November 16, 2001

Ready to rodeo? Take your business meeting to Peaceful Valley

LYONS — Come on, admit it. Even you tough guys out there like to be mothered and taken care of every now and then. And when nurturing comes wrapped in the guise of he-man rodeos complete with horseback competitions, it’s an almost unbeatable combination.

Peaceful Valley Ranch, outside of Lyons on the Peak To Peak Highway, graciously offers such contrasts. Forty-five minutes from Boulder, the Ranch caters to those who yearn for a convenient, yet removed, spot for business retreats, family functions or individual isolation, sometimes simultaneously.

Owned by the Boehm family for most of the latter half of the 20th century, the 300-acre section of the 800,000-acre Roosevelt National Forest was purchased by Dick and Karen Gann in 1998. The Ganns pay a yearly fee to the Forest Service for each Peaceful Valley guest.

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For most of the year, Peaceful Valley functions as a getaway-to-do-business site. Six-night adult package prices, which include lodging, meals, conference space and some activities, range from $1,350 to $1,650, depending on which type of accommodation is chosen. Young people, ages 4 to 12, are charged $1,150. There is no cost for children four and younger.

There are four types of accommodations, each with its Western moniker: Ranch Hand, a standard lodge room; Cowboy, a remodeled corporate room; Rustler, with an oversized bed and Jacuzzi; and Wrangler, a cabin with a hot tub and fireplace.

The Ranch can accommodate groups of five to 125, with a group discount package available. It hosts corporations, church retreats, individuals, families, board meetings and chambers; the average group size varies between 30 and 75. With ranch-provided transportation to and from Denver International Airport, the rustic ranch’s proximity to DIA confers meeting site desirability.

From June until September, however, the focus switches to that of a genuine ranch environment when special vacation packages are available and weekend group visits are encouraged. Single-night visits, which include the same amenities as the six-night packages, cost from $145 to $200.

Former folk-dance instructor and Kremmling Chamber of Commerce director Brooke Underbrink has been marketing director for Peaceful Valley for two years. She grins as she points to the four conference center suites that can serve as informal breakout rooms. ?As we all know, a lot of business gets done in casual situations,? she said.

In addition to the conference center and lodging, the ranch provides a stocked pond and playground, as well as a petting zoo with lambs, ponies and goats. Its TV lounge features a big-screen television, fireplace, and stuffed chairs and couches.

The landing adjacent to one end of the indoor swimming pool contains an open-pit barbeque. Often neighbors are invited to join ranch guests for the barbecues, ?because it’s fun and also minimizes any sense of us versus them,? Underbrink said.

You won’t go hungry at the ranch. In addition to a gracious staff that supplies three squares plus snacks during what most people consider normal hours, the coffee shop is open all the time. So is the fitness room, said former aerobics instructor Underbrink. ?And there is always something for a guest to do,? she said.

Underbrink said winter staff numbers drop to around 30 from a summer high of 50. Revenues for the ranch have doubled in two years from approximately $750,000 to $1.5 million, she said. Projected revenues are expected to reach $2 million by the beginning of 2002, with roughly $600,000 coming from guest ranch activities, $100,000 from weddings, and business activities making up the balance.

The non-business side of Peaceful Valley consists mainly of family reunions and weddings. ?Family reunions are huge,? both in terms of how many are held at the ranch and the numbers who attend, Underbrink said. She said the average attendance at such gatherings ranges from 50 to 60 people.

The Peaceful Valley Chapel is very popular for wedding services as well as traditional worship. Located on a hill above the ranch, the chapel has a view of both Sawtooth and Audubon mountains. The non-denominational facility accommodates 75.

?We do a lot of weddings,? Underbrink said. ?They can be as formal, with flowers and white lace, or as casual, with red-and-white tablecloths at the reception, as the bride wants.?

LYONS — Come on, admit it. Even you tough guys out there like to be mothered and taken care of every now and then. And when nurturing comes wrapped in the guise of he-man rodeos complete with horseback competitions, it’s an almost unbeatable combination.

Peaceful Valley Ranch, outside of Lyons on the Peak To Peak Highway, graciously offers such contrasts. Forty-five minutes from Boulder, the Ranch caters to those who yearn for a convenient, yet removed, spot for business retreats, family functions or individual isolation, sometimes simultaneously.

Owned by the Boehm family for most of the latter half of the 20th century,…

Christopher Wood
Christopher Wood is editor and publisher of BizWest, a regional business journal covering Boulder, Broomfield, Larimer and Weld counties. Wood co-founded the Northern Colorado Business Report in 1995 and served as publisher of the Boulder County Business Report until the two publications were merged to form BizWest in 2014. From 1990 to 1995, Wood served as reporter and managing editor of the Denver Business Journal. He is a Marine Corps veteran and a graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder. He has won numerous awards from the Colorado Press Association, Society of Professional Journalists and the Alliance of Area Business Publishers.
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