Devil's thumb Ranch Raised
Wagyu Beef
Devil’s Thumb Ranch is one of the few places in the United States that offers 100% Wagyu Beef. On many menus across the country, Wagyu is blended with Angus or other types of beef that can dilute the Wagyu percentage to 50% or lower, depending on the quality of the restaurant or source. Devil’s Thumb’s 100% Wagyu herd is raised right here on the Ranch and served Pasture-to-Fork in our restaurants. Experience one of the finest cuts of beef in the world during your visit to the Ranch!
Cattle have called this valley home for nearly a century now, a region known for its rich agricultural land and green, rolling pastures. In fact, the original homestead, built back in 1937, operated as a dairy farm until it was later turned into a working dude ranch in 1946. We proudly continue this ranching heritage with our agricultural program, started back in 2013, that has now grown to 230 head of full-blood Wagyu cattle.
Originating in Japan, Wagyu simply translates to “Japanese cow.” To ensure the cattle are full-blood, 100% Wagyu, each animal is DNA tested, traced back to its origin, and registered with the AWA (American Wagyu Association) to ensure its authenticity—making it difficult to source in the US. Devil’s Thumb Ranch is one of the few locations in the nation to breed and serve 100% full-blood Wagyu. It is highly sought after for its intense intramuscular marbling, creating rich, buttery beef. With a tender texture and the nutritional equivalent of salmon, Wagyu cattle have the ability to take steric acid and convert it into oleic acid, making it one of the healthiest red meat options. Wagyu beef is also higher in monounsaturated fats, which can lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and increase good cholesterol (HDL). Additionally, it contains higher percentages of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids known to protect against arthritis, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
Devil’s Thumb Ranch is proud to raise Wagyu cattle in a stress-free, natural environment. We’re able to serve the most tender beef around while doing so in a sustainable manner—ensuring the most ethical and humane treatment possible for our cattle.
If you’re ready to taste our pasture-to-plate Wagyu for yourself, reserve a dinner table at Ranch House Restaurant where we have the perfect cuts for a melt-in-your-mouth steak. We also have select offerings of Wagyu beef in Heck’s Tavern, including our famous Wagyu burger. We look forward to sharing this exceptional and difficult-to-replicate culinary experience with you.
Experience it In Our Restaurants
Ranch-to-Table Experience
Because few restaurants are able to raise their own beef, let alone Wagyu, it’s safe to say here at Heck’s and Ranch House Restaurant, we’re able to serve the freshest, purest, most tender beef around. And we’re able to do it in a sustainable manner—ensuring the most ethical and humane treatment possible for our cattle. After all, spending their summers grazing freely in a lush river valley at the base of the Continental Divide isn’t a bad way to pass the time.
We allow them to breed and give birth here on the Ranch, which can occur during either the spring or fall calving seasons with the assistance of our seasoned Cattle Team. We’re extremely efficient in processing our beef as well, working directly with our chefs at the Ranch to assure we’re only providing enough to meet the demand of the restaurants, and nothing is wasted. We’re also proud to promote awareness of our cattle program by offering guests the chance to schedule an educational session.