06/04/2026
Bills Ranch - Frisco, CO
Bill Thomas, born in 1882 to Welsh immigrants John and Jane Thomas, was one of Frisco’s most influential early residents. At just 11 years old, he was already driving b***o pack trains carrying silver ore from local mines.
In 1910, the Thomas Ranch was established when Jane Thomas received a homestead deed for 145 acres at the base of Mount Royal. By 1930, Frisco’s population had dwindled to only 18 residents. To help revitalize the town, Bill offered free parcels of ranch land to families willing to build cabins and settle in Frisco. Several families accepted, creating the foundation of today’s historic Bill’s Ranch neighborhood.
Bill and his wife, Minnie, made their home in Frisco, and their preserved residence can still be visited at the Frisco Historic Park & Museum.
Read more at: summithistorical.org/colorado-150/june/
Research compiled by Summit Historical Society Colorado 150 Committee and Blair Miller, Frisco Historic Park & Museum Manager
Photo Credit: Summit Historical Society Collection