Untitled - Top50 Ranches

~TALENTWITH TALONSWhen President George H.W Bush wanted to impress the Chinese with a stunning giftrepresenting the American spirit, he sought out wildlife artist Mike Curtis. Renownedfor accurately capturing the grace, strength, and free spirit of our national symbol, Curtishas been observing and sculpting the bald eagle since 1971. His sculpture titled Challenge(shown) - crafted with bronze, silver, and 24kt gold - reveals the fierce, competitivenature of two eagles as they fight to claim a fish that has just been snatched from thewater. The effort Curtis has put into studying the rituals, flights, and hunting techniquesof these majestic creatures has led him to sculpt them with an uncanny realism. Challenge,along with other works by Curtis, is now available through the Indian River Gallery, amuseum-quality showroom in Las Vegas that features works by Southwestern and NativeAmerican artists.FYI: 702.598.3929, www.indianrivergallery.com.-JenningsBrownIN THE CLUBOesigru:d for sitting back with a Scotch and cigar, the club chair originated in the gentlemen'sclubs of yesteryear. Craftsman Tim Lozier of How Kola has given this classic piecea rustic spin, creating a leather armchair to specifically suit the Western gentleman. TheWyoming furnituremaker started with pieces of smooth, sinewyjuniper driftwood and old cedar fence posts that still have holesfrom the staples that held the fence wire, a reminder of the wood'sagricultural past life. The soft, distressed leather cushions makethe chair a luxurious haven for the sitter, butit is the ornate hand-tooling by awardwinningsaddlemaker Keith Seidel thatmakes this a chair to remember.FYI: 307.587.9814,www.howkola.com.34 JUNE 2010

A DREAM DEFERRED"I told my dad, 'When I'm older, I'm going to get a horse,and a gun, and a ranch:" says Ranch at Rock Creek owner JimManley. "He died laughing, but that dream never died."Manley held on to his dream for 43 years, spending 20 ofthem searching tor the perfect property. His ideal ranch paradisewould have lush fields and high alpine meadows at a low altitude.It would have a river running through it and an old mining townnearby. Manley wanted Bonanza's Ponderosa Ranch, but afterpersonally touring 200 properties and viewing about 500 more,he was beginning to think his ideal ranch was just as fictional asthe one that first inspired him to be a cowboy, and he returnedto his office in Greenwich, Connecticut, defeated.Three days later Manley got the call from his broker. Turnsout his Ponderosa was not on the shores of Lake Tahoe but inwestern Montana, just north of Yellowstone National Park.Manley got on the next flight back to cowboy sountry. Theranch was his- the dream fulfilled.Now Manley's 6,600-acre dream ranch is a dream destinationfor the high-class cowboy. Upon arrival it becomes obvious thatThe Ranch at Rock Creek is the realization of a vision that hasbeen brewing for more than four decades, because Manley hasnot missed a single item on the cowhand's fantasy wish list. Theproperty itself has been a working ranch for 120 years, and themain lodge looks as authentic as its surroundings (the structureis new, but the wood and architecture are far from it). Yet theproperty holds all the modern comforts you could ask for: afull-service spa, salon, high-end ranch-style cooking, four-lanebowling alley, and I4-foot HD television. You can stay inside,well-fed and pampered the entire trip, or you can choose to goout and enjoy wildlife-watching (mountain lions, wolves, bears,elk, and deer all frequent the ranch), fly-fishing, archery, rafting,riding, skiing, ice skating, or dog sledding-embarking on yourown personalized adventure on the Ponderosa.FYI: 877.786.1545, www.theranchatrockcreek.com.-JenningsBrown