Before the fabled 1890's silver boom and before there was a town of Creede, Wason Ranch was built in a rich meadow traversed by four miles of the Rio Grande. Some say trout fishing here is superior to that found in Colorado's Gold Medal waters. Founded in the 1870s by a colorful, successful cattleman, Major Martin Van Buren Wason, whose large Ranch House is still used, Wason Ranch was well-known for its special breed of horses and, for a brief time, served as the County Seat.

For the last 50 years the owners have worked to provide their guests with an authentic, informal Western get-away. Facilities include comfortable cottages on the River and the above-mentioned Ranch House. Many Wason guests have returned for generation after generation. These families come throughout the year to enjoy activities of the season—from fishing to snowmobiling, skiing nearby Wolf Creek Ski Area—and the secluded comfort of the Ranch year-round.

Nearby, historic Creede has art galleries, shops, restaurants and the nationally-acclaimed Creede Repertory Theatre. The "CRT" is a destination point for visitors from around the country and for significant numbers of travelers from Europe.