Property History

The History of Gypsum Creek Valley

The Gypsum Creek Valley where Brightwater now stands has a history as rich and colorful as the mountains that define it. In 1880’s, Orion W. Dagget, a merchant, miner and crusading newspaperman and Sam Doll, a one time professional gambler, gold miner and entrepreneur settled the land of Gypsum Creek. While Orion Dagget was more interested in living a home-on-the-range life, it was Sam Doll who saw the vast potential of the land. Mr. Doll settled and eventually convinced his brother to join him in the valley to seek their fortune. The Doll brothers began their empire by raising thoroughbred horses. At the time, they reasoned the altitude would help breed great racehorses due to the increased lung capacity needed to survive in the higher elevation.

While their logic was flawed, their business skills were exceptional. The Doll brothers were indeed successful, and they then branched out to raising draft horses and cattle. At its peak, the Doll Ranch spanned more than 12,500 acres.

Over the next four decades, the ranch survived typical Old West mayhem. In the end, however, it was a quarrel between the brothers over a blonde oak grand piano that caused the downfall of the Doll Empire. Unable to overcome the dispute, the brothers split their property in two, with each brother taking exactly half. They never spoke again.

In the early 1900’s the Doll property was sold to the Albertson family whom Betty Lou Bobson married into. The Albertson’s ran the ranchland until 2005 when it was sold to Clearwater Development, the developers of Brightwater.