The Orient Land Trust protects and shares 2,200 acres of open space located 4-1/2 miles south of Villa Grove, Colorado and 7 miles east of the junction of U.S. Highway 285 and Colorado Highway 17 on Saguache County Road GG (a gravel road). This high-mountain, rural oasis is far removed from gas stations, grocery, and other services. OLT stocks a small selection of local foods and snacks. It is a 175 mile drive from Denver (over 3-1/2 hours), 146 miles from Colorado Springs (over 3 hours), 198 miles from Santa Fe (over 3-1/2 hours) and 260 miles from Albuquerque (4-1/2 hours). The closest towns with services are shown on the maps below.

Everson Ranch

Valley View Hot Springs

Orient Mine and Bat Cave

Orient Land Trust
Home of Valley View Hot Springs, Orient Mine, and Everson Ranch
64393 County Road GG
Moffat, CO 81143-9723
719-256-4315

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Nearest Towns, Facilities, and Attractions

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Our good friend and neighbor, Rick Williams died in mid December. He worked for OLT for more than ten years. Many of you will remember his big smile and friendly welcome. His daughter, Jamie, sent the following remembrance:

Richard Wayne Williams Senior - July 15, 1959 to December 13, 2018

Rick, Ricky, Ricky Racoon, Rudy, Papaw, Shrek, Papa Bear, Brother, Dad passed peacefully in Denver, CO at the age of 59.

Born in Hot Springs, Arkansas on July 15, 1959 to Priscilla Rae and Stanley Williams and raised by his mother and stepfather, Carl Rae. Ricky grew up alongside seven siblings Eddie, Cindy, Bart, David, Greg, Pam and Matt.

He was a loving husband and companion to Cherrye for 29 years with whom he helped raise their three children. As a father he was wonderfully devoted to his three children Jamie, Brandie and Richie.

Papaw was a loving grandfather to his six grandchildren Declan, Talyn, Jaelyne, Peyton, Shane and Jordy.

Ricky was a driven and hard-working man with numerous talents and trades. When his family was young and living in Mt. Ida, Arkansas he held many titles including electrician at Summitts, a janitor at a local shoe factory and a night time security guard at Mountain Harbor. He eventually quit his job as a security guard and started his own cleaning business. His children will never forget the late nights helping him with his jobs which instilled his hard-working mentality into each of them.

In 2001 he fulfilled one of his dreams of living on a ranch in Colorado. He packed up his home in Arkansas and moved to Moffat, CO where he raised his family and continued creating new friendships. He worked for the Orient Land Trust as a maintenance worker and went to school to be a horse farrier which later became his full-time job.

Rick enjoyed coaching his son Richie in football and basketball through all his years of school and continued coaching many years after his children were grown. You could always count on him to be there and support all of his kids' endeavors from Jamie's basketball games to Brandie's football games. He had a passion for coaching and teaching where he touched many hearts.

Papaw was most proud of his grandchildren and they could always count on him to teach them the good from the bad. The kids always thought they were in another world when they were with their Papaw. He afforded them the freedom to explore wherever their hearts desired while still teaching them valuable lessons along the way.

Rick always had a smile on his face no matter what the situation was. He was always forgiving and never judgmental. Always supportive and known for making people laugh. He was always talking to people and making friends wherever he went, he was a man of many "best friends."
Whether it was riding his horses or his Harley he would always have a story to tell about his journey. He will be missed by many, but his spirit and passion will live on through the teaching and coaching he provided to his children, grandchildren, and all others that had the opportunity to learn from him.

Mamaw said it best, you do have the best "home" out of any of us. Fly high and go wherever the road takes you because there are no limits where you are now.

Winter is a beautiful time to visit Valley View Hot Springs. There is nothing like soaking in hot water while the snow is gently falling! We are located at 8,700 feet to 9,100 feet in elevation with great differences in our daily high and low temperatures. Knowing what to expect and a little planning during winter time will make your visit much more enjoyable and safer.

We have eleven pools and ponds spread out over a quarter of a mile with a 400 foot elevation gain. The ponds are connected by foot trails. Expect uneven ground which may be snow packed and icy. Many guests use hiking poles to climb to the top ponds when trails are slick. The six natural ponds have temperatures ranging from 92 degrees to 101. We have a large swimming pool that ranges between 86 and 90 degrees. The Apple Tree Pools are two man made pools where we use our EXTRA hydro electricity to raise the water temperature which ranges from the mid 90's to 106 degrees. The temperature can vary greatly depending on electrical production and use. We cannot guarantee those higher temperatures anytime as the temperature depends on many variables. Winter months, when the temperatures are colder, the pools will likely be less hot.

Day visitors are encouraged to come early while the sun is shining so you can enjoy the natural ponds. Air temperatures drop when the sun sets, so the Apple Tree Pools and Sauna may see more soakers.

