Flying W Ranch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Flying W Ranch |
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Flying W Ranch, from the Outdoor Eating Area. On the right is the outdoor stage, to the left is the indoor Facility.
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| General information | |
| Status | Opened, partially under reconstruction |
| Type | Restaurant, Working mountain cattle ranch |
| Address | 3330 Chuckwagon Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80919 |
| Town or city | Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| Country | United States |
| Opened | July 10, 2020 |
| Destroyed | June 26, 2012 |
The Flying W Ranch is a special place in the foothills of Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is a real cattle ranch in the mountains. Since 1953, it has also been a fun place for visitors.
From May to October, you can enjoy outdoor chuckwagon suppers here. These meals are like those served on old cattle drives. The ranch also has areas that show what life was like in the American Old West. In 2012, a big fire destroyed the ranch. But the owners worked hard to rebuild it. The Chuckwagon Supper reopened on July 10, 2020.
History of the Flying W Ranch
Russ and Marian Wolfe started the Flying W Chuckwagon in 1953. In the summer, people from town would ride horses on the ranch lands. Sometimes, Marian would invite the riders to share a meal. Russ and Marian decided to make this a regular event. It became a scenic horseback ride followed by a home-cooked meal. People ate under the stars around a campfire.
Over time, Russ and Marian built a unique Western Village. It grew to have 29 buildings. These included a Church, a Jail, a School House, and a Printing Press. Many of these buildings were moved to the ranch from other places.
Before the Waldo Canyon Fire in 2012, meals and shows moved indoors in the fall. They went to the Winter Steakhouse. This building was once the Ute Theatre in Colorado Springs. It was taken apart in 1968 and rebuilt at the Flying W. Shows were held there from October to December, and again from March to May. The Picketwire Bar was built in the 1880s. It was moved to the ranch in 1969.
The Flying W Chuckwagon is part of a group called the Chuckwagon Association of the West. This group has six chuckwagons in different states. They all offer traditional chuckwagon cooking. After dinner, they have fun shows with comedy and western songs.
The Waldo Canyon Fire and Rebuilding
The Flying W Ranch was destroyed by the Waldo Canyon fire on June 26, 2012. This fire caused a lot of damage in the area. The owners promised to rebuild the ranch. Parts of it reopened on July 10, 2020.
The last event at the ranch before the fire was a wedding. It happened in the Old Chapel on June 23, 2012. This was the day the fire started. The wedding guests had to leave quickly. Staff worked hard to save as many old items as possible.
On June 29, 2019, work began on a new building. It is an 8,000 square foot event center. It can seat 900 people. The plans also include a donkey barn, animal activities, and garden areas.
Flying W Foundation
After the Flying W Ranch was destroyed, a group was formed. It is called the Flying W Ranch Foundation. Many homes in the nearby Mountain Shadows community were also burned.
The Flying W Ranch Foundation is a non-profit group. It is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Their main goals are:
- To help the Waldo Canyon burn area recover.
- To protect the history of the Old West.
- To help the community.
The Foundation does important work. They install log structures to stop soil from washing away. They plant seeds and spread mulch on burned land. They also plant young trees to help the forest grow back. They remove harmful weeds too.
