Waunita Hot Spring Ranch - Gunnison, Colorado


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For the Best Week
of Your Year!

The Pringle Family
8007 County Rd. 887
Gunnison, CO 81230
970-641-1266
Contact RANCH Now

Waunita Smoke Signals
(click pics for larger images)
The Ranch Newsletter - November 2000

Have you ever ridden to Stella Mountain to gaze in awe at the Continental Divide? Those who have will tell you it is a breathtaking experience.

FAMILY CORNER

The Pringle family continues to flourish - Rod S., Elisabeth, Josh (15) and Logan (13) in Abilene, Texas, where Rod works for UPS and Elisabeth teaches at Taylor Elementary School. Rod is a prolific writer of contemporary Christian music, thereby blessing all who hear his tapes and CD's.

Wes, Kari, Jessica (16) and Brody (14) live some five hours from the ranch in Farmington, New Mexico. We see them often. Wes teaches at Piedra Vista High School and Kari teaches at Heights Middle School.

Ryan, Tammy, Randi Reneé (12), Kolby (9) and Dani Shea (4), are the "keepers of the store," very capably managing the ranch.

Rod & Junelle continue to do their part to keep the ranch running smoothly, while taking time to get away occasionally and enjoy this great land USA.

Our "other ranch family," Scott and Mary Nordberg, added to their family this August, celebrating the birth of Rylee Joy. She joins brothers, Casey (6) and Cary (3).

Year-round staff member, Eric Soerensen, keeps everything mechanical at the ranch 'up and running,' as well as hosting the fisherman during the summer. Full-time housekeeper, Marian Johnson, recently retired, returning to live near family in Wisconsin. Our list of marriages among staff members grew by one when Lisa Jackson, office assistant, married Charlie Ward, a 1999 wrangler in May.

Sadly, our beloved Vera Satterfield, who lived at the ranch from 1967 to 1997, passed away last February in Grand Junction. She faithfully helped us throughout many years of growth and change, serving as cook, housekeeper, surrogate grandmother and friend. Vera's memory has a special place in our hearts and in the hearts of countless guests.

FROM THE HISTORY BOOK

Pre-1868	Ute Indians spent summer/fall months at Waunita.
1869	Col. Roberts S. Moore settled at Waunita, constructing a few crude buildings.
1883	Name changed from Tomichi Hot Springs to Waunita Hot Springs.
1892	Dr. George G. Davis acquired full interest in Waunita.
1897-98	Three-story, 50-guest room hotel built, opening 7/4/98.
1898	3Ox3O swimming pool built.
1899	Dr. Davis acquired adjoining land-total 960 acres.
1900	Ten additional cottages built-total 16.
1901	Three-story Sanitarium built.
1910	Fire destroyed hotel and one cabin in September.
1915-17	Hotel rebuilt.
1921	Waunita Club House built (now Hillside Lodge).
1925	Major improvements made to swimming pool.
1928	Dr. Davis died in Willmette, Illinois, at age 79.
1934-38	Morris Lyles & Caroline Davis Lyles managed springs.
1938-45	Waunita leased to Bob Parlin, local rancher & timberman.
1946	Leased to James Partch family, to be used as Bible Camp.
1947	Carrie Mae Davis deeded Waunita to daughter Caroline , preceding her death in January. Caroline and second husband, Frank Buckley, took over management, canceling Partch's lease.
1950	14 cabins moved to Whitepine and other Gunnison County locations.
1952	After experiencing financial difficulties and a 2-year court battle over their liquor license, Buckleys sold to 3 Gunnison businessmen. Minimal or no operation for five years.
1957	Waunita sold to Carl & Janet Bolin, opening as Monarch Baseball Camp.
1961	Bolins sold all but 80 acres to local ranchers and to Valley Stream Corp.
1962	Rod & Junelle Pringle purchase Bohn's remaining 80 acres and buildings.
1966	Accepted into Colorado Dude & Guest Ranch Association.
1972	Swimming pool rebuilt.
1982	Log barn built.
1983	Accepted into The Dude Ranchers Association.
1986	40 acres north of resort added to Waunita property.
1994	Hot Springs Creek Ranch added to Waunita property-787 acres.
1995	55 acres west of springs added to Waunita property.
1996	120 acres added to Hot Springs Creek Ranch.
1998	Conservation easement placed on Hot Springs Creek Ranch. Ternahan mine purchased.
1999	Shop and kitchen addition built.
2000	80-acre Greathouse Gulch pasture added to property.
2001-?	The best is yet to come.

LOOKING BACK TO SUMMER 2000

We hosted guests from 32 states and 4 other countries between May 28 and September 30. A "full house" was on hand, except for a couple of weeks. Great Summer - Great Fun.

How blessed we are to be able to live this lifestyle, sharing our home and God's glorious mountain creation with others.

Returning Guests	42%
Referred by previous Guests	28%
From 2 Dude Ranch Associations (mostly thru the Internet)	21%
All other sources	9%

LOOKING FORWARD TO SUMMER 2001

With reservations for the 2001 summer season already beginning to fill up some of the pages in our reservation book, it looks like 2001 will be another banner year. Call or email soon to reserve your space.

