Our announcement went fairly well last week, letting everyone know we are selling the ranch. Reactions have been mixed. Although everyone is sad to see this bit of our lives pass on, everyone seems to approach their grief in a different way.

Most of our staff and guests have been very supportive. Many staff members have come into my office to let me know they are with us, and will see things through to the last day. Although they are sad to leave the ranch, they understand the decision and are happy for us as we start a new adventure. Even some whose personal reaction was very emotional tell us they understand and wish us the very best.

Several of our guests have shared what the ranch has meant to them and their families over the years, or told us of those milestones they were looking forward to: the toddler who would be able to ride a big horse, the child or teen who wanted to be a wrangler. And yet, in the same breath, these same guests have been able to give us their encouragement in our new life. They know that all things must eventually change, and are grateful for the ways in which the ranch has touched their lives.

I very much appreciate the notes and words of encouragement. The grace with which staff and guests have taken the news, and the appreciation for what we have given them.

There have been a small handful of people who have taken the news too personally to find it in themselves to be encouraging. They are not yet able to let go of the future and simply be grateful for what they have had in the past, as the change is too painful for them. This pain has led a couple of people to be angry with us, as grieving usually includes an element of anger. Others have expressed their ideas of how things should have been handled differently. I’d like to address one or two of these.

First, we had not really decided to sell the ranch until we were approached with an offer. We’ve talked about how we might exit, but no options were very appealing. Let’s follow some of our options through their courses.

Some speculate that it might have been better to put the ranch on the market and see if we could find a buyer who would run it under the same program. Here is the scenario: We announce to the staff and guests we plan to put the ranch on the market. The staff do not feel secure in their jobs, and begin to look at their options. Perhaps they would rather stay with us, but the security of a good permanent position elsewhere is awfully appealing. Turnover starts, and the experience goes downhill for everyone.

Sales decline. A few years ago, the land down on highway 20 where our sign used to sit was for sale. The owners put a big “for sale” sign up that literally wrapped around our directional sign to the ranch. Rumors flew around that we were for sale. Two retreat groups and one large family reunion group for the summer told us they would not book because they heard we were for sale. The retreats did end up coming when we explained that it was only rumor, but the reunion had already placed a large deposit elsewhere. Nobody wants to place their faith in plans with a company which may not be there a few months down the road. If we were truly for sale, our sales would spiral downward.

A long time on the market. Any way you look at it, this type of business does not make the return on investment that someone looking for just a business opportunity would consider. Those ranches that are successful are those where the land has been in the family for a long time and there is no huge mortgage to meet, those who are owned by someone who made their fortune elsewhere, love the idea of dude ranching, and are willing to support it, or those properties who are large enough to get better economies of scale. This makes the market for an operating dude ranch really, really small. Most are on the market for quite a while before selling, years even.

The combination of a downward spiral in staff and revenues with a potential time on the market of three years would have been devastating. Not to mention, usually new ownership and management brings changes that those who love our creation may or may not like.

Others feel that we should have had one of John’s sisters run the ranch. I don’t think they understand the commitment. During the summer, John and I cannot leave town, and are here typically 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. We turn our lives over to this place for the experiences of others. Their father, Rocky, has talked about selling the ranch for the past several years. In these conversations, none of John’s sisters has ever mentioned a desire to buy John and me out and take over.

And lastly, others simply cannot understand why we would walk away from something so beautiful. I’ve talked about this at length in my previous post, so I will not go into detail here. Suffice it to say that the commitment we’ve made for the past 20-sonething years is enormous. Now, we would like to focus our lives on our own experiences for a time.

Again, I thank everyone for your understanding and encouragement. It makes me satisfied and even joyful to end with so much support and such a wonderful summer.

In Joy~

Eva

Over the past decades, we have spent our summers sharing the “ranch life” with people from around the world. Families spent a week or two of their summer vacation with us, horseback riding, relaxing, and sharing meals together. This summer we are doing the same, but with a huge difference. This summer will be our last, as we have entered into an agreement to sell the ranch.

We will be finishing out the summer, as well as two weddings at the end of the season. (We could not see putting their nuptials in the lurch, and felt we really needed to see them through.) 

Certainly, this change brings many mixed emotions. Grief for the end of an era. Sadness at the thought of losing touch with our wonderful guests. Regret for our staff as we will no longer be their employer. Angst about venturing into the unknown. Uncertainty that comes with change. But also excitement at new beginnings. Hope for more time with our children and to explore our own possibilities.

We have known for quite some time that it would come to this. Bend is growing out toward us, and we have seen our riding terrain shrink almost every year. We no longer ride to Coyote Canyon or to Laidlaw Butte, because the land from here to there was sold by the county and irrigation district to private individuals. The land from those parcels which we purchased ourselves we had to sell to keep our operation afloat. Now we don’t even cross Tyler road on horseback. Other places have disappeared into private ownership, such as Sandy’s Meadow, much of the Second Rimrock. Although we still have access to thousands of acres for riding, we remember the time before and the change disturbs us.

The irrigation district is working toward “improving” their water delivery system to minimize loss. This means our wonderful Tumalo Feed Canal will eventually be piped. No more water crossings with wet boots. We already lost the Columbia Southern canal a few years ago.

Also, it seems that offering a remarkable program and taking care of our staff is no longer enough to make it financially. We have been scraping by for about seven years now. Several things have contributed to this. Schools start earlier to have more time to get ready for the federal standardized testing. No more full weeks in late August, children are in the classroom starting on the 15^th.

The travel industry started discounting heavily after 9/11. Because this changed to traveler’s perception of value, many people are no longer willing to pay full rate. People are increasingly looking for the best “deal.” Having always based our pricing directly on our costs, we can’t compete without changing our service or programs. We have always offered the programs people find in a larger facility, but without the crowds of people to pay for it. The skyrocketing cost of food, hay, and fuel have further eroded our position.

We have made it our priority to take care of our staff as well. Many ranchers put their staff on salary to avoid paying overtime, or use their gratuities to cover their wages. Unfortunately, our idealistic views are not in line with profitability when much of the public is not ready to pay for these practices. We can either be someone we do not wish to be, or get out of the business.

This has all taken its toll on us. Where we used to feel the passion for the ranch every day, now we are getting tired. It is disheartening to put so much energy into something without success in all aspects of it. Although we know from our guests that by the measure of their experience we have been successful, that does not re-roof the cabins or re-tile the pool. So, when we were approached about this, we were ready to let go. The ranch will be a wonderful fit for the company buying it. We have liked everyone we have met in their group, and love that it will still be a place to “unplug and reconnect.”

As for ourselves, we are not sure where we will go from here. John and I should have enough buffer to be able to take time to think through “what we want to do when we grow up.” We will not be able to retire, but at least can decompress and explore our options. He is exploring video production, travel logs, and podcasting. His degree is in finance and real estate, and he may turn toward something in that arena. I have long wanted to write but lacked the time. I’ll spend my time exploring travel and copy writing, as well as committing to words the stories in my head and see where they take me.

I hope that our paths will cross again. Perhaps in our own wanderings.