ABOUT US
Our Ranch
Our special location is built upon a rich Western heritage born on the high plains and mountain peaks of the state’s historic past. It is here on the valley floor of the Eagle River basin that we invite you to relax and breathe in the natural resources that will help create memories for a lifetime. We have set our expectations high to ensure you’re able to enjoy all that 4 Eagle Ranch has to offer.
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4 Eagle Ranch is owned by the 4 Eagle Foundation. The foundation is a 501(C)3 corporation, and its mission involves developing and supporting leaders around the principles modeled by Jesus of Nazareth.
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Our ranch employs full-time staff to help keep pace with a busy daily routine. Their clothing is functional for an outdoor lifestyle, and when visiting, so should yours. Casual pants or jeans are always a good choice, along with a comfortable (warm in winter) pair of shoes to enjoy the grounds and outdoor areas. In the winter, we recommend dressing in layers so you can move freely between the indoor areas and any outdoor activities you may want to participate in.
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How you want to enjoy 4 Eagle Ranch is truly up to you. While there may be scheduled activities in which to participate, many times, our guests simply enjoy the serenity and natural surroundings our location offers. Step outside by the fireplace or campfire. Gaze at the surrounding mountains that many native Colorado animal species call home. Or just become immersed in the heavens above, replete with an endless blue sky or the vastness of the evening’s stars.
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Our aim is to have you become part of what we so enjoy sharing. The staff prides themselves on delivering a guest experience that will have you asking to return time and time again. Should we ever be able to improve your time with us, please do not hesitate to let us know. We encourage you to become part of Colorado’s history through your immersion in the 4 Eagle Ranch way of life. It’s truly magical!
OUR PURPOSE
Beyond creating genuine people-connecting experiences with our venues, weddings, and group events, we use our work to benefit a higher cause.
When you book an event at 4 Eagle Ranch, you help us “share the love of Jesus in tangible ways.” We donate our services and net profits to people in need benefiting "the least of these." (Matthew 25:40).
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The 4 Eagle Foundation is a 501(C)3 non-profit corporation, and its mission involves developing and supporting leaders around the principles modeled by Jesus of Nazareth.
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4 Eagle Ranch History
Homesteaded in 1885 by the John Welsh Family, the property now known as 4 Eagle Ranch served as the center of a large cattle and sheep operation. The Welsh family, originally from Michigan, lived on the ranch until 1929. In later years, their daughter Sally and son-in-law George Hartman built the big white farmhouse and carriage house in 1925. After a major renovation in 2011, it’s now called the Homestead House and serves a guest house. The Carriage House was turned into a dining and dance venue for groups and the public.
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The ranch changed hands several times over the next sixty years. Once part of a 30,000-deeded acre ranch with a million acres of leased grazing rights, the property was one of the largest ranches in the Central Rockies with grazing rights all the way to the Eisenhower Tunnel. Our 1,100-acre spread is surrounded by hillsides filled with sage brush, mountain flowers and trails where the Ute Indians once made their camps.
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In February of 1991, Tom and Tess Backhus transformed the ranch to accommodate groups, weddings, and individual guests, providing a taste of both the true American West and genuine Colorado.
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The 4 Eagle Foundation acquired the ranch in May of 2010 and has been busy with upgrades since. The Foundation uses the ranch to offer a unique blend of outdoor activities, focused small group time, and spiritual direction to enhance the potential of families, communities, educational, governmental, and non-profit organizations. It is dedicated to developing leaders around the globe through teaching and mentoring the principles modeled by the life of Jesus of Nazareth.
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In addition to the Welsh estate, the property now includes Nelson Cabin (Circa 1890), which is a log cabin relocated from Minturn and now used as a venue for our Sleigh Ride Dinners and private events. The original homesteader cabins, where the Welsh family first lived, are also still on the property, and guests are encouraged to wander through them to see what it was like to live on a remote ranch in the 1800’s.
