Read on for a brief introduction to some of our staff. More to follow in a subsequent blog.

Fishing Guides

Les Vance – Head Guide – Les grew up in the country outside of Raleigh, NC, and moved to Creede to immerse himself in the outdoors after graduating from Appalachian State in 2007.  He is returning for his fourth season as a fishing guide here at the 4UR, and is excited to get back on the creek.  After spending the last three months fishing in New Zealand, he has a few new tricks up his sleeve for the Goose Creek trout.   

Drew Hoffman – Drew grew up in Appleton, WI, and has a degree in Biology from St. Olaf College. He’s returning for his 2^nd year as a fly fishing guide at 4UR Ranch. He spent this past winter in New Zealand, testing himself on the most technical trout in the world, and is excited for a new season at the ranch.   

A.J. Kemsley – A.J. grew up fishing the lakes and streams of Michigan. His true passion is fly fishing and on any given day, there is a good chance  he’ll be on the stream.  Whether chasing steelhead or sight fishing for carp in Traverse Bay, the need to wet a line is always strong in A.J.

Ben Sippola – Ben comes to 4UR after spending a season in Major League Soccer.  He was born and raised on the water in Southeastern Minnesota, and there is nothing he enjoys more than fly fishing and sharing his passion for flies, rods, and trout with others.

Damon and a few enthusiastic young riders.

Wranglers

Damon Gibbons (Head Wrangler) – Damon has been at 4ur since 2000. He runs the Natural Horsemanship Program and will help all riders–even novices–become comfortable in the saddle.

Katie Davis – Katie born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina, and has been riding since the age of 3. Living out west and working with horses and people has always been a dream of hers. Law school may be in her future, but this summer, she’ll be at 4UR living the dream.

Madison Hester – Madi is from a small town in northern Illinois.  She grew up trail riding and competing in barrels and other speed events.  Look for her running with her workout partner Dexter, a sweet Rottweiler-Boxer mix.   

Shelley Wynn – Shelley is from Charlotte, NC.  She recently graduated from the University of South Carolina, where she was a competitive equestrian for all four years.  She loves to teach! 

Our wranglers and fishing guides look forward to helping your stay at 4UR Family Guest Ranch be both fun and rewarding. 

One important task is to determine how to spend vacations. Will you go to Disney, Legoland, or one of those giant water parks? Will you go camping or head to a great city? There is no wrong answer. Diverse experiences are what make up a life.

Yet if you’re looking to start a family tradition, you may want to choose a destination that instills certain values. Appreciation for nature, for one, and respect for it. A place that fosters both Independence and togetherness. The kind of place you’ll want to visit again and again, year after year.

Generations of families have spent their summer vacations at 4UR Colorado Family Guest Ranch. Generations of children have experienced the joy of learning to ride a horse or catch a fish with a fly. They’ve spent summer days discovering that they can do things they never dreamed they could do. They’ve explored the Southern Rockies and learned about themselves.

Watching the next generation.

We have guests at 4UR Family Dude Ranch who came here as children and now come here with their own children. Now that’s a family tradition worth creating.

Kids at 4UR.

During most of the season, it’s true, we are a Family Vacation Ranch. Children love to come here and go horseback riding, swimming, and hiking. They enjoy art and craft programs, nature explorations, and cookouts. While here, kids have lots of time to explore and spend time with other children (in both structured and unstructured activities), and lots of time to explore and spend time with their parents.

Kids at 4UR.

We still have space available during our TWO FOR ONE KID’S SPECIAL, June 9-16, 2012. If you bring two children aged 9 and under to our Family Dude Ranch that week, you’ll only pay for one of them.

Of course, some folks like to vacation without children. These are parents who need a break, parents whose kids are grown, and folks who aren’t parents at all. They enjoy sitting by the pool with a Corona in hand, without danger of being splashed by frolicking children. They like to linger over dinner and conversation, without worrying about getting the kids to bed.

Adults only at 4UR.

If that sounds like you, please consider our ADULTS-ONLY WEEKS, August 18-25 and August 25-September 1, 2012. We still have a couple of spaces available.

Just for adults.

Our Colorado Guest Ranch is a great place for families and a wonderful place for adults. Horseback riding, fly-fishing, and delicious food are appreciated by everyone, no matter your age.

Hot coffee, whenever you want it.

People come to our Colorado Family Guest Ranch so they can connect with the great outdoors. They come to hike the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. They come to ride horses and stand in the cool, clear waters of Goose Creek, fishing rod in hand. They come for the fresh air and the astounding beauty of the place.

All this could be had in the backcountry. The same people who come to 4UR could, instead, don backpacks spend a week camping. In fact, we know some do, at other times.

The beauty of 4UR is that our guests have an all-inclusive vacation. They get the great outdoors, the horseback riding, the hiking, the fishing, but they also get luxurious services.

What’s included in an all-inclusive Colorado Guest Ranch Vacation at 4UR?

• Three gourmet meals a day (including non-alcoholic beverages), picnic baskets when you like, coffee and tea delivered to your room in the morning, ice delivered to your room in the afternoon. We will make you a cake to celebrate a special occasion, and we’ll do our best to accommodate special dietary needs.

• Daily maid service, nightly turndown service, laundry facilities, free Wi-Fi, use of computer, and transportation to and from Alamosa Airport.

