Smith Fork Ranch News

P.O. Box 401
Crawford, Colorado 81415
P - 970-921-3454
F - 970-921-3475
E - info@smithforkranch.com
What’s new this year…
Fall Fly Fishing Extravaganza
F
ly fish the Smith Fork, SFR ponds, backcountry
streams, and the Gunnison River Gorge. Ideal for two
couples or four singles who want to enjoy this unique
Western Colorado, three-day/four-night fly fishing adventure.
In addition to fishing on the ranch, the package includes
full-day hike or horseback ride to back country fishing and
a full-day fishing (float or jet boat) on the amazing, gold
medal fishing waters of the Gunnison River. A fishing trip
in this world-renowned trout fishery, through the steepwalled Gunnison Gorge, is recognized as one of the top fly
fishing trips in the lower 48. Availability limited, reservations
recommended ASAP. Aug 26-Oct. Visit smithforkranch.com.
10th Year for Smith Fork Ranch
DATES TO REMEMBER
May 25 SFR season opens for the Memorial Day weekend.
Three- to six-night getaways available.
June 7-10 Come celebrate 102 years of ranching in Crawford
with Cowboy Cook-off, town park festival, street dancing,
followed by fireworks at the Crawford Reservoir.
June 16-August 25 Week-long, six-night ranch adventures.
July 1-8 Celebrate the 4th of July with a ranch barbeque,
Colorado small town parade, Cherry Days Festival,
carnival and bull riding rodeo this week.
July 22-28 Adult Week Retreat
Aug 4-5 Join West Elk Wine Trail in the North Fork Valley:
Wine tasting with local vintners, music, dining, dancing
and winery tours.
August 5-12 Delta county Fair and Rodeo Week
August 12-18 Join renowned food writer Eugenia Bone,
author of Mycophilia and At Mesa’s Edge, to celebrate
the bounty of the North Fork Valley: mushroom
foraging, conditions permitting; Chef Seth Bateman’s
farm-to-table cuisine; a horseback ride to wine tasting
in the wild and riverside dinner (8/16-8/17).
August 26-October 31 Fall fun begins with 3- to 6-night
packages: Taste of the West culinary package, Romantic
Getaways, Cowgirl Retreat, and Fall Fly Fishing Adventure.
September 27-30 Mountain Harvest Festival in neighboring
North Fork Valley. Three-night package includes festival
tickets, tickets for live music, orchard and vineyard visits
with lodging, gourmet meals and ranch amenities at SFR.
Custom Rocky Mountain Spring Getaways Start May 25
C
ome celebrate a special occasion, birthday or wedding
anniversary. Let us help you plan a romantic weekend
away with someone special. Celebrations are our forté here
at Smith Fork Ranch.
Spend three or four nights at the ranch savoring the
fine cuisine of the SFR Kitchen staff. Pick early season
veggies and herbs from our
garden and prepare them with
Chef Seth and our kitchen staff.
Take a cooking lesson. Enjoy
special wine pairing dinners.
It’s a culinary experience you
won’t forget.
Learn to blow glass with
our world class artisans right
here in Crawford. Visit other
local craftsmen — potters,
painters, furniture makers and
ironworkers. Talent abounds
in our special corner of Colorado, just minutes from the
ranch. We’ll tailor a weekend of visits to area craftsmen
and artisans, according to your interests.
Couples retreat — be the first to horseback ride or hike
our fresh-cut trails into high mountain pastures. Discover
new wildlife in flower-filled meadows in the Gunnison
National Forest and wilderness that surrounds the ranch.
SFR Organic Garden
S
FR Farmstead provides fresh produce daily for the
kitchen throughout the summer and fall — definitely
a plus for our kitchen staff and guests.
Award-winning Chef
C
hef Seth Bateman (seen above with guests making
pasta) was chosen by the State Tourism Office as one
of five top chefs in Colorado to participate in a farm-totable, national media event in Boulder, Colorado, hailing
our efforts in agritourism.
Our organic gardener,
Alma Roberts, invites
guests to pick fruits,
herbs, and vegetables
from our farmstead.
Fond memories... SUMMER PLEASURES AT SFR
“Another incredible
stay...our third and
counting. What a
wonderfully delightful
time we had once again!”
Autumn in the Rockies
S
ome say the best time to
visit Smith Fork Ranch is
during the sunny, crisp days
of fall. Explore the western
slope of the Colorado
Rockies, the Black Canyon
of the Gunnison National
Park, or horseback ride,
hike or fly fish amidst full
fall color.
Vineyards and orchards
of the North Fork Valley
are at their peak. These
“neighbors” of the ranch welcome you to their wine tasting
rooms and farms for picking fruits and vegetables.
Dinners are cozy,
cheerful affairs in our new
fireside dining room in the
Elk Lodge pavilion. Our
culinary team prepares
wonderful seasonal meals
with bounty from our
own garden, local game
and other meats cured or
smoked ourselves, fresh
breads from our ovens,
our house-made cheddar
cheese, aged in our own
cellars, and wine-pairing
selections.
The aspens begin
turning golden and the
mountain oak a deep
crimson right after
Labor Day, then last for a
glorious two months!
Call Margot
or Molly for
reservations at
970.921.3454
or email
Info@smithfork
ranch.com for
more details.
Another First!
Christmas and New Years
at Smith Fork Ranch
S
leigh bells ring over the meadow and through the
woods. There’s snow tubing down to the pasture and
cross country skiing, then back to the ranch for making
gingerbread houses and relaxing in front of the fireplace in
the Elk Lodge with a glass of wine or hot cocoa.
Jim Nielsen, General Manager, and family.
The Hodgsons and SFR team welcomed Jim, Audra,
Emma, and Sophie to the ranch in Spring 2011.