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For 93 years, ever since Finis Mitchell established a fishing camp on this site in 1930, the Big Sandy Lodge property has been providing the public with outdoor recreational opportunities in the Wind River Mountains. The property is significant locally under Criterion B in the area of recreation for its association with Finis Mitchell, who played a large role in stimulating wilderness recreation in the Wind River Mountains. It is also significant at the local and regional levels under Criterion A in the context of the development and enhancement of recreation and tourism on U.S. Forest Service lands, and as the only remaining U.S. Forest Service-permitted resort in the Bridger-Teton National Forest that has been preserved and maintained as it was originally built. In the area of architecture, Big Sandy Lodge is significant under Criterion C as an excellent example of a property type (recreational lodge/dude ranch) built in the post-World War II era which has remained relatively unchanged to the present. The period of significance for this nomination is from 1930, when the property was first used as a commercial recreation operation, until 1973, the end of the historic period. However, the significance of the property continues to the present, with current and previous owners who respect and continue to preserve both the built and natural environments of the property and its cultural traditions. Big Sandy Lodge retains excellent integrity of location, setting, design, materials, workmanship, feeling and historical association. The property was determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places under Criteria A and C by the Bridger-Teton National Forest in 2003.