Waunita Smoke Signals

SUMMER 1998

Another great summer... with lots of riding, 4x4 trips, rafting, cookouts, cowboy poetry, overnights, swimming, music and more! Plus we ate huge abounds of great food! Sharing our home with folks from throughout the U.S. and several foreign countries is a joy and a challenge. With the help of a super staff, all went well... and we're ready to "try it again" next year for season Number 37!

Summer 1998 was our first season to operate on a six-day week, ending the week's program around noon after the Saturday brunch ride. We feel this change is a definite plus, providing us with more time each week to get ready for Sunday arrivals, as well as providing guests with more travel time.

For summer '99, there's more enjoyable rides and activities planned ... and a continued commitment to provide guests with a first-class program, accommodations and food! We truly believe we are fulfilling a valuable and muchly-needed service to folks who come our way. Waunita is where you may come to relax, recreate (both body and soul), and enjoy a corner of the Great American West.

SPECIAL SEPTEMBER RIDES

The weeks of September 19 and September 26 we plan special six-day packages for a limited number of guests (16 guests, 16 yrs. & older) to ride with us into the aspen parks near Waunita, where we should be able to hear the unforgettable bugle of bull elk as they challenge each other for herd domination. Most rides will take place during the early morning and late evening hours.

Guests must be average to good riders and should be prepared for adverse weather conditions. Regular September rates apply ... and we'll offer the six-day, all-inclusive package only. We're excited about initiating this exceptional riding package!

VERA AND THE TERNAHAN MINE ...

As many of you know, Vera Satterfield, now 86, came to the Waunita area in the 1930's as an employee/one-of-the-family with the Jim Ternahan family. Most of the time between the 30's and 1967 when Vera came to live with us, she lived at the Ternahan mine, a gold mine about five miles north and a thousand feet up from Waunita.

When Jim, Sr. passed away in the 60's he willed Vera an interest in the mine. The remaining interest went to his only son, Jim, Jr. We always referred to the mine as "Vera's mine," and in 1997 received permission to take guests there. Over the years the mine buildings have fallen into disrepair but it was fun to show guests a true early 1900's mining camp.

This past winter, while spending the off-season with Jim & Laura Ternahan, Vera developed health problems. After receiving a pacemaker and spending a few days in the hospital, she returned to Jim & Laura's home in Grand Junction. At this point she is improved but weak and very frail. We have missed her this year, but talk with her occasionally and visit when we can.

Also during the winter Jim Ternahan and Vera made the decision to sell the mine ... to us! So the deal was made and Waunita Hot Springs Ranch has now expanded to own the Eureka Nugget Lode mining claims No. 1& 2. This fall we put together a group of volunteers to work on some of the mine buildings, primarily trying to save the old bunkhouse. There's still lots of work to be done to restore the mine property to its original state, but we are excited about this project and excited about sharing this "piece of history" with guests.

SUMMER 1998 STATISTICS

Last summer's guest numbers went like this: 40% were repeat guests and 25% were referred to us by previous guests. The 35% "brand-new" guest numbers were: 16% came to us thru the Internet (some via dude ranch associations); 10% directly thru the Colorado Dude & Guest Ranch Association; 5% thru Old West Dude Ranch Vacations; and the remaining 4% thru The Dude Ranchers Association, Eugene Kilgore's Ranch Vacation Directory, travel agents, and AAA.

1998 Summer guests made the journey to Colorado from 32 states and 4 foreign countries. Texas guests "led the pack," followed by Oklahoma, Illinois, Tennessee, Florida, Ohio and Alabama.

We have several families with ten-year-plus continuous visits. On the other hand one family, the Lightseys from Houston, Texas, last visited the ranch in 1968, 30 years ago! We continue to "gather- up" a host of friends from throughout the United States and several countries. For this we are humbled and grateful.

WAUNITA THIS WINTER

As has been our policy for several years, between December and April we cater to groups of 15 to 60 for two nights or more. We mainly take church groups for skiing at Monarch Pass or Crested Butte, along with weekend retreats and snowmobile clubs. Just give us a call, and we'll be happy to work out a stay for your group. We provide rooms and meals only, along with that magnificent warm swimming pool.

