Ranch dressing was created by a man named Steve (Steven) Henson in the early 1950s.
Who Steve Henson Was
Steve Henson was a plumbing contractor who started making a tangy, herb-filled buttermilk dressing while cooking for work crews. He later moved with his wife, Gayle, to California and bought a guest ranch near Santa Barbara.
How Ranch Got Its Name
The couple renamed their property “Hidden Valley Ranch,” and guests loved Henson’s dressing so much that it became the signature item there. The dressing’s popularity at that ranch is what gave “ranch dressing” and the Hidden Valley brand their names.
From Ranch To National Brand
Demand grew so much that the Hensons began selling packets of the dry seasoning so people could make ranch at home. The brand later expanded nationally, turning ranch into one of the most popular dressings and dips in the United States.
