The Courtney family has one of the most prominent and enduring histories in Stehekin, Washington, a remote, roadless community at the northern end of Lake Chelan in the North Cascades. Their story is tied to early 20th-century homesteading, pioneer life, and ongoing contributions to the valley’s economy and community.
The family’s deep roots in Stehekin began in 1917–1918 when Hugh Lawrence Courtney and his wife Mamie Courtney (née Moore) moved to the area with their four children. Mamie was the daughter of Robert and Mary Moore, who had earlier connections to the region (including Moore Point). In the winter of 1917–1918, Hugh and Mamie claimed the abandoned homestead of William McComb (or Mcomb), about 1.5 miles up the road from another property. They officially moved into the rustic, dirt-floored cabin on April 19, 1918, with Mamie seven months pregnant with their daughter June.
This marked the start of the Courtney homestead along the Stehekin River, surrounded by dense Douglas firs and overlooked by McGregor Mountain. The family endured pioneer hardships in this isolated valley, accessible only by boat, foot, or later small plane. A notable historic structure associated with them is the Courtney Cabin (built circa 1889, predating their arrival but occupied and modified by the family). It was relocated and is documented by the National Park Service as representative of homesteading and pioneer architecture in the Stehekin Valley (period of significance roughly 1889–1964, when the family vacated it).
The Courtneys raised a large family there, including sons like Ray (the youngest of four in one branch), and built a legacy of resilience. Descendants grew to six generations in Stehekin (plus the prior Moore generation), with family ties remaining strong. The original homestead has been partitioned into family tracts, with some portions sold, but descendants continue living and working in the valley.
The Courtneys have long been involved in local businesses and services, reflecting their determination to sustain life in Stehekin:
- Stehekin Outfitters (guiding and outfitting since 1947, specializing in high-country adventures like horseback trips).
- Stehekin Valley Ranch (established in 1983 by Cliff and Kerry Courtney on family-owned property dating to the early 1950s; it offers cabins, meals, horseback riding, kayaking, and more, now transitioning to the next generation after 40+ years).
- Other ventures like the Stehekin Pastry Company, rental cabins, mountain barge service.
Some family members, notably brothers Jim and Cliff Courtney (fourth-generation Stehekin residents), gained wider attention in the 2010s for legal challenges against the state ferry monopoly on Lake Chelan, arguing for competition to improve service to the isolated community.