It is a fact of life that open space, wherever it may be, is being "gobbled up" by development and homesites. Although Gunnison County appears to have an abundance of open space, in recent years there has been growing concern that in the future there will be few ranches and a minimum of open space. A related issue has been that as cattle prices have slumped, ranchers have seen few alternatives but to sell to developers. Thus the idea of conservation easements on ranch and farm land was born, whereby ranchers may be compensated for placing non-development covenants on their property.

Some two and a half years ago, we began a process to place a conservation easement on our hay/cattle ranch, five miles below Waunita. The "crawl" thru a maze of paperwork, dealing with a number of government and private agencies (with the invaluable assistance of Susan Lohr of the Gunnison Ranchland Conservation Project) ended on June 23, 1998, when we signed a Deed of Conservation Easement on 872 acres of Hot Springs Creek Ranch. The 17-page document specifies that The Nature Conservancy will administer the easement, thus preserving this land for agricultural purposes, for wildlife (including a rare species of sage grouse), as well as open space. We are very blessed to have had this opportunity.

About CDGRA & DRA

COLORADO DUDE & GUEST RANCH ASSOCIATION is an organization in which we've been members for some 30 years and active some 20 years. This association has provided us with national exposure, helped us - develop a first-class ranch program, as well as providing us with discounts, information and camaraderie with fellow dude ranchers.

Ryan is completing his second year as a Director on the Board of CDGRA. Junelle is serving as co-Historian of CDGRA, at the time busy collecting dude ranch memorabilia. Anyone have dude ranch brochures from the past you would like to share?

CDGRA is associated with a travel service able to help guests secure reasonable air, train and car rental rates. Our guests who have used this service, for the most part, have been very pleased. So if you're travelling this direction, you might give them a call at 1-800-729-5521, referring to Code #0914.

THE DUDE RANCHERS ASSOCIATION is an organization which includes dude ranches in all of the West. Although we haven't been as active in this organization, it has also provided us with national advertising and valuable information.

FALL BUILDING

Even after 36 1/2 year at Waunita, we continue to build and improve the ranch. In recent years work has been focused on guest accommodations. This year we are building to improve our work efficiency, currently adding to the dining room/kitchen area. This addition will house a laundry, walk-in cooler, walk-in freezer, and large storage area. We have also contracted to have a metal shop-repair facility built just east of the old staff cabin. After that is built, the old shed in the back will be turned into a parking area.

ABOUT RECIPES AND MINI-COOKBOOKS

After a year of promises, and on-again/off-again effort, we do have a cookbook supplement "in the works." These are recipes we've "discovered" since publishing our ranch cookbook some eight years ago. The supplement is a freebie, just for the asking. You may email us, give us a call, or drop us a line and we'll send it out after January 1st. We've tried to keep a list of those who have expressed an interest in receiving the supplement, but may have missed a few names, so just to be sure, you might remind us.

PRINGLE FAMILY FALL '98 UPDATE

Rod & Junelle ... Living at the ranch, helping Ryan and Tammy with whatever needs to be done.

Ryan & Tammy ... Living at the ranch and managing it. Ryan is in charge of its overall operation; Tammy is in charge of the house and the kitchen. Their children, Randi Renee (10), Kolby (7), and Dani Shea (2) thrive on ranch life.

Wes & Kari ... Living in Farmington, New Mexico. Wes & Kari Heights Jr. High and both their children, Jessica (14) and Brody (12), attend classes there. They are leading busy, productive lives.

Rod S. & Elisabeth ... Living in Abilene, Texas. Rod works for United Parcel Service and Elisabeth teaches kindergarten half-time. Their sons, Joshua (13) and Logan (11) stay busy with school, music and sports. Rod continues to write and perform contemporary Christian music. He now has two recordings available on tape and CD, The Race and The Flame ... great, inspirational music! You may order tapes ($8.00) or CD's ($12.00) plus $2 postage either from us or directly from him at 833 Kenwood, Abilene, Texas 79601. His Contact RANCH Now address is rodsong@worldnet.att.net.

Our Extended Family ... Scott & Mary Nordberg continue to live at the cattle ranch with their two pre-schoolers, Casey (4) and Carey (1). Scott manages the cattle/horse ranch, while working as head wrangler during the summer. Eric Soerensen lives at Waunita, helping us with year-round maintenance. And this winter Marian Johnson is living with us, helping with housekeeping and kitchen duties.

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