In 1866 by Andrew Litch settled in the Honey Lake Valley having abandoned the Granite Creek Station. In 1868, Litch and Thomas J. French purchased the Shaffer Brothers Ranch (known today as Mapes). In 1874, the two men dissolved the partnership and split the ranch. In 1883, Litch moved to Reno, but kept the ranch, renting it out.
In 1895, B.F. Gibson married Clara Litch, where he took over his father-in-law’s ranch. Gibson continued to make improvement and acquired additional property near Wendel known as the Purser Ranch. Gibson was also the main beneficiary of Ward Lake for a water supply. Descendants of the family continued to operate the ranch until 1975, when it was sold.