esteryear, a significant part of American history unfolded along the routes and ruts of the California, Pony Express, Mormon Pioneer and Oregon Trails. On August 9, 1846, a group of as many as 100 wagons set out from Fort Hall, Idaho to Humboldt, Nevada to join the new Applegate-Lassen Trail. That September, the first of the wagons left the Humboldt River and headed across the Black Rock Desert, a treacherous section of trail in northwest Nevada filled with Indian attacks, overpowering heat and very little forage for the animals.

From there, the wagons rolled through Vya, NV (a marker is set by the pond) into Surprise Valley – Cedarville, CA and then onto Goose Lake and Tule Lake. The party crossed the Lost River on a natural stone bridge (the bridge and a marker to record the expedition are near Merrill, Oregon). The wagons then swung southwest around lower Klamath Lake and on towards their final destination of Dallas, Oregon.
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There are three alleged Indian/Settler massacre sites on the Applegate-Lassen Trail but no reliable documentation exists to substantiate the events. Looking east from Vya, you will observe a rather large mound off in the distance, which the locals refer to as “Massacre Mound”, the site where the last massacre occurrence is believed to have taken place in the U.S.

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Included in this history of our emigrants is the account of the 19th century Ol’ Yella Dog Saloon, a locally renowned watering hole in Vya, NV. The saloon is rumored to have refreshed weary travelers prior to their continuing west over wild, deplorable and empty landscape to the final destinations in California or Oregon. The Ol’ Yella Dog Saloon remains a legend, with its lore passed down from generation to generation.

 

The historic freight wagon path, known as the Lassen-Applegate Emigrant Trail, crosses over the Fortynine Mountain along the southern boundary of the ranch property. The Forty Nine Rock Trail Marker marks this historic crossing.
Locally referred to as the Y Bar D, the Old Yella Dog Ranch and Cattle Co. is situated in the Great Basin surrounded by the Nevada High Desert. The original Vya post office, library, barn, corrals, loading chute and round pen made of ranch-grown tree limbs (below) are still present today.
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Local ranchers indicate that the small ranching hamlet died in the 1920’s or so and Vya, for the most part, remained a ghost town until this century.

 

Today, we have taken these legends of the past and brought them to life on the 4,000+ acre Old Yella Dog Ranch and Cattle Co. Come to the beautifully placid and remote location of Vya and, like those tired and fatigued travelers from days long gone, join us for some well-needed rest, relaxation and refreshment.

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