SITE. The ranch has 27,000 acres of spectacular peaks, aspen groves, streams and meadows on the western side of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. There are a scattering of old homesteads, miner’s cabins and barns on the ranch.
PROGRAM: Mr. Lauren wanted to restore certain historical structures and design new ones to create a rustic guest ranch. Phase one consisted of four “old” guest cabins and a saloon for guests to watch movies and play cards.
DESIGN SOLUTION: Ewing created a structure that looked as though it had evolved over the last hundred years. The main saloon room has a antique rustic bar, stepped stone fireplace, sitting area and game table. An alcove leads to the theater with a sloping log ceiling and sod roof, representing an early settler’s one room cabin and meat cellar. A stairway in the bar leads to the second floor where doors open to the balcony movie viewing. We selectively cut and felled trees from the ranch, purposely using wet green logs that would create shrinkage and cracks just as older structures would show over time.