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