The barn, last day of flooding  |
The Great Flood of 2010
The Centennial Valley saw more flooding this year than it has seen in about 70 years. The Little Laramie River, which is fed by mountain snow, rose steadily over a period of about two weeks before it finally gushed out of the banks in many places. Three forks contribute to the Little Laramie River including the South Fork, Middle Fork, and North Fork. The Middle Fork flows through the Deerwood Ranch and rose so drastically that it has since changed the pattern of the flow. The North Fork flows through Centennial. These two forks are the largest contributors to the river when all forks come together. They peaked at nearly the same time and happen to merge about one mile before the river flows on Vee Bar property. Another major factor contributing to the high water this year was the number of beetle-killed trees in the mountains. Fewer trees (by the thousands) are sucking up water as it tumbles past. For two days the corrals at the barn were flooded before the river actually peaked. When it peaked it flowed out the banks by cabin #1 and surrounded the cabin. A channel formed in the road in front of cabin #1 and washed out the road making it impassable to anything except the tractor or horses. A current of water flowed through the corrals, past The Mansion (Kari & Brent's house) and down the road towards the storage buildings. A sink hole that could have swallowed a small car was also formed near the vet barn. The island near the lodge was under water and our wooden benches were washed all the way across, but somehow not into the main river. We were able to retreive them when it was over. Fortunately, none of the buildings were damaged. The only buildings that actually got flooded were the vet barn and the main barn. Nothing was permanently damaged in either one. If you follow us on Facebook, we have pictures posted! |
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Greetings!
Our summer guest ranch season is over and fall is in the air! So far it's been a good one, and we hope yours has been good, too! Our spring was very cool and wet. It was great for the meadows, but the mountains were still getting snow until June. When it did finally warm up it got hot and the snow melted very fast. This led to flooding that this country has not seen in almost 70 years! It was our first week of guest ranch and the ranch was under water. See more below for the full story! We hope you enjoy the newsletter. Take some time to enjoy a break when you can, and we'll see you soon! Sincerely,
Brent and Kari and the Vee Bar Family
Vee Bar Guest Ranch |
Brent and Kari, July 2010
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News from the Family
In case you just joined our newsletter, the Cole Family owns and operates the Vee Bar Ranch. We enjoy sharing news of our family with you as much as we like hearing your news. For those of you who have been reading this newsletter for quite some time, or who have visited the ranch recently, you would recall that Brent and I were going through a domestic adoption. As it happens, the news has now changed. I am pregnant, expecting our first child (a girl) on November 28. I have had a healthy pregnancy with out complications. Summer activities have kept me very active--and I have been staying off horses. Now that summer guest ranch season is over we'll begin to make more preparations for the baby. Needless to say, the adoption was put on hold. At this time we are not sure if that's permanent, or if someday we'll pursue the option again. |
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Fall Happenings
Over the last month. . .
Fall has been as busy as summer was! With three home football games during September, our weekends have been over-flowing with travelers. In between games we have hosted several events and conferences for the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Association, the Wyoming Department of Education, various departments with in the University of Wyoming, and a large European Tour Group arranged by Wyoming Travel & Tourism.
Upcoming fall events. . .
We are currently open for nightly bed and breakfast. There are no minimum-night stays. On October 1 we begin our off-season rates. We are also open for menu-style dinners on Friday and Saturday nights. These dinners are available to our guests as well as the public--reservations are required. We offer one seating at 7:00 p.m. and there is a cocktail hour in the John Wayne Saloon from 6-7 p.m. We also serve dinner groups (12 + people) on other nights of the week, as long as reservations are made in advance.
Many of you have asked about our TGIF Kickoff's--Thursday Night Specials and when they will be resuming. Thursday nights without an event already in place are a bit scarce this fall. We have been able to schedule a few random "TGIF Kickoffs--Thursday Nights at the Vee Bar" between now and Thanksgiving. After the New Year we'll resume on a more regular schedule. Updates to the schedule will be posted on our website.
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 Win a Vacation at the Vee Bar
Dude Rancher's Association Raffle & Scholarship Benefit
The Dude Rancher's Association (DRA) raffle is back! Win a 6-night guest ranch vacation for two people! Ranches who are a member of the DRA each have the opportunity to sell tickets at their ranch. All tickets from each ranch are pooled together at the annual convention in January and a winner is drawn. The winner must use the vacation at the ranch where the ticket was purchased with in one year. Odds are about 1 in 500. Tickets are $20 each or 6 for $100. Amongst the tickets sold at the Vee Bar, a mini-drawing will be held for a Saturday Night Bed & Breakfast stay. Last year's winner, Linda Yeagy, used her Saturday night stay in conjunction with a 3-night guest ranch stay. Proceeds benefit the DRA's Educational Trust Scholarship Program and Heritage Center. Kari, Meagan, and Mollee all received this scholarship while in school and Darcy, a current employee at the Vee Bar, has received this scholarship two years in a row. For questions or to purchase tickets contact us soon!
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Give us your Feedback
Click on this link to add your review! Reviews on this site not only help travelers learn about us, they help our searchability on the web!
Bed and Breakfast.com
This link will take you to the Vee Bar's website. Scroll to the bottom and click on "write a review."
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Summer 2011
 Now taking reservations for guest ranch vacations during summer of 2011. Guest ranch season is June 5--September 3. Specialty Weeks
Literature & Landscape of the Horse, facilitated by Page Lambert & Sheri Griffith May 28--June 2, 2011.
Ranch Jubilee July 3--9, 2011
Hands On Horse Week August 7--13, 2011
Adult-Only Week August 28--September 3, 2010
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