Organizational Chart:
- Ellen doesn’t report to anyone
- Dan, the Front-of-the-House Manager (Jeff), Marketing and Events Manager report to Ellen.
- Barn Manager Mac reports to Dan
- All wranglers report to Barn Manager (except when “loaned” to another Manager).
- All kitchen and housekeeping staff report to Front-of-the-House Manager Jeff (except when “loaned” to another Manager).
- When the Events Manager is hosting a wedding or other event, we ALL report to her and do whatever she asks, preferably without bitching.
Each staff member will be given a personal weekly schedule with assigned days off and assigned duties each day (such as feeding horses, scullery wench, rifle range master or campfire s’mores-maker, etc.). This weekly schedule will repeat each week, not changing EXCEPT:
- when Events Manager has last minute weddings/events booking,
- a neighbor needs help with an emergency,
- significant guest requirements arise (such as handicapped guests) or
- staff members are added or removed from the schedule (we encourage a mid-season break for each of us).
- If Lassie is telling us that Tommy fell down the well (again…)
[You MUST have a Gmail account to access weekly schedules and lots of other documents that we share on GoogleDrive.]
Before breakfast each morning, all Managers will meet for a 5 minute stand-up meeting to confirm staff assignments or last minute changes & additions.
Immediately after breakfast each manager then meets with her/his staff to confirm the day’s assignments.
If staff members are “loaned” to another manager, they will report to that manager for the remainder of the day or until told otherwise. That manager will report back to make sure that all loaned staff members preformed duties to the best of their ability (or otherwise).
Note well: one of the things that makes our ranch stand out from other ranches is our willingness to be as flexible as possible. The only thing that you can depend on around here is change. There will be days (such as when we have a severely handicapped guest, a neighbor in need or a last minute event booking) when your assignment may change three times!
This means that you will always be on a team, and that team is likely to change every day! If you require repetition, consistency, and/or lots of supervision, you will not be happy here.
Your packing list – what to bring.
Other basic information and critically important articles you must know before you arrive.
Guide to the folks around here in no particular order (except the ghost is last)…
Dude Ranch Staff: Ellen & Dan
E-mail: Ellen@sundancetrail.com and Dan@sundancetrail.com
Position: Mainly Owners, but they do everything.
Comments: Ellen & Dan will be married for 50 years in May, and are parents of three children: Teresa, Gary & Peter (who are now grown). Most of their married life was spent in Michigan, but they also lived in Texas for a few years before buying the STR. They are both RN’s by training; Dan has been a home care & hospice administrator, Ellen is a Woman’s Health Nurse Practitioner.
Ellen is sometimes referred to as HMTRQ or just RQ for “Her Majesty the Ranch Queen.” Dan is referred to as the AO which stands for… well, never mind….
I am going into my sophomore year as a psychology major at The University of Cincinnati. I’m studying psychology because I wanted to know what was wrong with me (obviously something since I am basing my life around horses.)
Speaking of horses, I grew up around these things. I used to have two thoroughbreds and a quarter horse that I rode all the time, though my family hasn’t owned horses for a few years now.
To scratch that horse itch I spent last summer on Mackinac Island driving draft horses. Currently I work as a barn manager for a small horse barn right here in Ohio.
I’m very excited to meet everyone and spend the summer at Sundance. This will be my first time visiting Colorado, and this will actually be the farthest west anyone in my family has ever been.
If anyone want to add me on social media, feel free to follow me on Instagram @Kylepheltton
Name: Remy
Dates: Summer 2024Hey y’all! I’m Remy and I’m from North Carolina. I graduated from Appalachian State University with a B.S. in Recreation Management, Outdoor Experiential Education in 2023.
I’ve worked with young people in various settings, mainly outdoors. I’ve led climbing, caving, backpacking, camping, canoeing, and more for kids, teens, and young adults. I enjoy helping people get outside, creating unforgettable experiences, introducing new pastimes, and helping ignite new passions among others.
