Latigo Ranch facts for kids
Latigo Ranch is a special place in Grand County, Colorado, that started out as a "dude ranch." A dude ranch is a type of guest ranch where visitors can experience life on a ranch, often including horseback riding and other outdoor activities. Latigo Ranch is open year-round, offering different fun activities depending on the season.
Contents
The Ranch's Beginning
Latigo Ranch was first called Snowshoe Ranch. It was founded by Frederick Kasdorf, Jr. in 1923. He and his wife traveled all the way from Denver in a covered wagon to settle in the Kremmling area. Mr. Kasdorf worked hard to build the main log lodge all by himself. He ran the Snowshoe Dude Ranch, which was about 550 acres (2.2 square kilometers), for over 30 years!
Famous Visitors and Stories
The Grand County Historical Society thinks that a famous writer named Zane Grey might have stayed at Snowshoe Ranch, or camped nearby. He was writing his novel The Mysterious Rider around that time. The Kasdorfs even advertised that guests could ride on "forest-Indian" trails that famous people like Theodore Roosevelt and Zane Grey knew!
Changing Hands and New Beginnings
In 1959, Mr. Kasdorf retired and sold the ranch. Over the years, Snowshoe Ranch had a few different owners. Each new owner added something special to the ranch.
- In 1959, the Christiansons bought 53 acres (21 hectares) of the ranch, including the lodge, and added some cabins.
- Jack and Dot Lyons bought it in 1973.
- Cece and Sharon Krewson took over in 1977.
- In 1982, David Wasserstrom bought the ranch. With managers Bill and Carol Hillier, he bought the rest of the original Kasdorf ranch land. They made many big improvements and changed the name to Latigo Ranch.
Big Improvements at Latigo
When the ranch became Latigo Ranch, many new things were built to make it even better for guests. These included:
- A new road to get to the ranch.
- A Social Club building.
- A swimming pool.
- A fishing pond.
- A barn and an arena for horses.
- Three duplex guest cabins, which are like two cabins joined together.
In 1987, Randy and Lisa George, along with Jim and Kathie Yost, bought the ranch. As of 2017, the Yosts retired, and now the George family (Randy, Lisa, and their children) run the ranch full-time.
Latigo Ranch Today
The George family lives at Latigo Ranch all year. This means they can operate it as a fun place to visit in both summer and winter!
Summer Adventures
In the summer, Latigo Ranch is a dude ranch. It's a smaller ranch, welcoming up to 35 guests at a time. This makes it feel very friendly and personal. A huge part of the land they use for horseback riding, about 50,000 acres (202 square kilometers), is actually part of the nearby Medicine Bow - Routt National Forest. This means guests can explore amazing wilderness trails.
Winter Wonderland
In the winter, Latigo Ranch transforms into a Nordic center. This is a place where people can go cross-country skiing. The same beautiful land used for riding in summer becomes perfect for skiing in winter.
Awards and Recognition
Latigo Ranch is well-loved! In 2004, it was even voted "Best Dude Ranch in Colorado" by a guide called "Colorado's Best: The Essential Guide to Favorite Places."
