| Yule Ranch | |
| Settlement Type: | Ranch |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | North Dakota |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Golden Valley and Slope |
| Coordinates: | 46.5594°N -103.8036°W |
Yule Ranch (now Three V Ranch) is a historic property in Golden Valley and Slope counties in North Dakota, United States.[1]
Founded in 1883 by John Pender as the JXL Ranch or Yule Ranch,[2] historically the ranch was a multi-state cattle operation.[3] After changing hands it was renamed as the VVV Ranch in 1937. The VVV brand had previously been established in 1898 at another ranch. At one time it was home to a small community including a post office bearing the name Yule, a general store, and a stage coach stop. The post office closed in 1910.[4] Today the ranch raises Angus cattle, grows cash crops, and caters to hunters looking for mule and whitetail deer, coyotes and sharptail grouse. Theodore Roosevelt enjoyed staying at the ranch[5] and conducted one of his last bison hunting excursions there.[6] [7]
| Bridge Name: | Three V Crossing |
| Carries: | Vvv Road |
| Crosses: | Little Missouri River |
| Locale: | Slope County, North Dakota. GNIS feature ID 1035208 |
| Design: | Low-water crossing |
| Material: | concrete |
A major landmark on the ranch is Three V Crossing, a low-water crossing on the Little Missouri River 19.1miles north-northeast of Marmarth and 27miles northwest of Amidon[8] within the Little Missouri National Grassland in an unorganized part of Slope County in T. 135 N R. 105 W.[9]
The construction of the crossing was jointly funded by the National Forest Service program and the county.[8] [10] It is part of Forest Development Road (FDR) 7741.[11] Water underneath passes through concrete box culverts.[12] Access across the Missouri River is unreliable when waters are high.[13]
On the east side of the crossing, a geological layer known as the Rhame Bed is characterized by having yellowish sand, with very pale green material underneath.[14]