Posts Tagged ‘Andy Lee’

What makes us a Colorado Luxury Dude Ranch?

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

There are dude ranches, and then there are luxury dude ranches. That’s 4UR. We are way beyond your basic BBQ & beds setup. Here are some of the small details and big amenities that make 4UR ranch more than your average guest ranch.

Dining: We recruited our chef, Wray Warner, from the Four Seasons in Jackson Hole. Some of his specialties include unique home-made ice creams, and ambitious pasta, beef and fish dinner entrees. One of my favorites is a mushroom pasta that has been prepared to allow the delicate flavors of the fungi to come out.

It’s not just about dinner, breakfast and lunch are stunning as well. I love to start breakfast with the home-made granola and yogurt, along with hot, strong coffee. We also serve unique cook-to-order breakfast dishes. Breakfast is a very personalized meal, and we want you to feel right at home.

Even lunch is a special affair, esp. on Wednesdays when we hold our Mexican luncheon poolside. We have fajitas, chips, guacamole, cold Coronas and margaritas. Box lunches are also available to take out for your fly fishing trip.

Bathing: We have great “watering holes” – literally! Our pool is large and refreshing; there is plenty of deck space for lounging or playing games with family. We have tables if you want to sit in the shade umbrellas and have a cold drink or a snack. The pool is the place to be, if you ask me!
The hot springs are what Wagon Wheel Gap was originally famous for. In the early 1900s, General William Palmer founded the Wagon Wheel Gap Hot Springs Resort. The Hot Springs were thought to have medicinal qualities; we still have the historic bath house on property. You can still enjoy the Hot Springs, they are just adjacent to the pool and may still have the power to cure what ails you.
The sauna is here for you to enjoy as well – it is also in the pool area, and next to it is our massage parlor. This is relaxation central, and something that makes 4UR quite luxurious.

colorado fly fishing

Catch a beauty in our "Private Tailwaters"

Fly Fishing Vacation: Our fly fishing is renowned as spectacular. We divide our pristine Goose Creek into 15 “stations”, each a 1/3 mile, which are assigned by lottery in the evening. This system keeps everything fair, and assures each fisher-person prime waters at a prime time nearly every day.

Along with Goose Creek, there are four stations on the Rio Grande and one in the Weminuche Wilderness. You may also take a guided fishing trip above timberline to Lost Lakes for rare Rio Grande cutts, or fish Station 21, a trophy pond in the ranch valley. All waters are catch and release fly fishing only, except for Walton Pond, which is a great place to start practicing with your little angler.

Goose Creek’s drainage is quite unique. Flowing from the Weminuche Wilderness, it passes through only two private properties before reaching the Rio Grande; the 4UR Ranch and our neighbors upstream. Our neighbor’s reservoir feeds the creek from its cool waters via an 80-foot dam, making this creek one of only a handful of private tailwaters in America. Andy Lee and Aaron Christenson have spent their years with us managing the stream rigorously. This, along with our catch and release practices make for some surprisingly big, well-colored trout. Look forward to seeing rainbows, browns, snake river cutts, cutt-bow hybrids and even brookies.

As you can see, 4UR Ranch is more than boots and dusty arenas – come here for something completely unique.

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Our Family Dude Ranch now a Member of the Dude Ranchers’ Association

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

We are pleased to announce that 4UR Guest Ranch is now a member of the Dude Ranchers’ Association (DRA). This national group has over 100 members and 150 associate members. They are committed to ensuring a great Dude Ranch vacations, and all members go through a rigorous two – year inspection and application process. Horseback riding vacations are just one aspect of a great guest ranch experience; warm personable hospitality and great service are also essential for every ranch. The highest quality lodging industry standards are a requirement of every member as well. Hence the DRA slogan, “Horses, Hats and Hospitality”. As they see it, these should be a part of every ranch.

4UR Ranch now a Member

4UR Ranch now a Member

The DRA also promotes western vacations by continuing to build a strong working relationship with Federal and State land agencies in order to preserve and protect parks, forests and wildlife. Here at the 4UR, we know all about that. Our seven miles of pristine creek, which flows from the Weminuche Wilderness, is lovingly managed by Ranch Manager Aaron Christenson and Head Guide Andy Lee. They take extreme care to keep our creek the perfect place for large, healthy trout to flourish.

We are so glad to now be a member of the DRA, and hope that you will choose to come see us for a Rocky Mountains Vacation this summer. We can promise horses, hats, hospitality and history.

Plan Next Year’s Fly Fishing Vacation

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

As things wrap up for the season here at 4UR Ranch, we encourage you to start thinking about planning next year’s Fly Fishing Vacation with us. Usually July at 4UR Ranch is very full, but plan your Rocky Mountain Vacation for June or early September and you’ll find the ranch has more availability.

One thing is for sure: you will always have plenty of quiet, spacious & clean creek to fish all to yourself, no matter the time of year you visit.

You may have to write home about the big fish you catch!

You may have to write home about the big fish you catch!

Our beloved Goose Creek is closely monitored year-round by our head guide Andy Lee, who makes sure that it is a healthy environment for the various strains of trout that live in Goose Creek. In fact, when you come to 4UR during our shoulder seasons, the fish aren’t being caught as often, and can be more energetic and more eager for a bite!

Regardless of the time of the summer that you come to 4UR, you will always enjoy the ranch as a horseback riding vacation destination. We are always looking forward to bringing guests through our little slice of heaven we call the valley at Wagon Wheel gap. We have a variety of other activities on the Ranch, including Trap Shooting. Colorado is a treasure chest of outdoor recreation, and we hope to share some of what we love about Southern Colorado with you.