The Brands Ranch, located near Walden in Jackson County, got started in 1872 when Charles and Matilda Brands first homesteaded in this little valley in North Park. The Brands came to Colorado from Tennessee by way of Oklahoma, acquiring horses and cattle along the way. In North Park they added sheep to their operation and began annual hay harvesting. Due to improper filing on the original homestead, the Brands had to refile in 1892. Today, the ranch includes over 1900 acres and is operated by Fred Joseph and Lennie Jane Brands, the great-great grandchildren of the original settlers. The Brands Ranch is also being given the historic structures award from the National Trust, for the preservation of several historic structures dating back to the 1880s.