History of Cross Creek Ranch
The Legacy of Cross Creek Ranch
Located ten miles west of Durango at an elevation of 10,000 feet in Hesperus, Colorado, Cross Creek Ranch began as a humble family cattle ranch in the late 1800s. The Foutz family, with deep roots in southwestern La Plata County, Colorado, and northwestern San Juan County, New Mexico, built their livelihood through generations of dedication and stewardship. What started as a modest operation grew into a 2,800-acre ranch set against the striking backdrop of the Rocky Mountains.
Today, Cross Creek Ranch supports a diverse ecosystem including cattle, horses, elk, and wild turkeys. It is also home to cherished family traditions and gatherings around the dinner table, where ranch-raised beef was always the centerpiece. Over the years, family and visitors alike recognized something unique about Cross Creek beef—a superior quality that sparked an idea and a mission to share it widely.
Bringing Japanese Wagyu to Colorado
As Cross Creek Ranch beef grew in reputation, curiosity led the Foutz family to explore the legendary Japanese Wagyu breed. Renowned worldwide for exceptional flavor and marbling, Wagyu genetics were historically difficult to access outside Japan. Determined to provide customers with the very best, the family invested significantly in elite Wagyu breeding stock, advanced ranching methods, and rigorous quality standards.
Wagyu cattle are meticulously bred for flavor rather than yield. Their hallmark marbling results in a rich, buttery taste highly sought after by chefs and food enthusiasts alike. Among all Wagyu varieties, Full Blood Wagyu represents the pinnacle of quality, delivering unmatched flavor intensity.
How Cross Creek Achieves Wagyu Excellence
Cross Creek Ranch combines traditional Japanese breeding practices with its own unique high-altitude ranching expertise. Their approach includes:
- Utilizing elite genetics from carefully selected foundation sires and dams.
- Providing a low-stress, humane environment where cattle graze freely, breathe clean mountain air, and drink from pure snow-fed streams.
- Ensuring a diet consisting of pesticide-free grasses and premium, ranch-grown supplemental grains.
- Avoiding antibiotics and growth hormones entirely.
- Extending the finishing period to a full three years, enhancing the meat’s depth of flavor and tenderness.
The result is premium Wagyu beef with unmatched taste and texture, evident from the first bite.
Our Commitment to You
Cross Creek Ranch is dedicated to the same principles that have guided their family for generations: integrity, quality, and care for the land and animals. They proudly share this heritage with customers who value transparency, nutrition, and sustainable ranching. Cross Creek Ranch Wagyu beef represents more than excellence; it signifies a deep respect for tradition and community.
