11/04/2025
Let's talk mobster connections to the Black Hills! (PART 2)
After our last post on the subject of Al Capone and the Black Hills connection, our inbox and comment section was quickly flooded with questions about Ranch A and the Al Capone connection to it!
A few of you may be asking, "What is Ranch A?!" That is a great question! Ranch A is a historical ranch located near Beulah Wyoming, which is the foothills of the Black Hills.
Ranch A has a ton of history associated with it, including some mobster history. That's right! A small ranch outside of Spearfish SD was associated with the mob!
Ranch A is named for the person who settled the ranch. Their name was Moses Annenberg. Now Moses was a big-time media mogul and happened to be the owner and founder of the Philadelphia Inquirer. On top of this, he was also the owner of a racing industry business called the "Daily Racing Form."" Annenburg was also a high roller when it came to gambling. Between the racing industry, owning a major news outlet, and being a high roller. He rose in the ranks and caught the attention of Al Capone. The man, the myth, the legend, and the most notorious gangster of all time.
Annenberg and Capone eventually became business partners. In fact, the two mob bosses came together to form a "commission" you could call it in 1931. The commission sought to bring together all the mob bosses across the USA to form a united front and discuss mutual interest and plans for organized crime. The solution!? The mob would end up controlling the racing industry for the next few years as much as they were able.
Well, surely you could have assumed Annenberg and Capone would end up having meetings at the famous Historical Ranch A. But, keep in mind this would NOT have been possible... However, a small news article does state how Annenberg would bring the "dancers" when " the high roller from Chicago" was visiting the ranch. Most likely ladies of the night...
Again, this is not historically backed, and we are currently researching it to be able to 100% confirm who this was and what this "story" is. Keep in mind that the ranch was not completed in 1931 when the commission meeting took place as construction on the ranch did not begin until 1932. So, IF Capone had visited, it would have had to be later in the 1930s after the main ranch was completed. However, on October 18, 1931, Capone would have gone to prison. He stayed there for seven years until he was basically released to die... So, the rumor or theory that Capone came to Ranch A is a fun story but probably is not true... it just does not work time wise. This seems to be a popular rumor, though.
We will say this... Annenberg would end up being targeted by the IRS. He eventually was sentenced to federal prison for tax evasion. He would go on to paroll and later die in 1942.
What is historically backed regarding Ranch A?! According to Ranch A. In the 1950s, the ranch had a brief interaction with the mob. It is considered by the ranch, the only brush with the mob that is recorded and documented. The story goes that a few Colorado mobster brothers who went by the names Eugene and Clyde Smaldone were spotted in town.
We should say they were spotted in Beulah, Wyoming, at what today is the Buffalo Jump Saloon having dinner. Now, these two men were being influenced by the mob and under much scrutiny. At the time, the state of Colorado was starting to crack down on the men's illegal gambling business. They were in hot water. They were hoping to move the business. They just happened to be on "vacation" in Wyoming a few days before Ranch A hit the auction block... coincidence?!
Well, it just so happens that their was "talk" of making Ranch A the next big casino. This talk or rumor was blowing through the small ranching town of Beulah like a tumbleweed Lorenze Iverson picked up on the chatter. Who was Lorenze?! He was a partner in the ranch, industry giant, and also happened to be associated with law enforcement indirectly. FBI, to be exact... As a big name, he had many contacts with them. Well, long story short, but a few hours before the big auction happened, the Smaldone brothers were arrested and booked.
Peter Smith would end up bidding and winning the auction for the Historic Ranch A for a total of $126,500. Pete had direct contact with the US Air Force, but that is a story for another time...
For more info on the historic ranch, we invite you to visit www.rancha.com
(The photograph attached is of some random mobsters in Denver Colorado who were arrested after dealing with Al Capone. They are not associated with Ranch A, but this is surely the time period and what a classic mobster looked like.)
Disclaimer: We always try to provide historically backed information. Our first story that we shared about a high roller visiting is merely based on a small article talking about the possibility and the events that circulated around it. As soon as we can verify this story, we will share a confirmation. We want to be as transparent and accurate as possible. Please keep this in mind.
-HBP
