Fortunately, reaching the Richardson Ranch ruins on foot is a hiking challenge. The remoteness has helped to preserve this small pocket of time. Even so, the building interiors are being picked apart for copper wire and some vandalism has already occurred. 

Below, we are hiking on a trail that joins a "paved" section of road. The original roadbed has been washed away in spots and dead ends above the ranch. Weather is taking a toll on the original pavement and it is decomposing back to gravel.  On the left in this picture is our first view of a white structure.  It is the office housing a gas station.




The gas station looks pretty good from this side and distance,    
      


But on closer inspection, it has suffered from the work of vandals.Note below the holes in the awning and plaster in the service area.



2012 Update: Based on a report from the site steward, the gas station is now in very bad shape.  Sections have been torn off for firewood.  This new photo shows that we are losing the remains of the ranch. The building will soon be gone.



Across the street is the main lodge building.  At one time, I would imagine that there was a trim green lawn running directly in front of this building.



Here is a closer look at the main lodge.




Below is a view of the building from the West.  Note how the rock walls are still in place.  It is easy to see that this was a very attractive place for a tired traveler to stay.



Going inside the building with the green support porch, you can see how much damage has occurred.



To the right rear of the lodge are two stone cabins. Above them you can see a retaining wall where the new highway goes through totally bypassing the ranch.



The roof on the more distant cabin is pretty far gone but the stone walls remain intact.





The cabin to the right is still in fair shape.  Note the water tank behind the cabins and the tin roofing material still in place.