Having enjoyed Flying W Ranch on two previous vacations, we knew this was the best experience for our final night in Colorado.
After leaving Cheyenne Mountain, we drove through the red rocks of Manitou Springs and Garden of the Gods onto the Flying W Ranch, which also has some of the famed red rocks.
The Puns Begin in the Parking Lot
In the parking lot the fun begins, because the wranglers who will sing for us later are all out there to tell us where to “hitch our cars.” And so, the puns begin!
We always get there early, when they first open, because they are like a 1950s amusement park from the cowboy days, with entertainments galore, unique from any location we’ve ever visited.
Everywhere we turn this is something new to see.
There are all sorts of buildings to tour, with antiques, giving samples of fresh cornbread and honey, Christian bookstore, weaving demonstrations, Native Americans to visit, a little brown chapel, an indoor steakhouse for the winter evenings, and a small mountain to climb.
We can even shop for fun souvenir t-shirts for the kids. I even found a lovely lavender suede with wool lined cowboy jacket with rhinestone buttons which I knew I would need later that night while we sit under the stars to listen to the wranglers sing after enjoying a cowboy dinner.
When the miniature train is ready, we hop on for a ride, although we are warned of robbers who may be lurking.
Chuckwagon Dinner
When it’s nearing dinner time, we sit at picnic tables while a wrangler comes out on stage with pre-show jokes which culminate in directions on how to enter the buffet line and carry all our utensils and plates most efficiently.
Western Music Show
After our cowboy dinner, the main show begins. The wranglers arrive on stage to sing Westerns in the style of the Sons of the Pioneer.
Soon the temperatures drop as quickly as the 14ers rise from the ground. No worries since I have my new cowboy jacket to keep me warm under the stars to old-fashioned cowboy yodeling.
As we leave there is the newest CD to buy as a memory from the evening, to play in the van on our way back home.
We can’t wait to come back!
EPILOGUE 2012
Our hearts are broken to hear the news and see the many photos of the Waldo Canyon Fire descending down the front range mountains.
While praying for and wondering about the welfare of all the wonderful people we met there and wonderful places we visited, I found out today that one of our favorite places, the Flying W Ranch, burned down.
All that remains of this punny family fun western town is Marion’s Kitchen.
Safe are the employees and indeed the talented wranglers who entertained us each night after a cowboy chuck wagon dinner with humor (family rated), old time country songs and gospel tunes, sung in 4-part harmony with a bit of yodeling and fancy fiddling in between.
This lovely and fun venue is destroyed.
The antiques and animals were safely evacuated.
Currently, the Flying W Ranch reports they are blowing off the dust and accessing the damage and the future.
The wranglers are available to travel to entertain.
As for the future of the Flying W Ranch, I’m sure it will rise from the dust and become a favorite Colorado Springs entertainment spot for the entire family once again.
We have about five of their CDs which we continue to enjoy listening to, remembering the great times we’ve had at the ranch.
If they have any more to sell, I’ll be happy to buy some.
EPILOGUE 2024
I’m happy to report as I move old content to my new blog location, that likewise the Flying W Ranch has made the most of their beautiful scenery of the famous Red Rocks while rebuilding their venue.
They have reopened with some old fun stuff that I remember, like the narrow gauge train ride!
Many new opportunties are now incorporated. So fun!
I hope to return one day!
