For the Best Week
of Your Year!

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Waunita Smoke Signals
(click pics for larger images)
Celebrating 41 Years of Ranching!

Looking Back at Summer 2002...

"For the Best Week of Your Year!"

Looking Forward to Summer 2003...

We must say that the 2002 summer season presented challenges never before experienced at the ranch. This mainly involved operating under a statewide "fire ban" for almost the entire season. But our staff and guests met the challenge with ingenuity and good humor. So we toasted marshmallows at the lodge barbeque pit after hayrides, cooked on propane stoves at the three forest cookout sites and even used a propane "campfire" at the Canyon Creek camp most of the summer. In spite of these little inconveniences, "a good time was had by all" while riding the trails, rafting the river, and joining in the numerous ranch activities.

NEW FLY FISHING AREA - New guest activities in 2002 included private fly fishing on about ten miles of Tomichi Creek as it meanders through the Cross Bar Ranch east of Waunita. We'll plan to take avid fishermen to that area again in 2003, as well as to other lakes and streams in our area.

NEW TRAILS - Several new riding trails were added in 2002. The Monday morning "get to know your horse" trail is now an open meadow northeast of the lodge. And the new trail up Stridiron Gulch on Wednesdays proved to be a definite favorite. We also began a program of two all-day rides on Fridays - the 7-hour ride to 12,300 ft. Stella Mountain and a 5-hour ride over 11,500 ft. Little Baldy, with shorter rides available near the ranch.

CHILDREN’S COUNSELOR - The addition of a Children’s Counselor in 2002 also proved to be "a winner." Christina Barbic, 2001 wrangler, returned to manage this program (Christina now manages a first-grade classroom in Lake George, Colorado). Hopefully, she will return to Waunita for the 2003 summer season. If not, we will search for that special person to head up this program.

Meet the 2002 Wranglers

The Ranch Family

As most guests know, "permanent fixtures" at the ranch are seven members of the Pringle family. Rod & Junelle, having turned over most of the ranch management to Ryan and Tammy several years ago, still help in many areas of ranch operation. After 41 years at Waunita, however, they also tend to "step back" and enjoy the various activities.

Ryan and Tammy, in addition to overseeing ranch program and staff, manage an active family. Randi (14) just completed a season on the Gunnison High School Freshman Volleyball team; Kolby (11) finished a season as Quarterback on the City League 6th grade Football team; and Dani (6) attends Kindergarten.

Long-time staff member Scott Nordberg moved to Gunnison in August, after accepting the Ag-teaching position at Gunnison High School. Tammys sister, Renee Brown and hubby David are now "on board." They moved to Waunita from Texas, where David ran a cattle ranch. David will work as Head Wrangler and care for stock at the lower ranch, while Renee will help out in the kitchen and with housekeeping. Son, Rankin (2), is a "budding cowboy."

Ryan & Dani	Kolby & Rod... cooking apple fritters
Rankin, David & Renee
Rod & Randi	Eric... always ready to take you fishin'

We are fortunate to have had with us for many years Eric Soerensen: chief maintenance man, mechanic, camp host, fishin’ guide, and story-teller. And as of November 4th, you can also call him "Grandpa."

Our Texas family, Rod S., Elisabeth, Josh (17), and Logan (15), continue to thrive on a array of work, church and school activities in Abilene, Texas. And the same goes for our Farmington, New Mexico family, Wes, Kari, Jessica (18), and Brody (16). Jessica is currently a freshman at New Mexico State University.

The Pringle family is truly blessed to he able to live at the ranch, where we may serve our guests while serving our Creator. And we pray that those who visit Waunita each year will find peace and renewal of spirit in this corner of the Rocky Mountains.

2002 Summer Stats

Guest numbers for the 2002 summer season show an increase in guests who had vacationed with us in past years (45% of all guests), as well as guests referred to us by their friends and family (34%). "Thank You, 'Old' Guests!" Most of the remaining 21% came as a result of our Internet presence.

