Dean and Jodi Rusk Owners/General Manager P.O. Box 311Westcliffe, CO. 812521-800-446-9462 http://historicpinesranch.com

I am very grateful to Dean and Jodi for all their support as an western artist.  I am also grateful to all the guests that have bought my originals and prints from here on the ranch.  Below you will see some of the photos of the ranch and scenery that I have found so inspiring.  The one lesson I am learning about being an artist is that it is difficult being in a place that inspires you so much.  Each day there is something else that you want to capture or express through art.  Having enough time to do a little of all of it is something that can be difficult. 

There are two people here that have inspired me the most, the owners of the ranch, Dean and Jodi.  They have very warm hearts.  I see it in how they want their guests treated and catered to.  What has impressed me the most about them, among many things, is their love and excitment over having Make-a-Wish Foundation kids here.  They love catering to them and seeing them have a great time here.  If you visit their ranch website look up under Ranch News to see for yourself!  They are trying to raise money to bring a kid back for a second visit to the ranch that visited last year.

Here are some photos of the ranch:

Bo Van Duys

Bob Van Duys

Holly Van Duys

Isaac McMullen

There is so much I could say about this place that I could dedicate my website to the Ranch.  They have their own website as you can see for yourself.  They offer so much here and the staff really works hard to provide the best of hospitality and service that can be expected.

The photos may make it appear that we are on flat land, but we are not.  We are on the side of the mountain and it is fantastic!  The view of the mountains and of the huge valley below is nothing short of awesome and breath taking!  There is abundant wildlife to see and watch.  Just watching the weather come over the mountains and go across the valley and then over the far mountain range is a sight to see.  To see the lights of Westcliffe and Silver Cliff in the valley on a clear night with the thousands of stars above is amazing to witness.  Most of the cabins have a covered porch over looking this vista.  I could sit and just waste away an afternoon or evening just watching the mountains and valley.  The only way the view gets better is on a back of a horse on one of the many trails up higher on the mountains than we are here at the ranch.

We have a riding program that is designed for each rider and what they want to do.  We have two mountian spring fed ponds for fishing and they can arrange for whitewater rafting and ATVing!  Now they also have a ranch artist!

Below are some of the sketches I have done here while being on the ranch:

Staff