Relax, unwind, and find your zen here on our 56-acre, pesticide-free, riverfront ranch in our 1,200-square-foot, 2-king bedroom,1-bathroom guesthouse with your own private keypad entrance.
Our ranch stands in the center of the grounding Uncompaghre Valley and is surrounded in every direction by the majestic San Juan Mountains.
We like to call this place Happy Ranch because of the smell of giant pines after rain and the joy we see on kids' faces as they run and play hide-and-seek. The pond and the river feel like places we played when we've been campers. We aim for all to feel carefree and adventurous as they soak in the fresh air surrounded by wildlife and mountains in every direction.
We feel fortunate to get to nurture this land. We are its faithful stewards. It is peaceful and quiet here. At night, we often see the Milky Way and hear the river rush past. We like listening to crickets and grossbeaks and hummingbirds. We feed many birds and keep them near.
We hope you will scamper about on country dirt roads as you take in the views of Mt. Abrams and surrounding peaks, which rival the Alps. Nearby Ouray is called Little Switzerland of America, and with good reason. It is nestled in paradise, just as we hope you will feel here in our quiet haven filled with birdsong.
You will be staying about two football-field-lengths away from the Uncompaghre River, which is a short walk from the guesthouse. We've set up a river park for our guests that includes a hammock, picnic table, rocking chairs, and side tables. There is also a grill and a four-person outdoor dining table with umbrella as well as lounge chairs where you can relax for morning coffee or evening wine and chats just outside the guesthouse. We also supply camp chairs so you can take them to walk and sit anywhere you'd like. And there are indoor and outdoor games, as well.
The guesthouse is naturally lit by sun through windows in every room looking out over pastures, woods, and aspen- and pine-covered mountains. This space has vaulted ceilings, and it’s second-story location allows for bird's-eye views. It is surrounded by aspen, ponderosa, blue spruce, piñon, and cottonwood trees, as well as red sandstone, numerous types of shrubs and grasses, and hundreds of wildflowers. You will likely see forest creatures who kindly share their land with all of us.
The living room includes a deep, comfy-cozy couch, a recliner and a reading chair, a 50-inch internet-ready TV, an automatic fireplace, board games, books, and more. The Wi-Fi is exceptional and a bluetooth-enabled speaker is available. There is a hidden built-in desk beneath the bookshelves.
The kitchen, with a tall table for four, is fully equipped with plenty of dishes, pots, pans, etc., so you may make any and all your meals here if you choose. We provide starter items of organic caffeinated and non-caffeinated ground coffee, and a Mr. Coffee maker, as well as tea kettles and a selection of teas for you to choose from. Additionally, there is also a coffee bean grinder and plenty of grilling utensils.
Each of the two bedrooms includes a king bed with down pillows and comforters (as well as synthetic options for those with allergies). We often receive rave reviews about the comfort of the beds, as well as the cleanliness of this space. We personally inspect to ensure it is thoroughly cleaned using non-toxic cleaners and free-and-clear detergents.
The full bathroom includes a tub with a shower and a well-lit vanity. We provide cleansing and relaxation extras, often organic, for your traveling convenience and pleasure. We also provide beach towels for the river, reservoir, and hot springs, as well as starter paper products, such as paper towels, coffee filters, napkins, tissues, and toilet paper.
The guesthouse was designed and built by skilled craftsman who give meaning to the term ‘functional art’. A pastoral scene made of deadwood and scrap metal greets guests above the entrance door. The artistic sunset-inspired fireplace mantle is comprised of river rock and deadwood from our land. Tile flooring in the kitchen is detailed in wooden accents. This cottage-like space is also decorated with artwork from our personal collection.
When you arrive at the ranch, you'll enter through a gate onto our property. As you proceed past a half dozen trees, you'll see our neighbor's three gorgeous horses in the pasture to your left. You'll take two dirt roads (which we call Wildlife Way and Peaceful Passageway) past idyllic pastures, and our cattle and llama guests. You'll cross over a stream we uncovered after a lot of work, and a bridge we call Tractor Wheel Bridge. You’ll wind your way beneath giant pines before reaching our large log cabin, about a half mile from the highway. (In wintertime, we recommend that you drive a 4WD vehicle with snow tires; we also plow the dirt roads between our house and the highway.)
