This unique and historic white brick British manor, designed by Jonas Pendlebury of New York in the New England colonial style, was built in 1933 by Christian Arthur Wellesley, 4th Earl Cowley, of the House of Windsor—also a member of England’s House of Lords. Cowley was a direct descendent of both the Duke of Wellington, who
defeated Napoleon in 1815, and of Marquess Wellesley, who was former Governor General of India.

When Lord Cowley originally came to Nevada in the 1930’s to get a divorce, he found that he loved Nevada so much he decided to stay. Then, amidst much local gossip and international publicity, Lord Cowley met, fell in love with, and married the young granddaughter of one the original “homesteaders” of the Truckee Meadows. Then he charmed her further by building the Wellesley Ranch in 1933, of which the Wellesley House was the main house and manor.

In 1951 the ranch was bought by the Frank List family, and during the Lists’ ownership of the ranch it became known locally as the boyhood home of Robert List, who served as the 24th governor of Nevada from 1979-1983.

In 2000 the current owner, Beth McCleary, came to the ranch and began to evolve the land from primarily a cattle grazing operation--as it had been under the Lists’ ownership--to becoming once again a diversified family farm: missmenotfarm.com. The ranch now produces a variety of crops including grass hay, vegetables, fruits, berries, and black walnuts. The compassionate and humane raising and harvesting of small animals such as sheep, goats, chickens and rabbits, as well as limited pasturing of livestock and horses on the same fields still irrigated by McEwen Creek—first called Sawmill Creek long ago, then Simon’s Creek, then McEwen Creek since the late 1800’s—are the farm activities now happening at the ranch.

Additionally, the Wellesley House is available at certain times of the year as a short term rental for enjoyment by family and professional groups for workshops, reunions, retreats, weddings, and other events.