Sunset House and Spruce Lodge have in-floor geothermal heat and are usually nice and toasty. The five cabins also have in floor geothermal heat and one small electric wall heater. Keep in mind that if the cabins are warm, leave that electric heater off! Never turn on the electric heater and then open doors and windows to cool down the cabin. Oak house has new geothermal baseboard heat in the living room to help with electrical usage. There are electric heaters in rooms and the living room as well. Use electric heaters as needed and never open the windows to cool down the temperatures while the heaters are on. The more electricity we conserve, the more EXTRA electricity we have to heat the Apple Tree Pools!

Winter camping can be wonderful if you have the right equipment. Our nighttime temperatures often get well below zero, so a four season (-20 degrees) sleeping bag and all season tent are more comfortable. If you are tent camping, you park in the parking lot and hike into a tent sites. We do not maintain our tent sites over the winter, so be prepared to shovel your way in and prepare the site. We do not charge for the tent sites during winter months. If you are vehicle camping, we have limited access during the winter and do not plow the upper RV loop. When snowy, sites I though P are not available. Sites A through H, plus R, S, T, V & W are available with eight of those sites having 20 amp electrical service. You may not run your vehicle for heat or use a generator as it puts emissions into the air and disturbs the peace. The silence of nature is one of our assets and no one wants to hear engines running all night, so be prepared with warm bedding! If you do get cold, keep in mind that the Welcome Center guest area is open all night so you can warm up with a hot cup of cocoa or tea. Also the sauna is a great place for campers to warm up before climbing into their sleeping bags.

County Road GG is eight miles of gravel road and is plowed by the county. OLT staff maintains the half mile long driveway. Windy weather in the valley often causes snow drifts and slick surfaces. A good vehicle with winter tires is very helpful. Bald or summer tires and two wheel drive is not recommended during severe weather.

A little bit of thoughtful preparation will go a long way in making your winter visit to Valley View a pleasant and comfortable experience. Bring warm clothing, good hiking shoes and snow boots, hats, gloves, warm socks, flash lights and very warm bedding if you're camping.

Before you leave home, check out a great website to see road conditions: www.cotrip.org. This website provides up to date information on roads throughout Colorado. There are several great weather pages including Weather Underground and NOAA, the closest town for the most accurate temperatures would be Villa Grove, CO. If you are a cross country skier or like to snowshoe, our hiking trails can be great fun for winter activities. Please feel free to call the office for up to date information, we are happy to answer your questions!

Everyday we have guests who arrive unprepared, who think they will "rough it out" camping or arrive with no understanding about the conditions here. Please plan ahead, be responsible, be proactive in planning your visit for the safety and happiness of all. Thanks and Happy Winter!

The goats are giving birth to their kids. As of December 28, there were six kids with more nannies showing signs of imminent delivery. We had a significant storm on the 28th and the wind blew and the snow drifted. The newborns were tucked into a shelter and are holding up well.

Last year we added two Nubian does to our heard in hopes of starting up a dairy program. We are happy to announce that one of them has given birth to our first nubian kid! The Anglo-Nubian goat, simply known as the Nubian goat, gets its name from a northern, desert region in the African continent. Even though it has its roots in the middle East and Africa, the breed was developed in Britain by crossing English goats with exotic bucks. It was imported in America in the early 1900s.

Often referred to as the Jersey of the dairy-goat world, this goat breed is one of the best-known sources for milk, given to its high butterfat content of between 4 - 5 percent, which is ideal for making yogurt, cheese, and soap.

In addition to the new kids, there have been two baby lambs born! A few months ago we were blessed with the opportunity to adopt a small herd of sheep from a neighbor. The sheep have done well to fit right in to our little melange and we are excited about their unique characteristics that will add to our ranch programs.

Ranch tours are still available in the colder months so come on down and visit the animals and enjoy the winter beauty of the ranch.

Non-smoking, NO PETS ALLOWED, shared kitchen, shared dining and living rooms, choice of a single or double bed room, full-size beds, shared shower and tub and separate shared half-bath

For those of you ready to make plans for the 2019 Member Appreciation Weekend, we have picked the date. The annual celebration will be the weekend before the full moon in July: July 12 and 13. The Full Moon is the following Tuesday making for bright skies on the nights of our event. We will be providing more information in the coming months.

This winter, the Sangre de Cristo range is providing less water bubbling up from the springs. Reduced water, resulting from drought, means less electricity produced by our hydroelectric plant. The amount of power we can produce is based on the volume of water as well as the vertical drop. While our vertical drop is constant, the volume of water varies. The heated pools are built to help us regulate the electricity we produce. Electricity provides us with a hot sauna, laundry, stoves and ovens, hot showers, hair dryers, toasters, coffee pots, and electric heat. We are replacing OLT electrical heat with geothermal heat, which frees up kilowatts for other purposes.

