The History of Hidden Valley™ Ranch
How Ranch Love Conquered the World
HIDDEN VALLEY RANCH WAS INVENTED IN 1954
That’s when Steve Henson and his wife, Gayle, purchased 120 acres of sprawling land nestled in the mountains outside of Santa Barbara, California, and started a dude ranch. Over the years, Steve had been perfecting his signature salad dressing, a tangy blend of buttermilk, savory herbs and spices. His ranch guests couldn’t get enough of the stuff, and Hidden Valley Ranch dressing was invented.
It wasn’t long before guests were hounding Steve for jars of his ranch dressing to bring home. Word spread quickly, and pretty soon Steve was sending little packets of his original ranch all over the country. Eventually, we purchased the mail-order business so we could bring that bold, tangy flavor to even more ranch-loving fans.
Our History
From the Ranch World
Hidden Valley Ranch has earned its place in popular culture. Across the country, people dip wings and fries, drizzle it on burgers and pizza, rub it on roasts, stir it into stews, bake it into casseroles, and shake it over popcorn. Some fans take it even further — buying it by the keg, building ranch fountains for weddings, and sharing their love online.
Today, Hidden Valley is more than America’s favorite ranch. It’s a way of life. You either love it— or you really love it.
Scroll on our TikTok @hiddenvalleyranch or Instagram at @hiddenvalley.
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