History

In the beginning, this region was home to Indigenous people, including the Apache, Comanche, Shoshone, Ute Nation, and Ute Mountain Tribes whose presence on the land reflects a time long before borders were drawn. The Ute’s spiritual connection to the mountains began from their creation story, which signifies an eternal relationship. Many of the tribes traveled through this region, from Boulder to Golden where they hunted the abundance of elk, deer, and buffalo that roamed along the foothills and were even recorded to have held annual pow wows where the present-day highways 72 and 93 connect. 

The landscape would be changed forever when the Pikes Peak Gold Rush occurred in 1858. It caused a wealth of opportunity for traders of the precious metal. As one of the greatest gold rushes in Northern American history, mining camps dominated the region and drew homesteaders in from across the country. Among the crowds of newcomers was William Frederick Cody "Buffalo Bill" whose infamy as a bison hunter, soldier, and showman would credit him with giving the wild west its name. His theatrical show Buffalo Bill’s Wild West made him an international icon. Cody was buried on Golden’s Lookout Mountain overlooking the great plains and signifying the town’s rich history.

The current family living on the ranch are Bill and Judy Hogan, who raised their family of seven to become discerning ranchers from a young age. The youngsters helped handle ranching responsibilities, like waking at dawn to milk the cows, nurturing newborn calves, and hunting deer all while traversing the land on horseback. The sun-soaked foothills glancing out the iconic ridgeline of the Flatirons became both their playground and their place of education, where a memorable childhood took place on the path less traveled (the closest neighbors were six miles away). Grandma made chokecherry jam from the wild berries near the freshwater stream, they fished dinner from the pond, and spent evenings under clear, starlit skies. Discovering the nuances of each distinct Colorado season helped them learn the ways of the land by getting their hands dirty while cultivating common sense on those dusty trailheads. 

The family would become well-known for hosting local rodeo events and roping competitions. The kids followed in Bill’s footsteps and competed nationally in roping making it a multi-generational sport for the Hogan’s. With a hardened dedication, Bill and Judy still run the ranch at 80 years old with the support of their children. (Don’t be surprised if you see Bill working with his bare hands out on the land, for a rancher’s work is never done).

The Hogan Family legacy in the heart of the wild west was born from planted seeds that turned stories into traditions. Now, it’s time to let the next story be told, from one family to the next, where the possibilities of a life untamed… await.