By Steph
Ok, so it’s not quite like Dirty Dancing, but there is something about getting a bunch of single 20-somethings together in a tight-knit community, surrounded by nature’s beauty, and wrapped up in outdoor adventure. Romance happens. We (the old married types) guide our staff through this potential every season– warning them of the risks of a ranch relationship, helping them think realistically about the potential outcomes, and demanding that if it happens it is done respectfully and carefully, with the larger ranch community taking precedence over a summer fling. With all those warnings, love is still in the air. And, there are some pretty wonderful couples who have come out of Vista Verde. I’ve lost track over the years of marriages that stemmed from the ranch, but I can say that this year seems to be a gang buster year for dude ranch romances.
The year began with the January nuptials of Jamie and Rob (Gov). Then, the summer kicked off with Cori and Dan tying the knot in early June. And, later on in the fall, Sally and Rob (Stewy) will be going to the chapel. Kerri and Phil are settling into life as an engaged couple, and they have plans for their wedding next spring. Over the winter Jason proposed to Lauren on a surprise visit back at the ranch, and they’ll be heading down the aisle sometime in the autumn of 2016. Not bad for a little ranch out in Steamboat Springs?!
What a treat to watch these couples fall in love and begin their new lives together. We wish them all the best, and hope that when times get tough (reality check provided by the old married folks) these wonderful people can think back to their carefree and adventure-filled days at the ranch, and pull each other through with some amazing memories.