Preservation of the Crail Ranch began in the late 1970's as a grassroots effort of a group of women and men from the rapidly growing Big Sky, Montana resort area. Through their efforts, the buildings and grounds of this exemplary Montana homestead were added to the National Register of Historic Places.
To continue the work of this early group, the Historic Crail Ranch Conservators were established in 2006 as a committee of the Big Sky Community Corporation, an IRS 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation. The mission of the Crail Ranch Conservators is to promote an awareness and appreciation for the Crail Ranch and to preserve and maintain it as a heritage property of the Big Sky community, Gallatin County, the State of Montana, and the American West.