A month after Chris died in 2016, Chad, Shane, and I drove to our favorite family vacation spot, a Christian family dude ranch in Estes Park, called Wind River Ranch. We visited there 3 different summers when the boys were younger. The boys had rated it a perfect “10” while they rated Disney World only a “7.” We all found this to be a place to seek and find God and enjoy family time in a relaxed Christian atmosphere.
After visiting with the director/friend Don McIntyre and his wife over a delicious lunch of grilled hamburgers and all the fixin’s, Don took us on a tour of the ranch to see all the changes and improvements that had taken place since the last time we were there 11 years prior.
In 2013, there was a big mudslide that hit the area. This was during the time of massive rainfall, and apparently the ground couldn’t handle all the rain, and a natural underground water geyser formed and sent a 22-foot wall of water and mud down the mountain, directly toward the Wind River Ranch cabins, where many church pastors and their wives were staying for a conference. Don pointed out where Gorilla Rock diverted the mudslide around most of the camp on either side, as well as where all the limbs on the trees were broken off up to 22-feet high. The fact that no one was injured at WRR is a miracle in itself. He said that a Taoist Temple had been planned to be built on the other side of the mountain, but that area was destroyed by the mudslide and the temple has never been built. (God meant what He said in the Ten Commandments.)
“You shall have no other gods before me.” - Exodus 20:3
The natural disaster changed the landscape and has helped to provide a natural fire break due to the mudslide. They will now be able to have tiered ponds with the new natural reservoirs formed that will provide additional fire breaks in the event of forest fires. God works His miracles in mysterious ways.
Ranch Foreman Nick Herold took his gun and thought he would have to put down all 54 horses in the corral due to injuries from the mudslide, but when he arrived to the area, every single one was safe, even though many were up to their withers in water. The brand new fence that had been built had been strong enough to stop the debris from inundating the corral. Don explained that they had built a trench for the zip line and the displaced dirt formed a blockade and an island for the horses to stand on until they could be rescued.
After our tour, we had a chance to ride horses, including one very special horse named “Haga,” which was named in honor of Chris in 2010 after his lung cancer diagnosis. Yes, "Haga" survived the mudslide! Shane is pictured riding “Haga” (the black horse).
Then we took a hike to explore the area, and Chad got to experiment with his dad’s camera, taking photos that Chris would have taken, including close-up photos of pretty flowers and bear claw marks on the trees.
To read more about the mudslide and its impact on the Wind River Ranch ministry, go to:
Rebuild Wind River Ranch - video
Wind River Ranch--Hard Hit by Colorado Flooding
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the facility that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”