Gooch Family makes generous donation to the Museum of the Mountain Man
October 12, 2025
PINEDALE, WYOMING – The Museum of the Mountain Man is honored to announce a generous monetary donation from the Gooch Family, whose deep roots in Sublette County and appreciation for local history inspired their contribution. The donation will be used to build Fort Sublette for living history interpretation.
Bruce "Rusty" Gooch was raised in an Army family and experienced many parts of the United States during his youth. In 1953, his ties to Sublette County began when he started visiting his grandfather, Cortland Tisher, whose property adjoined the land where the Museum of the Mountain Man now stands. Those summer visits became an annual tradition that firmly established the Gooch family’s connection to the Pinedale area.
After graduating from college in 1967, Rusty moved to Pinedale, where he owned and operated the Triangle R Lodge—a well-known outfitting business and motel that served both locals and visitors. In addition to his work as an outfitter, Rusty also dabbled in a number of real estate and business investments throughout the area, reflecting his commitment to the growth and vitality of the community.
In 1974, he moved to Jackson before returning to Pinedale in 1986 with his then wife and two children, Lindsey and Wesley Gooch, both of whom attended and graduated from the schools in Pinedale. In 2010, he married Rosemary Turk, who, though not a local, quickly developed her own fondness for the area and its history—further strengthening the family’s ties to Sublette County.
"The Gooch Family believes the Museum of the Mountain Man is an incredible asset to our community—one that keeps the history and spirit of the area alive for generations to come," said Rusty Gooch.
The Sublette County Historical Society and Museum of the Mountain Man extend their sincere gratitude to the Gooch Family for their generosity and their ongoing commitment to preserving the stories and heritage that define this remarkable region.
For more information, contact Clint Gilchrist, Executive Director, Museum of the Mountain Man, director@mmmuseum.com, 307-367-4101.
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