The amount of power we can produce is finite and this year is less than last year and less than the past several years. What does this mean? The reality is that the heated pools will not be getting as much electrically heated water. Individual attempts to conserve energy by minimizing other electrical devices will help make sure that there is electricity enough for all, even if the pools won't be as warm.

Be prepared. Wear warm clothing between pools and accommodations. Visit the sauna to get thoroughly warm. While we are making effort to maximize the power available for the heated pools, expect them to be a little cooler this winter. Be conservation minded.

We had plenty of Marigolds in the garden this year. In addition to the cheery flowers they brought to the garden and in vases for the welcome center, they helped protect the vegetables from certain pest and attracted valuable insects as well.  Mexican Marigolds are said to offend a host of destructive insects and wild rabbits as well. The abundance of Calendula in the garden also discouraged in soil borne pests and provided a reservoir for beneficial insects.

7 Benefits of Marigolds

• Lowers Inflammation and Free Radical Damage. ...

• Reduces Eye Inflammation and Conjunctivitis. ...

• Has Natural Antiseptic Properties. ...

• Heals Skin Wounds, Burns and Rashes. ...

• Helps Reduce Hemorrhoid Pain. ...

• Eases Cramps and Spasms. ...

• Naturally Repels Bugs.

Benefits of Calendula

Calendula is used for treating sore throat and mouth, menstrual cramps, cancer, and stomach and duodenal ulcers. Calendula has also been used for measles, smallpox, and jaundice. Calendula is applied to the skin to reduce pain and swelling (inflammation) and to treat poorly healing wounds and leg ulcers.  

Ranch manager Mike grew an interesting pumpkin this year! Nantucket Pie Pumpkin is from an Heirloom non-GMO seed.  A very unusual pumpkin with very long, slender fruits. Best known for its flesh, which is almost stringless and is said to make the most delicious pumpkin pies. Uncommon variety, rarely available in markets. Fruits can grow to 5-8 pounds. Harvested green with an orange spot on the bottom.  Let pumpkin ripen in storage, turning orange for the sweetest flesh inside.

Garden Manager Brian Ross had great success with an heirloom sweet corn!  Any gardener in the valley knows just how hard it is to grow sweet corn in the valley.  We had a wonderful crop of the most beautiful sweet corn.

Guests were able to harvest their own produce or purchase from the welcome center.  We also did a few farmers markets and supplied two local health food stores with pumpkins!  Our new garden manager Sabine has been working hard to put the garden to bed for the winter.  She has also planted flower bulbs for next season. As we begin to enjoy this season of peace and tranquility, we look ahead to the next season and the beauty and bounty it will bring.

The deer population at the hot springs is not "ours." They are wild deer even though they act tame. A few of the deer in our area have realized that the hot springs is a safe haven from hunters. From a wildlife management perspective, the deer have overpopulated the Sangre de Cristo range and the hot springs shares in that problem. The best solution would be to thin the herd but managing a hunt here would be difficult and would generate harsh criticism from visitors.

Deer are browsers. Their natural diet is forbs and branches. They don't eat much grass but they do eat the new growth on trees (oaks, cottonwoods, aspen), and bushes (currants, willow, mountain mahogany, wild roses, and other leafy bushes). Unfortunately, people also feed the deer, which has made them less wary and "spoiled" their appetite for their normal food. There are a lot of trees and bushes here so their normal sources of food are sufficient even though their numbers are more than the normal carrying capacity of this environment.

Natural habitat for deer includes predators such as coyotes and mountain lions as well as thinning of the herd due to harsh winters and cold. Even though there are coyotes and mountain lions nearby, those predators are kept at bay by the consistent human traffic. In addition, we have had several mild winters. This has added to the deer overpopulation.

We ask our guests not to feed the deer. Hand feeding can lead to the deer aggressively begging. While we all enjoy seeing the new fawns every summer and take pleasure in watching the deer at close range, we do not manage the population. The deer are not fed and their only protection is that we do not allow hunting around the hot springs due to safety concerns.

We Give Thanks:

To the land trust founders and their vision to protect and preserve this amazing piece of earth.

To the board of directors who serve with collective experience, skills, knowledge and wise counsel that moves our organization plan forward.

To the dedicated staff motivated by their passion to support OLT's mission and who have helped co-create the ranch component of our educational program.

To the volunteers who have come to help with the work of improving our land resource and are joining in building community that celebrates healthy, local food.

To the guests who visit and tour the ranch, meet the animals and learn about our growing development and how to get involved.

To the land, water and livestock, which nurtures the soil that will help us move toward a secure agricultural future.

For the bounty on our table, the goodness of love, laughter, sun, and rain.

For you!
Happy Thanksgiving