The majestic Bull River Lodge awaits your private, rustically elegant holidays.

When you meet Anna Koch, you immediately recognize her warmth, kindness, attentiveness, and genuine passion for making your stay at Bull River Guest Ranch a memorable experience. If you are getting married here, it will likely be one of the most memorable experiences of your life.

Nestled in the breathtaking wilderness of the East Kootenays, Bull River Guest Ranch is more than a destination. It is a family legacy rooted in hard work, hospitality, and a deep respect for the land.

Today, Anna manages the ranch alongside her partner Jared and their daughters Cali and Chloe. As Ranch Manager, Anna is the central point of communication for guests and clients. From reservations and accounting to weddings, events, staffing, partnerships, and future planning, she oversees the many moving parts that keep the ranch running smoothly.

Fortunately, she also leads an incredible team who work diligently behind the scenes to ensure the grounds are beautifully maintained, facilities are sanitized, and every cabin is fully equipped for arriving guests. Their shared mission is simple. To provide a consistent, premium experience for every visitor who arrives at Bull River Guest Ranch.

Anna with husband Jared, two daughters Cali & Chloe.jpg

A Ranch with Deep Roots

The story of Bull River Guest Ranch stretches back more than a century.

The earliest recorded history of the ranch dates to 1897, when George Pickering pre-empted Lot 6671, the land that would eventually become the ranch property. The land included a large natural hay meadow and quickly became an important agricultural site in the region.

Local stories describe Pickering as something of a colourful character. One historical account even tells of him serving time in jail for threatening to shoot a man named Bill Douglas, who later acquired the title to the ranch.

In 1948, Douglas sold the ranch to Bert and June Gauer, who lived and worked on the property for twenty nine years. The ranch changed hands again in 1977, when the Eitzenberger family from Germany purchased the property and began transforming it into a guest ranch.

The next chapter began when the Koch family purchased the ranch in 1999, bringing new life and vision to the property

Historic photographs preserved by the Fort Steele Heritage Park Archives show the first home built on the original George Pickering farm around 1909, a humble beginning for what has become one of the region’s most cherished ranch properties.

Growing Up on the Ranch

For Anna, Bull River Guest Ranch has always been home.

Her grandfather, Hans Koch, first discovered the ranch while visiting the area and quickly fell in love with the surrounding wilderness, the hunting, and the ranch lifestyle. He purchased the ranch in 1999, when Anna was only two years old.

Anna’s immediate family moved to the ranch in 2002, where her parents Greg and Gina Koch took on the responsibility of managing the property and growing it into the guest ranch it is today.

Anna shares that her journey into leadership truly began in childhood.

“My parents Greg and Gina, and my influential grandfather Hans taught me everything I know about our ranch. They taught me how to care for the land, the animals we have the privilege to own, and to always respect the wildlife the Bull River Valley has to offer. My journey into leadership started right here with them at a very young age, and I continued in their footsteps.”

Nearly 20 years ago, Anna’s parents began developing the ranch’s wedding and hospitality side, which eventually became the thriving part of the business it is today.

“Even though I have lived here my whole life, I am still learning,” Anna says. “To this day I continue to discover new things about the ranch, the land, the animals, and the agriculture this land has to offer.”

Leading Through Uncertain Times

After completing her studies at Mount Royal University, Anna returned home and stepped into the role of Ranch Manager in 2020, when her parents retired.

The transition came at a challenging moment. The COVID pandemic forced hospitality and event businesses across the world to close their doors.

Weddings, which had historically been the ranch’s primary source of income, were suddenly cancelled or postponed. The ranch faced multiple closures as restrictions changed and the business had to find new ways to adapt.

While weddings, retreats, family reunions, and corporate events remain central to the ranch, Anna and her family began expanding the agricultural side of the property.

Growing the Farm

Bull River Guest Ranch has long farmed approximately 100 acres of hay, originally producing it primarily for the ranch’s animals.

Over the past several years that operation has expanded significantly. Today the ranch produces and sells hay to the surrounding community, including timothy, alfalfa, and orchard grass, offered in both small square and large round bales.

The family has invested in irrigation pivots, reseeding programs, and modern farming equipment to improve both the quality and productivity of the land.

While Anna grew up immersed in hospitality and events alongside her mother, learning the agricultural side of the ranch has been a new and rewarding challenge.

A Family Effort

Running a ranch of this scale takes teamwork.

Anna met her partner Jared in 2021. A professional lineman by trade, Jared has become an invaluable part of the ranch’s operations. Alongside his own career he helps with farming, machinery, electrical work, plumbing, and maintenance across the property.

He plays a key role in keeping the ranch running smoothly and ensuring the buildings, equipment, and land remain safe, functional, and well maintained.

Together with their daughters Cali and Chloe, they are building the next chapter of life at Bull River Guest Ranch.

Life on the Ranch

Guests visiting the ranch quickly discover that it offers far more than a scenic getaway.

The property includes nine self-contained log guest cabins, four suites, a communal living area with nine bedrooms, and a majestic log guest lodge that hosts weddings, corporate retreats, and family gatherings.

Guests can also enjoy hot tubs, saunas, outdoor cooking facilities, and the endless surrounding wilderness thanks to the thousands of acres of nearby crown land.

The ranch is also home to a variety of animals including dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, goats, ponies, and horses. For many visiting families, meeting the animals becomes one of the most memorable parts of their stay.

Wildlife and Retreats

Bull River Guest Ranch is also known for its remarkable wildlife.

The surrounding valley is home to deer, elk, bears, cougars, bobcats, and occasionally bighorn sheep. The area is also rich with birdlife, including the hummingbirds that draw visitors from around the world each year.

This season the ranch will host several smaller spring gatherings including quilting retreats and hummingbird retreats before moving into the busy wedding and event season later in the year.

Looking Ahead

The ranch is open seasonally from April 1 to October 31.

Anna’s vision for the future is to continue growing both the wedding and hospitality side of the ranch while also expanding the agricultural operation.

Later in the season the ranch hosts weddings, corporate events, and private family functions, while still offering cabin rentals and family getaways throughout the summer.

The ranch will also have a full stock of hay available for sale once harvesting is completed later in the summer.

Running a ranch requires constant effort, creativity, and dedication. For Anna and her family it is also a privilege.

The Bull River Guest Ranch is more than a place to visit. It is a place built on legacy, family, and a deep love for the land.

Learn more at bullriverguestranch.com.