It’s quiet here at this Colorado Dude Ranch during the off season. Those of us who live and work here year round are busy in the office, maintaining the ranch, and spending time with our families. This morning when we dropped the kids off at school in Creede we saw a beautiful red fox and a small herd of elk – nothing too unusual for these parts, but lovely all the same.

Owners Pete and Lindsey Leavell and Head Wrangler (and new papa) Damon Gibbons are away at the annual Dude Ranchers Association Convention, held this year in Tucson, Arizona. The Dude Ranchers Association, established in 1926, works to preserve the integrity of the Dude Ranch. In order to become a member, ranches must undergo a rigorous two year review; guests are guaranteed an outstanding experience, from the riding to the food and lodging. We expect they’ll learn lots about the industry as the Dude Ranchers Association celebrates 85 years of “Horses, Hats, History, and Hospitality”, and hopefully have a good time as well.

While Damon, Pete, and Lindsey are away, the rest of us are handling bookings and staffing the ranch for next season. We still have a few openings for the Quiller Workshop in June and the “Two for One” Special for Kids weeks in June and August, but they’re filling fast. It’s always an exciting moment when we realize we’re booked for the season – at that point, opening day of our Colorado Dude Ranch seems just around the corner.

Dreaming of summer at our Colorado Vacation Dude Ranch.