Today, Shirley and her husband, Dennis Andrus, still operate the ranch, with the help of their sons and grandsons.

From the earliest days, said Shirley, Orr's Ranch was a gathering spot for freighters, cattle and horse wranglers, sheepherders, broncobusters, miners and trappers. "It was known as the gathering place of the desert."

So, it was quite natural that it would become a landmark on the Lincoln Highway. Shirley and her sisters, Doris, now married to Keith Whear, and Charlotte Bell, were too young to remember much about those days. But they recently got together at the ranch to reminisce about growing up there and to talk about the stories they heard their grandmother and mother tell.

Mary Ann and Pearl were especially known for the turkey dinners they prepared for the adventurous travelers, said Shirley. A full meal cost 75 cents. They also provided other amenities.

A 1913 Road Guide to the Lincoln Highway noted that at the ranch gas cost 45 cents, and oil 60 cents. A 1924 guide promised that Orr's Ranch visitors could expect "excellent ranch meals and lodging, drinking water and radiator water" — the last water available for 60 miles. Camping in the campground cost 50 cents a night.

The log cabin built by Matthew and Mary Ann was used as a guest house and kitchen. "I think it cost a dollar to stay in the cabins," said Dennis. "I know they had gas delivered in 55-gallon barrels; some of those old barrels are still out back." The log cabin is still there, too. Although one of the rooms lost its roof in a microburst, the other two house antiques the Andruses have collected.

"Some days Mother cooked for a lot of people," remembered Doris. "She talked about one time in August of 1915 when 50 cars stopped here. They were on their way to the Panamerican Exposition in San Francisco."

"They always had interesting people stop by," added Shirley. "The Wright Brothers came here. Eddie Rickenbacker. It was amazing who came through on the highway."

In 1919 an army convoy set out across the highway. "A member of that convoy was a young officer named Dwight D. Eisenhower," said Shirley. They set up camp at the ranch, had a meal. "Then the Army band that had accompanied the convoy performed a program — much to the delight of everyone."

After the road to Wendover was completed, there was less traffic along the original route, but a few travelers still stopped by. And in recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in the old Lincoln Highway. "We still get people that come through, trying to follow the old road as much as they can," said Dennis.