Spring is drawing near and summer will be here before we know it. It's time to start thinking about summer vacation! :) Please join us for more than just a vacation....You'll walk away with an experience and memories to last a lifetime!
Here are some fun facts to encourage you to visit North Fork Ranch and the state of Colorado:
NORTH FORK RANCH
- Dean & Karen have welcomed over 15,000 guests and staff to the ranch
- 2,536 trail rides have gone out over 25 years
- 634--20 lb. turkeys have been served over 25 years
- 12,515 steaks have been grilled & served over 25 years
- 73,745 beds have been made over 25 years
- 33,285 toilets have been cleaned over 25 years
- 1,230,250 pieces of silverware have been washed over 25 years
- 2,643 vans have been washed over 25 years
- We are celebrating our 26th season this summer in 2011
- We sit at an elevation of 8,100 ft.
- We are the closest ranch to the Denver Airport
- We are an Orvis Endorsed Fishing Lodge
- You can take in all Colorado has to offer, all in one location at North Fork Ranch
STATE OF COLORADO
- Admitted as the 38th state on August 1, 1876
- Capital: Denver
- Nicknamed the "Centennial State" because it became a state 100 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence
- Colorado has 58 mountains that soar over 14,000 ft.
- Mount Elbert is the highest point at 14,433 ft.
- Colorado is the 8th largest state with a population of 3,294,394
- From the Spanish language, Colorado is the word for "colored red"
These three horses are some of the most loved & well known horses on the ranch. They are also some of the hardest working and have been for a long time. They are slowing down in their old age, but still love to come to the ranch and take our younger guests out on the trail. They each have their own special personalities but are as gentle as can be. They love to greet us every morning at the gate down at long meadow in the winter time and are excited to escort us down in the truck to their grain bins. It's brings a smile to your face every morning to see the three of them greeting us. :) 
Bailey. This cute girl has been working hard at the ranch for many, many years. She loves her treats and loves to get personal affection from her riders. The cutest thing about Bailey....is her ears. Instead of holding her ears up and perky like most horses, she always has them out to the side. Does it get any cuter?
Idaho. This handsome man is an Appaloosa and has wonderful coloring. He is extremely sweet and loves to take care of our younger riders every summer. Idaho is "the man in charge" in winter pasture and the other two horses he lives with highly respect him. :) He has a very soft winter coat right now and loves to get a nice pat on the back for a job well done. 
Jake may be one of our smaller horses, but has the biggest heart. This furry guy is very sweet and gentle and loves to work hard. He is very patient and always takes extra special care of his riders. He might be hard to recognize in the winter time because he gets quite a shaggy, furry coat, but we think he's cuter than ever! :)
Well, maybe not the tigers, but we do have lions here in Colorado....mountain lions that is. And of course bears. These powerful animals do not like to be seen just as much as we do not like to have encounters with them. They prefer not to be in the spotlight which I think is a mutual feeling with humans. :) The bears are most likely beginning to (if not already have) left hibernation and will begin looking for food to satisfy their empty bellies. Attached is a picture from a bear we had visit the Homestead Cabin last spring (please also see the blog post from May 15, 2010). Also, here are some neat mountain lion tracks recently seen in the mud. The picture isn't great as it was taken with a cell phone and the print looks small but trust me, it's big enough to make you nervous!! :) The print is a little smaller than a woman's hand. Not a big lion, but not a small one either. :) Sorry about the quality of the photos. 
