History of the Walking D

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            The Walking D Ranch is 640 acres in size and has a rich history.  At the turn of the century president Theodore Roosevelt deeded over the land to private property (his signature is on our original papers) and the present ranch was formed by combining several parcels.  Various homesteaders developed the land and put in orchards, irrigation ditches, the dam, and constructed various dwellings whose remains can still be seen.  There even are signs of the old town slaughter house that also posed as a location for a secret moonshine still.  The dirt road that crossed the ranch from north to south was the main highway through the valley until 1930. 

             In the mid 1950s Daniel O. Doran discovered the property while on a hunting trip in the Methow Valley .  Shortly after his retirement from the navy my parents bought the ranch in 1957 from Audy Peters.  We lived here for a couple of years and weathering harsh climate and poor health while living in a cramped old ranch house.  The family move back to San Diego until 1968 when we returned.  The ranch house was remodeled and made more comfortable.  Over the years the Doran family has run an active cattle ranch, put in irrigation for pasture land, run a herd of horses and has hosted various events and private family enterprises.