenwood Ranches will appreciate the quality and beauty of the remuda.  These are real cow horses ridden by real cowboys (or cowgirls).
    

Wilbur is a man of great knowledge of history and facts about this area, you will never tire of his infamous stories and entertaining jokes. He is active in his community, serving on the Christian school board, as president of the SDRCHA, and is always a sought after voice to emcee rodeos, fund raisers and any other event that needs him.  Dawn is passionate about her life as a caretaker to the land and the people that come to it.  She has an infectious enthusiasm for living true to yourself and feeling the essence of a life lived close to the land, she will surely ignite in you a new desire to experience your own life with great joy.  She is an accomplished artist and photographer, horse trainer, true rancher, and above all she is a real life western hostess with a deep desire to let you in on the secrets that lie hidden in the heartland of this vast and beautiful big wonderful Wyoming ranch.

     Dawn brought a family heritage of ranching, horse training, and chuckwagon cooking to Greenwood when she and Wilbur joined their families.  Dawn’s Father was a renowned chuckwagon cook and had fed the large branding crews at the Greenwood Ranches for many years before Wilbur and Dawn were married.  Wilbur’s son, Chase Newland (then 5 yrs old) and Dawn’s son, Chance Lange (also 5 years old) became fast friends by hanging out around “Grampa Walt’s” camp fire and learning to be wood choppers, tater peelers, and all around good ranch help.  As in the generations preceding them, when Wilbur’s Grandfather rode in on a dashing steed and swooped Miss Sara Brown (Wilbur’s Grandmother) off the front porch of her homestead shack, the romance of the west had its way, Wilbur and Dawn started their marriage in a carriage pulled down Main Street in Belle Fourche. Uniting as a family, their sons were now happily brothers.

     We have been blessed to grow together and form strong bonds with each other and with the land we tend.   Even though Grampa Walt has passed on now, we carry on his wonderful knowledge of the real cowboy life.  We still use his chuck wagon and his timeless unwritten rules still govern the camp site and the way we cook his hearty chow.  You haven’t lived until you’ve enjoyed his dutch oven cobbler fresh off the coals.

     Our sons, once best friends became brothers. Chance and Chase, our two oldest  sons are now both grown and serving their country as United States Marines.  They are strong, handsome, talented young men that we are proud to say defend our rights and freedoms as Americans.  Chance, a helicopter technician officially, but a rancher at heart, has plans to return as partner in Greenwood Ranches after one more tour in Iraq.  Chase, a foot soldier and marksman, may well make a career of the service.  How blessed we are to have had the privilege of raising these fine young men here on the wide open plains of Wyoming.
  
     Our third son is Casey Rhye Lange, age 17.  Casey has a love of horses. Casey carries his Grampa Walt’s charisma and story telling gifts.  If you ride with him you will know you’ve met a “for real” cowboy with generations of the “cowboy way” in his blood.

     Benjamin Newland, age 14 is our youngest son.  He is our all around helper.  His passion is football and if you’re ever up for a bit of exercise in the evenings, he has a pretty mean throwing arm.   Ben is working on his comedy act and plans to give Jay Leno a run for his money.  We might get a little camp fire comedy out of Ben before your stay is over.

     Greenwood has a long standing reputation for hospitality. We have hosted film crews from France, Hollywood celebrities, and back in 1959 Look magazine carried a feature article on Greenwood Ranches, with headlines reading- “Meet some real cowboys, they shoot less and work harder than the Hollywood types, their back yard is 120 thousand acres”.  This was during the era and hay day of TV and Big Screen westerns. Most recently The Wrangler, a Wyoming magazine carried a feature article on our family, the ranching operation, and the opening of the guest ranch. Even though this is our first official year to be called a guest ranch, we have entertained “city slickers” for well over 50 years. Many young folks from the “City” have come to Greenwood as “Greenhorns” and after a summer of hard work and living true family values, have formed life long ties to the Newland's.

     Our history would be incomplete without mentioning our dear friends and the family that has intertwined their lives with ours to work with us for the past 10years.   Gary and Paula Bischoff, will be a part of  your stay with us.  Gary is the owner/manager of the on site heifer back grounding operation, he will be a familiar face during pasture moves and branding week, other times will find him tending to all of the many non glorious ranch chores.  Paula is a gracious hostess, and you’ll be delighted with her camp fire songs and guitar picking. 

     We at Greenwood believe in God, family, integrity and living life to the fullest right where you are planted.  We are deeply grateful for the life we have been privileged to live.   The opportunity to share this with you is our greatest gift.

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