Culleys Ranch was founded in 1964 by Robert L. (Bob) Culley Sr. of Lancaster, Massachusetts, as a purchased franchise from the former E.K. Willard Company of Leominster. The snowmobile dealership was first operated out of his home on Langen Road in Lancaster, until approximately 1966. It was then relocated to Route 117 where it has remained since.
Being a pioneer in the area and embarking on a “new fad”, Bob was cautious with building the dealership on route 117. The original building was built to look like a ranch house in case the snowmobile business faltered in any way, it could be sold as a home. As is the case today, the ranch sits on a sprawling 80 acres of beautiful fields, sloping hills and scenic views from atop the main field directly behind the dealership. As the snowmobile business grew, so did the dealership. The summer of 1968 saw the expansion of Culleys Ranch and large addition was built on the back side of the main building.
Through the years, Culleys has experienced a wide spectrum of power sports products. In the early years, Culleys ski-doo ranch was a full fledged ski-doo dealer, as well as Evinrude, Arctic Cat, Yamaha, Skiroule, Roll-O-Flex, Wee-Ski, Ski-Zoom, Little Skipper, Whip-It, Swinger, and Polaris. (Something may have been missed, but not intentionally.) Since the craze in snowmobiling was so popular, Culleys also had a rental business. People from many surrounding towns, counties, and states, would travel to Culleys on the weekends to rent snowmobiles hourly or by the half hour, to ride around the 80 acre ranch. There was also an on-site snack bar which served hot coffee, hot chocolate, cider, cold beverages, donuts, muffins, toast and much more. Rental rates back then we $7.00 for a half hour and $13.00 for an hour. This was a popular family activity until February of 1971, when the region first saw a decline in snowfall. (Today’s rates are much closer to $100 to $125 for a half day and close to $200 for a full day. There are also guided tours by experienced guides at many locations throughout New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. We do not know first hand of any rental locations in Massachusetts.)
To know Bob Culley, was to know a man that cared about people, was known as a showoff, but was true to his word. If you needed something, Bob was there to help and give. He was an icon in the snowmobile industry, and in local communities. You couldn’t miss him, his white hair and beaming smile could be seen from a distance. There was no mistaking him.
Bob was also the pioneer in bringing the first personal water craft to the region, with the introduction of the “original” Sea-Doo. A bright yellow water craft which was pushed across the water by an air propulsion motor. He was also one of the first in the area to sell what was once known as an aqua lung, which was a floating device which supplied constant air to underwater divers. He also sold mopeds, mini-bikes, lawn tractors, generators, and chain saws.
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