Last fall we commissioned this oil painting of a Waunita Morning in, say, the 1700's. It was created by artist Turning Bear Mason of Plains, MT, and now hangs in the dining room. Artist proofs and limited edition prints are available.

As we ease into the quieter fall season and look back at the 1999 summer season, we realize it went way too fast. It was, however, filled with frisky rides to fabulous scenery, flavorful food, fine fishing, fresh flowers, foto-ops galore, a friendly staff, frosty mornings, family fun, fair weather (in between frequent showers), forest cookouts, fortissimo music, first-class poetry, frequent 4x4 trips, some forty-five fine folks weekly from faraway places - a forerunner of more fun-filled times, and forever in our memories as one of the best summers ever!

Our family continues to grow - not in numbers, mind you, but physically and spiritually. We are thankful to have Ryan, Tammy and their family, Randi Renee' (11), Kolby (8) and Dani Shea (3) at the ranch full-time. As Rod & Junelle have "stepped back" over the years, Ryan & Tammy have "stepped into the gap" to see that the house, kitchen, barn and program run smoothly. Ryan cur­rently serves as an officer in several organizations... the Colorado Dude & Guest Ranch Association, the Gunnison Chapter of the Colorado Outfitters Association and the Gunnison Citizens Wildlife Association. He also teaches a teenage Bible Class.

Wes and Kari Pringle enjoy "life at the edge of the desert" in Farmington, New Mexico. Wes "moved up" from teaching science at Heights Jr. High to teaching chem­istry and science at Sierra Vista High School. SV is a new school built in a picturesque area of Farmington. Kari remains at Heights Jr. High, teaching children with special needs. Church activities and sports keep them all busy. Children, Jessica (15) and Brody (13) are making plans to help out at the ranch next summer.

Rod S. and Elisabeth Pringle, along with sons Josh (14) and Logan (12) continue to live productive, busy lives in Abilene, Texas. UPS, kinder­garten at Taylor Elementary, church, sports and music dominate their lives. We are blessed to have them spend time with us each summer. And summer 2000 will find them spending two weeks on a mission trip to Brazil.

Those who know us know we always have an Extended Family... folks who help us year-round. Scott Norberg capably operates the cattle ranch. Wife, Mary is now teaching full-time at Gunnison High School. Would you believe Agriculture and Welding are her subjects? Sons, Casey (5) and Carey (2) are typical little boys.. Eric Soerensen occupies the older staff cabin, helping wher­ever needed in the off-season. Marian Johnson begins her second fall/winter with us, as full-time housekeeper... an employee from past years joined us last winter. Lisa Jackson now lives at Waunita, working in our office part-time, while working full-time at Shondeck Financial Services in Gunnison.

Western music has been a big part of our lives since Ryan, Wes and Roddy were young. They not only played for guests during the sum­mer, but also played at a pizza restaurant while at Abilene Christian University. During those college years the Pringle sons, along with Wes's wife, Kari, recorded an album of Roddy's Western songs. (We still have a few of those albums, if any of you still have phonographs.) Several years later, the "Pringle Band," (at the time made up of Wes, Kari, Ryan, Tammy & Scott Norberg) recorded a cassette tape of Western music.

In recent years Roddy and Elisabeth have recorded two CD's of his Contemporary Christian music. And last spring, along with several members of the church they attend, they wrote and produced a children's musical, entitled "Tell All The World." It relates the message of the Bible in story and song. We journeyed to Abilene for the per­formance of this musical by 50 first-thru-sixth-graders. At the completion of the performance, we joined with a thousand other folks in a standing ovation. They hope to market this "package" to churches interested in children's material.

This past summer, Ryan, Wes, Roddy, Tammy and Elisabeth began to pro­duce another "Pringles" recording. They have taped three of Roddy's recent songs (one a new song about the ranch) and a plan to add to the "mix," as time and available music allow.

This September we offered two weeks of special fall rides. These featured the fall colors and elk bugling. The colors were magnificent and when we heard the elk bugle, it was exciting. We plan to promote these special rides again next year... as adult-only weeks - specifically, the weeks of September 17 & 24. Guest numbers will be limited during those weeks. We found this year that we could offer some unique activities with fewer guests - such as "dinner-at-the­mine," short cattle drives and 4x4 trips to other parts of the Gunnison Country.

The new shop/repair/storage facility was completed in the spring. It is heated with hot-spring water piped through the concrete flooring. 'Twill be nice for Eric to have a warm place to work on vehicles this winter. The new kitchen/laundry addition is finished, except for siding. This project has certainly made life much easier and more efficient for the kitchen staff.

One last major building project has begun... a home "half-way up the hill" just west of the Main Lodge for Ryan, Tammy and family. We hope that it will be "closed-in" by winter, so that work can continue during our slower season. Plans are to have it completed by next summer. Their apartment will then be turned into staff housing, relieving the crowding in other staff areas.

There's always something new at the ranch - new rides, new foods, new paint, new bedspreads, new music, etc. However, much of what we have done in the past will remain. The old adage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" seems to apply here. So you can plan on scenic rides on trustworthy horses, 4x4 trips to out-of-the-way places, meals to delight and fill, fun-filled rafting, starry nights, comfortable beds in clean & cheerful rooms, a soothing warm pool & spa, music aplenty on Friday nights, a staff eager to serve... all adding up to...

While the summer dude ranch season is a special time at the ranch, we also enjoy the slower pace and beauty of the winter season. Ski groups and retreats keep our "calendar" filled and the winter staff hopping. There's still some spaces to be filled, however, so if you have a winter group of 15 or more needing "room & board" for two nights or more, give us a call. After a mild, not- too-much-snow season last winter, we're anticipating a "frostier" one this year!

We have been blessed for a number of years to have talented Cowboy poets "in our midst." John Nelson, local guide and outfitter, has entertained guests with poetry in recent years. Following is one of our favorites "from his pen" last summer:

Numbers from the 1999 summer season were almost identical to the 1998 numbers - with one exception. The Internet is becoming a major factor, as folks from all-over log-on to our website (waunita.com) thru several different sources. Specifically, 38% of our sum­mer guests had visited Waunita in the past, 22% were referred to us by former guests, 21% indicated they found us on the Internet, 5% came to us directly thru the Colorado Dude & Guest Ranch Association, 4% came from our connection with Old West Dude Ranch Vacations; and 10% came thru various other listings... Guests journeyed to Waunita from 33 states and 3 other countries. Our exceptional '99 staff came from Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Do you need... more brochures, information sent to a friend, a recipe book or supplement, to make a reservation, or just want to chat? We're as close as your phone or your Internet provider.

See our previous Ranch Newsletter - November 1998