Sometimes romance blossoms at our Colorado Guest Ranch. We think the glorious sunsets have something to do with it.

We’ve had more than one romance blossom at 4UR Colorado Guest Ranch over the years. There seems to be something about this place that helps love take root and grow. It could be the radiant sunsets. It could be the clean, fragrant air. It could be the warm ambiance of the lodge, or then again, the incredibly satisfying food. Maybe it’s simply that 4UR brings people together.

We don’t really know why 4UR sparks romance. In truth, we don’t even know that it does. It could just be a coincidence. Still, we smile each time we hear of an engagement.

Over the holidays, we heard of several engagements. Kate the wrangler and Tobe the ranch hand got engaged over Christmas, as did Ashley Robinson and Robbie Farmer from the summer of 2007. And staff aren’t the only ones who fall in love at 4UR: two couples from Texas who’ve stayed at this Colorado Fishing and Dude Ranch recently announced their engagements.

Yes, love is in the air. Breathe deeply.

Thanks to all our staff, seasonal employees, and guests. You made 2011 a great year!

We’re thankful for our families and friends, for good health and good humor. We’re thankful for the opportunity to live and work together in a beautiful setting.

We’re thankful for our fabulous staff and terrific seasonal employees – also friends. We’d be lost without you.

We’re thankful for our wonderful guests. We’d be lost without you, too.

We’re thankful for the beautiful location of 4UR Family Dude Ranch. Waking up to see the Colorado Rockies each day makes waking up worthwhile.

Thanks to all of you who make living and working at 4UR special. Happy Thanksgiving.

Stephen Quiller has lived and worked in Creede for more than 40 years. The beauty of our surroundings inspires much of his art. During the workshop, he’ll guide participants through the process of creating working sketches in a beautiful outdoor location and paintings back in the studio. He’ll discuss composition and format, color relationships, medium, and types of paint application.

When not working on art, participants may enjoy the amenities and activities of our Colorado Vacation Ranch: horseback riding, swimming, relaxing in the warm waters of our mineral hot springs. We’ll work hard, learn a lot, eat well, and have fun. At the end of the week, we’ll have a painting.

Please visit Quiller Gallery to learn more about Stephen.

To reserve a spot in the 2012 workshop, please contact 4UR.

Below are scenes from the 2011 workshop with Stephen Quiller.

Below are photos of some of our favorite things – favorite moments, really. Enjoy!

"Praise the Lard" - our Labor Day Weekend Pig Roast.

Guests share in the Pig Roast feast.

Kids make everything more fun.

Happy wranglers.

Haying.

Another glorious sunset.

Thanks to all the staff of our Colorado Family Guest Ranch – those of you who left in August to pursue your dreams, and those of you who were able to stay until the last hay bales were dry in the barn. Many of our favorite moments include you.

Do something you didn't know you could do.

It means doing something you didn’t know you could do, and perfecting skills you already have.

Hone old skills.

A 4UR Family Dude Ranch Vacation means fun for children….

Did you know your child could do this?

and fun for adults.

Picture yourself here.

You may see something you’ve never seen before.

It was worth the delay.

You may try something you never thought you’d try.

A safe environment to practice shooting.

You may decide you need to come back to 4UR again and again, because you like how you feel when you’re here.

Damon is a man of many talents.

Our Kids Program fills 6 hours each day. Children start most days with a horseback ride, which is a central part of our Family Dude Ranch Vacations. They swim, ride bikes, hike, play games, and try their hands at fly fishing, too. Parents can spend six hours fishing on Goose Creek or take long trail rides, secure in the knowledge that their kids won’t even think to look for them.

Kids love roasting marshmallows over an open fire and listening to Damon pick a song on his guitar. They feel accomplished when their parents watch them perform in a rodeo. They make new friends, bond with siblings, and generally have a great time. The hardest part is leaving.

There will be another Two For One Kids Special at our Creede Colorado Fly Fishing Ranch the week of August 13-20, 2011, and we’ll probably offer them again next year. Contact us to learn more about it. No matter when you come, your kids will feel special.

Our Fishing Guides are getting ready to help you have the experience of a lifetime.

This year, we have quite a few returning seasonal staff. If you vacationed at our family dude ranch last year, we’re sure you’ll be happy to see the following folks:

Kali Alger comes from Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she is the oldest of five. She is an Early Childhood Education Major and is pleased that she’ll be working as a Kids’ Counselor last year (although she did enjoy being Waitstaff last year).

Lindsay Gilbert grew up in Rhode Island and recently completed an internship at Roger Williams Park Zoo. She had a great time working as a Housekeeper here last year, and looks forward to spending this summer on horseback as a Wrangler.

Spencer Johnson graduates from college this year, which means he’ll have more time to train horses. He was a Wrangler at 4UR last year, and returns as Wrangler in 2011.

Jesse Robbins spent his childhood angling in rural Maine. He has fished his way around the globe, and looks forward to another season as Fishing Guide at our Colorado Fly Fishing Ranch.

Les Vance was raised in North Carolina, but he’s fallen in love with the mountains of the west. He was a Fishing Guide in 2007 & 2009, and he returns as a Fishing Guide in 2011.

Hannah Whitney came to us last year from Charleston, SC. She brings energy and enthusiasm to her work as a Housekeeper, and is thrilled to be back at 4UR as a Nanny to Cole, Kylee, Luke and Laci Christensen.

Garrett Cobarr learned the art of pastry making at the Culinary Institute of America in the Napa Valley, and has honed his skills in restaurants as diverse as five star resorts and small town steak houses. He is very pleased to be back at 4UR for another year as Pastry Chef.
We wouldn’t be able to function without our full-timers: office manager Kathy Adelman, ranch managers Aaron and Robin Christensen, Head Wrangler Damon Gibbons, our Properties Foreman Kyle Michaels, and of course, Executive Chef Wray Warner. We also depend heavily on our semi-full-timers: Kathy’s husband Jimmy Adelman leads Lost Lakes trips each summer; Kate Michaels was a housekeeper for several seasons and now Supervises Housekeeping; and Frances Kolisch creates fabulous flower arrangements for us each summer.
Next week we’ll introduce the new staff of our Creede Colorado Family Dude Ranch.

We can accommodate 50-60 guests for these events, so weddings at our Colorado Family Dude Ranch typically involve family and good friends. Guests partake in all the ranch activities – they go horseback riding, hike, fish Goose Creek, swim, and soak in the natural hot springs. They share meals and toast the couple repeatedly. When the weather has allowed, we have had some truly beautiful outdoor weddings here; on mountain meadows and down by the river.

We supply the wedding cake and the champagne, and happily make recommendations for with professionals for flowers, music, photography, etc.

If you’d like to host your wedding at our Colorado Vacation Ranch, please call 719-658-2202.

The “Adults Only” weeks at our Colorado Guest Ranch are open to all adults, whether you are parents of young children or grown children, or not a parent at all. This is a time for you to go for long trail rides in the Rocky Mountains. It is a time for you to linger by the pool with a Corona in your hand. It’s a time for long soaks in our natural hot springs, and late nights gazing at stars.

Adults Only Weeks: August 20 - 27, August 27 - September 3, 2011.

Please contact our Colorado Guest Ranch for more information.