A draw through
the ages.
Rich in sun, water and game, Ravenwing sits on a stretch of the Columbia River that has drawn people for over 13,500 years.
On one hand, the call was literal—the roar of nearby Rock Island Rapids could be heard for miles. Fast-moving water branched around the central Rock Island, its force carving many smaller islands and outcroppings that, in turn, created a series of low falls, narrow channels and eddies. The message was loud, and it was clear: this was the place to fish. So fish they did, in great numbers, for generations.
On the other hand, the call of the Columbia was deeply subjective. People didn’t just come to fish. They also came to find themselves, and carved their individual and collective journeys in stone. Prior to dam construction, Rock Island was home to one of the highest concentrations of petroglyphs in the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 hand-drawn images of people, animals, fish and various abstract designs.
Ravenwing Ranch selected our name, in part, to honor and recognize the original caretakers of this uniquely inspiring landscape.
For the Moses-Columbia and Wenatchi, this is their ancestral home. Both tribes had villages near Colockum Creek, just adjacent to Ravenwing’s grounds. The Moses-Columbia called their village Raven Place, for the quick-witted, black-winged birds that soared high above, and weaved their way in and out of oral tradition—occupying a position of wisdom, power and complexity. We offer our gratitude and respect to the area’s original inhabitants, as well as the ravens who continue to keep a watchful eye on life at the ranch.
