Ranch dressing was created by Steve (Steven) Henson, a Nebraska-born plumber who later became a rancher.
Creator
Steve Henson developed the original ranch dressing recipe in the early 1950s while working as a plumbing contractor and cooking for his work crews in the Anchorage, Alaska area. He later moved to California with his wife Gayle, where they continued to refine and serve the dressing.
Hidden Valley Ranch
In 1956, Henson bought a guest ranch in Santa Barbara County, California, and renamed it Hidden Valley Ranch. The dressing served to guests there became so popular that the Hensons began selling it in dry mix packets, which helped turn ranch dressing into a national staple.