History of the Ranch

 1890’s Beginnings 
In the 1890’s John Osgood hired four families to homestead what is now known as the Darien Ranch, located just west of Marble. John Osgood was the founder of Redstone and his private residence was the 42,000 square foot building called Cleveholm Manor or the Redstone Castle. Osgood was instrumental in starting the Crystal River Railroad Company, which ran from Carbondale to Marble, to serve his expanding empire. The rail line served the coke ovens in Redstone, the coal mines in Coal Basin and served as transportation from Marble to Carbondale. The railroad ran through the Darien Ranch with a water stop at the old mining town of Camp Genter. The concrete walls that held the tipple, where coal was loaded onto the rail cars, can still be seen to the south side of the ranch access.

1938-1975 Marble Ski Resort 
In 1938 Gus Darien, and two of his brothers, Hank and Jim, purchased the Darien Ranch from John Osgood’s widow, Lady Bountiful. From 1939 until his death in 1955, Hank lived on the ranch and made many improvements, such as adding a new house, new barns and 9 guest cabins. After Hank’s passing, Gus purchased Jim’s share of the ranch. Starting in 1955, Gus and his wife Elda then spent the summers in the house on the old ranch.
In 1967 Gus was approached to sell the ranch for a golf course to go along with the dream of a ski area above Marble.  A portion of the Darien ranch was sold, but by 1973 the ski area was in bankruptcy and all but 74 acres was returned to the Darien family. In 1975 Gus and Elda split the 53 acres between their sons, Larry and Leiford.

1979-1989 Miracle Acres
In the fall of 1979, Larry married Dana McBrayer, on the banks of the Crystal River, in the area now called Miracle Acres. In the winter of 1979-80, Larry and Dana decided that it was time to follow their dream to move to Marble and earn a living on the ranch. In April of 1981, they made the jump. In 1982, Larry and Dana started Twin Pines Outfitting business. Dana, Larry and their children moved into the new house in January of 1982. Twins Pines Outfitting business existed until 1989 with many Guests having enjoyed horseback rides, pack trips and hunting trips in the surrounding wilderness. 

1998-2007 Business Ventures
In 1998, the pasture and stables were leased to the current outfitter, Outwest Guides.  Ute Meadows Inn was built in 1998 for visitors traveling to Marble.  In 1999 the Ute Meadow Nordic Center was started, followed by the addition of Gus’s BBQ Shop, ski rental shop and warming hut in 2000. The Nordic Center was the first business to be phased out in the winter of 2006-2007. Gus’s BBQ Shop continued through the fall of 2007. The Ute Meadows Inn’s last Guests visited until October 2007.

2006 Conservation Easement
The Darien’s were made an offer on the ranch, almost impossible to pass up.  But pass it up they did, instead they decided to put most of the ranch in a Conservation Easement to protect the family ranch from future development.

2007-2017
After closing down all the family businesses, Dana and Larry spent these years enjoying the ranch, riding horses, moving cows, 4 wheeling and hunting.  In 2015 Dana passed away and Larry was faced with what to do with the ranch and Ute Meadows Inn.  

2018-Present
In 2018, Larry’s new Darien Ranch Lodge business focused on seminars, family reunions and weddings. In 2019, the Darien Ranch Lodge expanded to include Guests lodging from all over the world.

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