7 Mile Ranch first received its water rights in April 1884 as the Union Pacific was building its spur line from Shoshone to Ketchum for the purpose of transporting timber, ore and sheep. The easement of the old rail line still runs through the ranch.
Lincoln County like much of Southern Idaho was Basque and sheep country. At the turn of the 20th century the property was purchased as a sheep ranch by a basque family, the Anchusteguis. The ranch was in their family until The Ward Family bought it in 2006.
Pheasant hunting has a long history in this part of Idaho. In fact, just south of the Ranch in Dietrich were located all of Ernest Hemingway's beloved pheasant leases. (See the book The Idaho Hemingway for that history). To this day, you can hear the pheasants cackle along the Little Wood River.