Speaking of the Internet, in addition to our website (at waunita.com), we are linked to or represented by the Colorado Dude & Guest Ranch Assoc., The Dude Ranchers' Assoc., Guest Ranches of North America, Kilgore’s Ranchweb, Gordon’s Guide, Colorado Hotel & Lodging Assoc., and the Colorado State Vacation Guide. What a marvelous tool, this thing called the Internet and our ability to communicate far and wide, almost instantly.

2002 guests came to Waunita from 28 states. Germany and Japan. As in past years, more guests traveled to the ranch from Texas than any other state. Not far behind were the states of California, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, Kansas, and Tennessee.

Nice Fish!

Lots of Fun at the Barn

Will Dudley

Our good friend and entertaining musician, Will Dudley from Walsenburg. Colorado. was seriously injured in an auto accident last July while traveling to his usual Thursday/Friday Gunnison area dates. We are happy to report that after several weeks in a Denver hospital and months of rehab, Will is now able to perform on a limited basis. He will join us for more foot-stomping music next summer.

CDGRA & DRA

Cowgirls Ready to Ride

As mentioned in our statistics, we contact, a great. many of our guests through two dude ranch associations - The Colorado Dude & Guest Ranch Association and The Dude Ranchers' Association. We are very fortunate to be able to he a part of these first-rate organizations. Ryan will soon comnplete six years on the CDGRA Board of Directors, an honor and a privilege of service in this, a unique business.

Some of the wildfires last summer directly affected several of our fellow dude ranchers. We are indeed thankful that we escaped that threat. By late July, all Colorado dude ranches, except one, had reopened. That ranch reopened in early September. Ways of dealing with emergency situations, such as wildfires, was a hot topic (no pun intended) at our fall dude ranch association convention. Ironically, we met at the ranch most severely affected by the summer wildfires, a stirring experience indeed.

Spiritual Outdoor Adventures

Waunita Hot Springs Ranch will be featured in an episode of Spiritual Outdoor Adventures, a landmark outdoor program produced by Jimmy Sites of Nashville, TN. The 20+ episodes of outdoor - sporting adventures, along with a spiritual message, began airing on Nashville’s Channel 4 in early October. Nationwide coverage began on The Inspiration Network cable channel I-Life TV on 10/12. The episode about the ranch, entitled "Horseback in the High Country," was filmed at Waunita in late June and will air on The Inspiration Network 12/17/02. More information about these programs Is available at Sites’ website http://www.jimmysites.com.

Summer Retreat Week

We’re making plans to end the summer season with a five-day retreat, tentatively set for the week of 8/24. That week, in addition to normal daytime activities, an inspirational speaker will present a series of evening lessons.

New Cookbook

Our 1991 ranch cookbook has been revised and many new recipes added. It is "at the press," and we will be happy to send one to you. Click HERE to ORDER your copy today! The price is $12, postpaid. We expect delivery by late January.

Waunita Hot Springs Ranch - A Work in Progress

For 41 years we’ve been working to improve the ranch facilities and program. This fall we had the swimming pool resurfaced and replaced part of the line from the hot springs to the pool. New corral fencing was completed last summer and a speaker’s stand added to the arena (Now the timer on cattle- penning morning has a better view of the arena. It’s important to get those times right!) Landscaping and room(s) remodeling are on-going projects, as well as fine-tuning the summer program.

Waunita Winters

One might think that winters in the Colorado Rockies at 9,000 ft. are close to unbearable. Yes, it is cold at times and snow can present challenges. However, school kids and guests safely travel the eight miles to and from Highway 50 each day, thanks to excellent service by Gunnison County road maintenance personnel.

Winter ranch activities include taking care of groups for skiing, retreats and snowmnobiling. Winter prices are room and board only rates, so if you are thinking of a winter outing for your family or church group, let us hear from you. At select times, we are able to accommodate guests for Bed & Breakfast, as well as offer swimming for local families.

This year’s early November snows seem to herald the coming of a "snowy" winter. Should be plenty of snow for winter sports, as well as moisture for streams and pastures next summer.