This ranch is retained within the park for its historic value.
During a 25-year period of hostilities with whites, the Chiricahua Apaches
took refuge in the rocky stronghold of the Chiricahua Mountains. After the
surrender of Geronimo in 1986, Swedish immigrants Neil and Emma Erickson homesteaded
a 160-acre ranch here. Members of the Erickson family lived on the ranch
for 91 years, running it as a cattle ranch and later guest ranch.
Largely through their efforts, Chiricahua National Monument was formed in 1924,
and in 1979 the ranch also was purchased by the National Park Service.

We did not go near the house (I've since learned that it's filled with artifacts
evocative of past eras) but enjoyed investigating the empty outbuildings and corrals.