• Horseback riding and natural horsemanship lessons, private fly-fishing, and sporting clays and trap shooting.

• Guests may use the pool, the natural hot springs, the fitness center, and bicycles.

• Supervised daily children’s programs are open to all children.

In addition, we offer massages, guided fishing, and wine and alcoholic beverages. These are not included in the base rate.

A vacation at 4UR is the softer side of roughing it, to be sure. It’s wonderful.

The new spa at our Creede, Colorado, Family Guest Ranch is taking shape.

Imagine a spacious work out area with gleaming new equipment and space for stretching. We are hoping to add yoga classes this summer, so any guests who are devoted yogis will be able to continue their practice. Changing areas are being enlarged, as well. In short, the whole area is getting a little more elbow room.

We’re also expanding the massage room, which will enable us to offer more massage appointments. That is sure to be appreciated by our guests, some of whom get a tad sore from lengthy trail rides and hours casting flies on Goose Creek.

Outside, the new deck area will have an outdoor fireplace to warm us on chilly evenings, and a covered area for outdoor eating on drizzly days. Comfy new pool furniture and luxurious towels will round out the “new” spa in Creede.

We hope all of our guests are as excited to see the new spa as we are!

Have the experience of a lifetime. Work at 4UR.

We always have a handful of returning staff (it could be the atmosphere that entices them to return, or it could be the food). Some folks are interested in the same job they had last season; for example, wranglers often return as wranglers. Other folks return to a different job; a housekeeper might be a Kids’ Counselor the following year.

It can be non-stop at our Colorado Family Dude Ranch in the height of the season. Our staff need to be hard workers with a good attitude. But just as we work hard, we play hard. Staff take advantage of free time to hike, fish, ride, and more.

We’re told by our staff that working here allows them to meet many interesting people they would not otherwise have met, both staff and guests. They make long-lasting friendships. They try new things. And more than one staff member has met their future spouse here!

If you’re interested in working at 4UR this summer, contact us soon.

Spend a week at 4UR, and let your dreams come true.

That’s what you’ll find at our Colorado Vacation Ranch. Our fishing waters include miles of private tailwater trout streams (Goose Creek), the Rio Grande River, wilderness lakes and trophy ponds. You can stand in different water every day, surrounded by the incomparable beauty of the Southern Colorado Rockies. For many an angler, a week spent at 4UR is a dream come true.

Our fishing guides are patient and extremely knowledgeable. They’ll help you as much as you like. Novices, rusty anglers, and children may start with casting lessons on the lawn; you may spend one or several mornings or afternoons with a guide on your own stretch of water. If you know what you’re doing and crave solitude, they’ll get you started and leave you be.

Most of the fish in our waters wild. They were born in these waters. You’ll find rainbow, cutthroat, browns, cutbows, and brook trout. Guests frequently catch 16 to 18 inch fish–a satisfying experiencing indeed.

Some of us are passionate about our work. Some of us are passionate about the arts. Some of us are passionate about fly fishing. We spend the winter months tying flies, remembering the best moments of last season, and anticipating great moments to come. If this describes you, contact our Colorado Vacation Ranch soon.

Give them a gift they'll always remember and appreciate.

As parents, we want our children to be happy. We want to watch them open presents and smile and laugh. Their unbounded enthusiasm adds a wonderful spark to the holiday season.

At the same time, many of us don’t want to simply give our children every little thing they want. We understand that many of those toys won’t have staying power–they’ll be played with once or twice, and then end up disappearing under the bed or in the back of the closet.

We want to give them something they’ll really appreciate. Something that will impact their lives. We want them to have a gift they’ll remember for years to come.

Consider giving them a week at our Colorado Family Dude Ranch.

We’re offering a Two For One Kids Special again this year. One child stays for free with one paid child (for children 9 and under). That’s the kind of bargain some folks fight for at the Walmart. You won’t have to shield yourself from Bear Spray or Mace–you just need to give us a call.

A week at our Colorado Family Guest Ranch will involve horseback riding and hiking in the Rockies, swimming, and fly fishing on Goose Creek. It will be one adventure after another, with plenty of good food and many new friends. Your children will never forget it. Now that’s a present worth giving.

Your children will have to wait until summer, of course. But patience is a virtue and worth cultivating, right? Our Two For One Kids Special Weeks are June 9-16 and August 11-18, 2012. August is nearly full, but there is still plenty of room in June.

Please contact our Colorado Dude Ranch for more information about the Two For One Kids Special.

• For the angler in your life, give some time at our Fly Fishing Vacation Ranch.

• For the equestrian in your life, give some time at our Family Dude Ranch.

• For the children in your life, give an unforgettable experience replete with horseback riding, fishing, swimming, and unparalleled outdoor fun.

• For the grandparents in your life, give a Colorado Family Ranch Vacation – it’s the perfect family reunion.
  

  For someone in your life, this is a dream come true.

Don’t battle it out at the mall this year. Do your holiday shopping with us.

1. Chef Wray Warner and his staff will cook for you in glorious outdoor settings.

Food tastes best when consumed in a beautiful setting.

2. Your children will be deliriously happy.

Deliriously happy children? Check.

3. You can fly fish on your own stretch of water.

Fly fishing on Goose Creek.

4. You can ride horses in the Colorado Rockies.

Simply spectacular.

5. You’ll have a memorable family vacation.

An unforgettable family vacation.