I grew up with horses – my family had a few horses and we rode at a local barn, mainly trail riding. I worked at a stable for a little while as a teen, feeding, cleaning and otherwise caring for the horses. This will be my first season on a dude ranch. I’m excited to get back in the saddle this summer.
I’m into all things outdoors! I love nature, mountains, and exploring. Some of my favorite activities are climbing, paddling, caving, and snowboarding. My dog named Friday, who will be coming along with me this season, is my partner in crime.
I look forward to meeting you all!
Name: Jenna Wallner
Position: Wrangler
Dates: Summer 2024
Hello everyone!! My name is Jenna 🙂 I am from Indiana(aka the flatlands), and I could not be more excited to be in the Rockies again! I am a senior at Purdue University studying Brain and Behavioral Sciences and Data Science. I hope to go into psychological research for my “adult job”. I enjoyed watching Purdue basketball games and doing things with my sorority during my time here. Some of my hobbies include hiking, baking, road-tripping, listening to crime podcasts, and spending time with friends/family. I am a huge dog person and am going to be missing my dog, Sandy, this summer.
I have loved horses ever since I could remember (I hesitate to use the phrase “horse girl”). I grew up on Spirit (the original 2002 version, obviously) and got around horses any chance I got. I volunteered for a hippotherapy barn and enjoyed combining my passion for helping people with my love of horses. I worked one summer at a girl’s camp in North Carolina as a “wrangler/camp counselor” and I loved it! My favorite part was watching girls who were initially scared of horses with the biggest grin on their faces once they were riding. The next summer I decided to fulfill my bucket list item of “working on a dude ranch” and I was hooked!! After I came home, I told my parents that it was not a “one-time thing”!
In my humble opinion, there is nothing better than being in the mountains and getting to ride every day and see people in awe of nature. I’ll be honest, being on the ranch encouraged me to get off my phone and have genuine experiences and connections with others which is something I’m trying to do more of! I am so excited to meet everyone and get to know you!
My Instagram is jenna_wallner22 (I’d love to start getting to know each other before getting there!)
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Name: Joe Wineland (aka “Papa Joe”)
Season: Summer 2024
Hi everyone! Here’s a little about me… I was raised on a small farm in the lower peninsula of Michigan where we
had just about every animal imaginable, but the most memorable ones were the ponies; they were so much fun to ride and drive! My siblings and I spent the majority of our time outdoors as my dad loved everything outdoors which I will forever be grateful for. While attending Eastern Michigan University, I spent two summers working on Mackinac Island driving light and draft horses while giving historical tours. After graduation, I started my first career in the group travel business where I worked primarily in operations, but also drove motor coaches and did some tour directing. After twenty-five plus years, it was time for a change so my wife and I went on the road and have been doing seasonal work for the majority of the past twenty years. Our first job was on a dude ranch in Utah, where I found my new passion – helping people connect to horses and the outdoors. Sundance Trails will be the sixth dude ranch for me and I am excited to help guests make memories, have amazing experiences outdoors, improve their riding skills and connect in a special way with their horse.
During my free time, I enjoy hiking with my wife (Patty) and our Australian Shepherd/Texas Cattle Dog (Chip), cooking, reading, and watching podcasts/videos/documentaries on healthy living. We have five adult children and have been blessed with seven grandchildren; number eight will be born while we’re at the ranch! I look forward to working with all of you and getting to know you over the summer.
Still working on uploading this!
Hello, my name is Christian Cordell and I’m from North Georgia. I’m a very enthusiastic outdoorsman that loves to backpack, snowboard, fish, and shoot guns. Being outside is a passion of mine that drives me to adventure as much as possible. I love to travel and have been out of the country over 30 times. Hopefully before I pass, I’ll be able to visit every country in the world. At a previous job, I was a tour guide for horseback riding in the Blue Ridge mountains and it was the most enjoyable job I have ever had. I’m looking forward to moving out to Colorado and starting a new chapter with wonderful people and even better memories. Can’t wait to see y’all out there!!!
