Wind River Ranch and Ministries
Estes Park, Colorado
A Christian Family Dude and Guest Ranch 

"Memories are made here. Memories that not only last a lifetime, but nourish a lifetime."
-- Ken Gire, Christian Author and Speaker--

Wind River Ranch is located seven miles south of Estes Park, Colorado. This Christian Family Dude and Guest Ranch is located in the beautiful Tahosa Valley near the base of the majestic, snow-capped Long’s Peak (14,256’). 

This Colorado dude and guest ranch is an answer for families who want a vacation where they can rest, relax, renew and have a blast doing so. So many times moms and dads come back from a family vacation emotionally and physically worn out. Here at Wind River Ranch, we specialize in providing a flexible family camp and dude ranch program that caters to each family member’s needs during a vacation. Parents don’t have to use their time to decide and plan out activities, transport family members to events, or decide what restaurant appeals to everyone’s taste buds. At this Colorado dude and guest ranch, your whole family will gather around the table at all the meals, giggling and sharing all the stories and adventures of the day. The amazing staff will bring out an incredible meal prepared by our chef, and even the picky eaters will always have an option. When you wake up each day, the hot coffee and tea will be waiting for you at the lodge where a crackling fire warms the air. After breakfast, when you return from the morning Bible study, you will find your bed made, your cabin cleaned, and a rocking chair on the porch or a hammock to give you an opportunity to enjoy the down-time before the kids return at lunch from their specific morning programs. The list of daily activities are a variety of fun events daily that each of you can choose from and be a busy as you want or as laid back as you want. This is truly a family vacation for each and every family member, but more importantly, it is a vacation for the family to create memories together. These will be memories that not only last a life time, but nourish a lifetime. Our guests speak of a vacation at the ranch as being invigorating, not exhausting, and they often speak of the spiritual nourishment that occurs because of time spent enjoying this special Christian family dude ranch. Now that’s a vacation!

Please read through our site and call us with any questions. Please note that when you and your family come, you should be ready to be pampered by our staff of 35 that has been chosen for their “servant” hearts. You will be amazed at the thoughtfulness, maturity and work ethic of our staff. As guests mention each week, these staffers will bless your children’s lives as well as yours. They are the kind of young adults that you want your children to look up too and be around.” You will find yourself wishing that your children will want to return here as staff one day and get the opportunity to serve others.

Wind River Ranch is that special place that you are searching for in a vacation. All the activities, accommodations, staff, speakers, meals, etc. that we describe on this website will help create that family vacation that you desire. It is also why our guests find themselves immediately signing up to return year after year and quickly discover that the Wind River countdown of days until your family returns as you exit the gates.

As the Executive Director of Wind River Ranch and Ministries, I am proud to say that in my 11 years with this ministry, I have never seen a disappointed guest. This vacation is worth the investment and I feel 100% confident in stating what the guests have stated to me. Please call us today so we can find a week and a cabin that works for your family for the summer of 2008 or 2009. Come and enjoy this special place that God has made for our enjoyment and memories. The entire staff looks forward to serving your family here in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Colorado.

Come let us serve your family for a week and experience a truly mountain top vacation in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.

THE HISTORY OF WIND RIVER RANCH

Wind River Ranch was founded by an itinerant pastor named E.J. Lamb. Our current recreation hall sits where his homestead once sat.  The only thing left from the original house is the fireplace in the recreational hall. The ranch is blessed to have the original log barn that was built somewhere around 1889.
 
The ranch was originally used as a mountain retreat when it was founded in the late 1880’s. E.J. Lamb put in a road continuing past the ranch at the time and was even able to charge a toll. It is rumored that he charged a toll coming and going. The ranch was then a working cattle ranch covering over 500 acres. Somewhere around 1930 the ranch was transformed by the Hutchinson’s into a Dude and Guest Ranch. In 1997 Wind River Ranch was transformed into a Christian Family Dude and Guest Ranch and is currently operated by a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization called Wind River Ministries.
 
The ranch has only had 6 owners that we know about. This is due to the fact that nobody truly wanted to move away from the view of the Rocky Mountains that is found on this property. The current property encompasses 110 acres and is nestled between the Twin Sisters Mountains and the majestic 14,256 feet tall Long’s Peak. Wind River Ranch is beautifully located in what is now known as the Tahosa Valley.

If you are curious what the word “Tahosa” means, it is an old Indian word for “refrigerator magnet.”  Other than that last little bit of trivia, the rest of the history shared above is true to the best of our knowledge.