Every wrangler brings a unique story to the saddle. KP, our Director of Horse Operations, shares his special connection to the centuries-old Paniolo tradition of Hawai‘i – a heritage defined by patience, respect, and deep partnership with the horse. His roots run through the red dirt of the islands and the open ranges of the…
Imagine an afternoon full of laughter, smiles, and a little bit of family-fun chaos. A snapshot in time where parents are nothing but proud of their child’s achievements, confidence and courage for trying something new. The Kids’ Rodeo is an experience that every kid should have the opportunity to experience. Why? Well, it first brings…
There’s creativity that thrives in places with wide-open spaces. Locations that open you up for reflection, where inspiration just flows freely. That’s why we launched our Artist in Residence program—a unique opportunity to welcome artists to Vista Verde Ranch for a season, inviting them to create art. Our very first resident artist, Georgiana “Georgi” Stern,…
This recipe is named after Kelli, our fearless mountain biking and hiking guide. She loves these little snacks and doesn’t ever head out on the trail without them. Before you go out to conquer your next adventure, be sure to take the time to make these little power-packed energy balls. They’re delicious and provide the…
Peanut butter cookies (gluten free): (makes about 45 cookies) Ingredients: 3 pounds peanut butter 2 pounds, 10 ounces granulated sugar 6 eggs Procedure: Cream together the sugar and peanut butter until smooth. Add the eggs and combine until incorporated, do not over-mix. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Using an ice cream…
When it’s not quite still winter, and not quite yet summer here in Steamboat Springs, we don’t refer to it as Spring but call it by another name. Mud Season. Most years, it’s just an affectionate term that we all use as we slop through the melting snow and ensuing mud underneath, trying to be…
I tend to break to news to people that I am attending a dude ranch convention with a little bit of a chuckle. It’s not that it’s a joke- we really have these 2 times a year! But it’s watching people’s reaction that makes me laugh. A what? Like, a bunch of dude ranchers sitting…
I have had the pleasure of serving on the board of the Colorado Dude and Guest Ranch Association for the past 7 years. One of the parts of that job that is really fun is inspecting other ranches. Each member ranch is inspected every 3 years and then any ranches that want to join get…
The past year has been a bit of a challenge for the ranch and our draft horse teams. Sadly, we lost Zig during the summer of 2009. Zig was part of our Percheron team, and his buddy Zag was left with an empty harness next to him after Zig passed. With draft horse teams, it…
I just got some great photos from a wedding of former staff members, and it got me thinking. There are so many couples who met at Vista Verde as staff, who have now turned into wonderful marriages. What is it about this place? Between romantic honeymoon vacations, surprise engagement getaways and couples rekindling the…
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