SUMMER 2024 HOUSE STAFF:
Name: Jeffery
Dates: ForeverHowdy everyone! My name is Jeffery and I’m head of the Lodge Staff. Lodge staff includes all of the housekeepers, kitchen staff and activities. Do you like to go rock-climbing, hiking, shooting, fishing, or helping little ones with crafts? Let me know and I can set that up! You will see me and my pup, Luna, walking around the ranch always on our way to go do something. I have two grown children; one is in the Navy and one is in the Air Force. This is my first year on the ranch and I look forward to a great season!
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Name: Michelle Hernandez
Position: Lodge Staff
Dates: 05/01/24 – 10/31/24
Hey, hey! A native of sunny Southern California, I grew up in the San Bernardino National Forest on my family’s hobby farm. Equally at home with chickens, sheep, and llamas, I am an outdoor athlete and love swimming, hiking, running, yoga, surfing, water polo, picnics and just about anything outdoors! After 15 years in education, teaching on five continents, and living in 7 countries I am so excited to be exploring my own backyard and seeing everything Colorado/the Southwest has to offer. I love group activities and having fun. Equally exciting is meeting others; I would love to hear your story as we enjoy this beautiful place together!
Name: Alina Fayuk
Position: Lodge Staff
Dates: May 2024 – October 2024Position: Assistant Cook
Dates: 05/01/24 – 10/31/24
SUMMER 2024 EVENTS STAFF:
Barn Cats: Nameless Nubbs, Chocolate, Whopper, Yellow, and Grey
Bios: You will never see Nubbs or Whopper except for the occasional glimpse (they’re feral). Chocolate will walk under your feet until you pick her up (she loves people). Yellow and Grey love any kind of attention, but Grey is a little shy.
Dude Ranch Staff: Lady Catherine Moon 
The Story of Princess Redfeather (Tsianina Redfeather Blackstone)
This is the story of the Indian princess for whom Red Feather Lakes is named.
Tsianina Redfeather was born December 13, 1882, in the Indian reservation territory of Oklahoma. Her Creek and Cherokee ancestors were uprooted from their southeastern United States homeland, then forced to march to the Oklahoma Territory between 1820 and 1842. So many died along the way that it was called the “Trail of Tears.”
Princess Red Feather
All of her seven sisters and two brothers had musical talent, but Tsianina’s was outstanding. She won scholarships to study music in Denver and New York. In Denver she met composer and pianist Charles Wakefield Cadman. After that, she toured the world as a mezzo-soprano, often with Cadman. The opera “Shanewis” written by Cadman, was based on Tsianina’s life story which she performed at the New York Metropolitan Opera in 1918.
Her theme song was Cadman’s “Land of Sky Blue Water,” but “Indian Love Call” was another of her famous songs. She also sang tribal songs in 7 or 8 different tribal tongues. She toured all over the world, even in Europe during World War I.
While touring, she wore traditional clothing of soft leather; she braided her hair and wore headbands she beaded herself.
In 1922 she was touring the country when Dr. D.O. Norton heard her sing. He and several men who had invested in resort property northwest of Fort Collins decided to name the small mountain village in her honor, so they called it Red Feather Lakes. They also gave Indian names to many of the area’s lakes: Hiawatha, Ramona, Apache and Shagwa.
She worked with various organizations to help her people. One group helped to get American Indians their US citizenship. She also founded the American Foundation for the Education of the American Indians and the First Daughters of America. She wrote a book titled “Where Trails Have Led Me.”
Princess Tsianina is remembered as someone who charmed the world as a mezzo-soprano, pianist, writer, composer and a politician who did much for her people. This remarkable woman truly deserved having the beautiful mountains of Red Feather Lakes, Colorado, named for her.