WAUNITA GUESTS TRAVEL TO THE RANCH EACH YEAR FROM

Coast to Coast and from Border to Border. States represented by the most guests in 2000 were: Texas, California, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Ohio, Florida, Missouri and Oklahoma.

With guests coming from widely scattered locations, we are sometimes presented with scheduling challenges. East Coast guests tend to rise early and West Coast guests tend to stay up late. Guests quickly learn that meals are served on Mountain Time, making the cookie jar and fruit bowl a popular stopping place for those "not quite in sync" with our schedule. We added a guest 'frig' in the dining room this year available to raid anytime for milk, punch, juice or leftover desserts - another popular stopping place.

2000 STAFF MEMBERS

Came from Oklahoma North Carolina, Illinois, Georgia, Wisconsin, Colorado, California and New Mexico. Our New Mexico member just happened to be our oldest grandchild, Jessica. Texas family members, Elisabeth, Josh and Logan also spent time helping out at the ranch.

Housekeeping/Kitchen Staff 2000	Year 2000 Wranglers
Maintenance Staff 2000

CDGRA CONNECTION

Our 34-year membership in the Colorado Dude & Guest Ranch Association has provided the ranch with many benefits - not only national media exposure, but also sources of expertise unique to our business. We also enjoy the camaraderie of other dude ranchers. We credit this association with helping us to get started in the dude ranch business. So we have tried to "give back" by Rod's, and now Ryan's serving on the Board of Directors. This December at CDGRA's fall convention in Santa Barbara, California, Ryan is scheduled to be installed as President. This is a special honor, as well as the culmination of countless hours of volunteered service.

THE WAUNITA HOT SPRINGS RANCH
VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT

Is now equipped with a 1961 International Pumper Fire Truck, complete with ladders and a siren. Although we hope it will never be needed for a ranch emergency, it is available--just in case. This summer the fire truck was put into action occasionally extinguishing the Wednesday night hayride marshmallow fire. Somewhat "overkill," but a delightful addition to the evening

FOR THE LOVE OF BISCUITS

"What do you want for Christmas,"
it seems I'm asked each year.
Of course, my first reaction says,
I would like my family near.

But, what about a wrapped up gift,
something to hold in hand.
What material treasure would I choose
with the world at my command?

One knows, I've got all that I need.
What else could I ask for?
I don't claim to be a rich man, but
I've got needs and toys and more.

Tack? I've got a room full.
Though a bunch could use repairs.
You could get me a roll of bailing twine
to patch the rips and tears.

Oh, I guess I could use more horses,
But not this time of year!
Talk to me again come Father's Day
when the grass is up to here.

I've already got a new pair of Wranglers
and a dress up shirt or two.
Maybe by summer they'll be work clothes,
but for now they oughta do.

I've got boots for ridin', boots for dancin',
and boots for snow days too.
I might could use some polish and a
brush, to scrape off all the dew.

For goodness sake, don't buy me no tie.
I've got no use for it.
If I want to hang, I've got a good rope
on the saddle that I sit.

And, I've got a new coat tied to that
saddle and an old one in the truck.
There's a shovel, jack, and bailing wire
if I break down or get stuck.

I've still got part of a bottle of scotch from a
Christmas that was colder.
It ought to be worth a lot more now.
It's at least four years older.

Yes, winter is coming. It's gotten colder.
Something warm might be alright.
Ya know, I'm thinkin' there is somethin' now that
could make my heart delight.

Something to remind of summer,
early mornings and a warming sun,
a campfire with hot coffee on a breakfast ride,
comraderie, food and fun.

The warmth of friendship from ol' pards
who wrangle mounts or cook.
The warming smiles of guests happy with
the vacation they've partook.

And oh! Those Waunita Hot Spring biscuits,
a gift sent from above.
Built and baked from the best of ingredients,
including care and love.

A love for this mountain country and a love
for this way of living.
A lifestyle where you seem to get much
more than you are giving.

How I'd love a plate of those biscuits,
smothered in gravy or with honey.
At Christmas they'd be worth more to me
than a pick-up full of money.

Then let the winter rage on outside,
get windy, snow-packed and chilly.
I'd share those treats with family and friends
and warm more than my belly

By John Nelson, Christmas 2000 - Gunnison, Colorado

(John, local guide & outfitter has recited cowboy poetry at breakfast rides over the past four years.)

TRAVELLING TO THE RANCH BY AIR?

We recommend you contact an agency working with dude ranches. In the past they have secured very competitive rates into Gunnison and other Colorado cities. You may contact them at: 800-729-5521. Code 0914 or 0906 assures you of the best rate.

NEWS FLASH!

Contact RANCH Now

You may also reach us at our website at www.waunita.com

Or you may use that old dependable telephone at 970-641-1266 or 888-232-9337

See our previous Ranch Newsletter - November 1999