We feel fortunate to share this land with elk, deer, foxes, skunks, raccoons, hawks, falcons, Canada geese, mallard ducks, ravens, magpies, robins, blackbirds, stellar jays, bluebirds, flickers, goldfinch, starlings, sparrows, nuthatches, grosbeaks, woodpeckers, swallows, hummingbirds, and chickadees, as well as an occasional turkey vulture, bear, moose, lynx, and mountain lion. Horses and cattle surround our ranch. Bighorn sheep often gather in and around the cemetery across the highway. Large herds of elk hang out in the pasture north of the ranch in fall and spring. We’ve gotten caught in mountain-goat traffic jams going from Ouray to our place.
When you book with us, please tell us a bit about yourselves so we may be of service... Where will you be coming from and will you be flying and/or driving? (We try to keep abreast of construction in surrounding areas for our guests.) What sort of adventures do you plan to get into while you're here? What are the names of the individuals in your group? Anything we can help answer?
Our guests enjoy hiking, mountain biking, and water sports. Ridgway Reservoir is about a 10-minute drive, and there you may go sailing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, and SUPing. The Uncompaghre River offers gold-medal-water fishing about 10 minutes downstream from our place. And you may rock climb in Ouray. Many of our guests enjoy four-wheeling on the many local back-country roads during season. Ouray has several Jeep rental and tour companies that can help answer questions.
Visitors also like to soak in the local healing hot springs (Weisbaden and Ouray Hot Springs in Ouray and Orvis near Ridgway; each is within a 7-minute drive of the ranch). Google Travel + Leisure’s winter 2021/22 article about Ouray and Silverton for more on these amazing hot springs and other nearby adventures.
Our nearby towns, Ridgway and Ouray (each within a 7-minute drive) boast exceptional dining, shopping, a railroad museum, art galleries, live music, movie events, Friday's farmers' market in season, and much more. Montrose, which is a half-hour drive, has a Ute Indian Museum that we highly recommend. And Black Canyon of the Gunnison, south of Montrose, is a sight to behold.
The town of Telluride is 16 miles away as the crow flies, and it is an awe-inspiring one-hour drive around the mountain range. It offers world-class skiing, shopping, and dining, as well as top-notch music, film, and wine festivals. It also offers extraordinary spas, biking, hiking, river sports, downhill skiing and boarding, and other adventures.
There are two grocery stores in Ridgway (Lotus Root and Mountain Market) and one in Ouray (Ouray Grocery), as well as three City Markets, a Natural Grocers, and a Wal-Mart in Montrose. Every Friday in season, Ridgway hosts a Farmers’ Market with foods, crafts, and gift items.
We've been asked about adding a washing machine and dryer and, unfortunately, this space was not set up to allow for this. For those needing laundry facilities, we recommend the KOA campground, which is just south and across the river on County Road 23. They charge $5 per load and have told us our guests are welcome to use their laundry facilities.
Guesthouse Amenities:
- Private entrance with keypad
- Fully equipped kitchen with dishwasher, stove, microwave, refrigerator, starter organic ground caffeinated and non-caffeinated coffee, a Mr. Coffee coffee maker, tea, dinnerware, ice-cube trays, and more
- Comfy-cozy king beds with down comforters and pillows
- A spacious living room with a deep couch, recliner, automatic fireplace, and reading chair, as well a 50-inch internet ready TV, games, books, and more
- A sparkling bathtub/shower
- An outdoor table with an umbrella, grill and utensils, and forest/river el fresco dining
- A river park with rocking chairs, side tables, a hammock, and a picnic table (in season)
- Spectacular views and plenty of pesticide-free acreage to rest and roam and enjoy silence and nature
- Free and easy parking at the foot of the guesthouse stairs (including plenty of parking for trailers, Jeeps, and Razors within walking distance on the property)
- Air conditioning window units, table and ceiling fans, and heat
- Strong wireless Internet
- Internet-ready TV
- Dressers, suitcase stands, closets, hangers, a clothing iron, and a hair dryer
House Rules:
- No smoking on the property indoors or out (this is a strict rule, so if you’re a smoker, please find another place you will enjoy)
- Not suitable for pets
- No parties or events
Check-in/Check-out:
- Check-in is anytime after 4 p.m.
- Check out is by 11 a.m.
- Self check-in with keypad
We especially welcome guests who treat our home as you would your own, carefully keeping it beautiful for other guests and your future visits.
We look forward to hearing from and hosting you!
Suzanne and Steven
