Gunnison, Colorado is full of mining history. If you look at a map of the area many of the towns, waterways, and geographical features were named by either miners or Native American groups. But in the late 1880’s, the Natives were forced into Utah and cattlemen and ranchers began to move into the area. According to the National Park Service, by 1900 ranching replaced mining as the number one industry in the Gunnison area, including Iola, Colorado.
The Gunnison River has always served as the lifeblood for residents of the area, but ranchers really began taking advantage of the river in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These folks would build their homes near the river and use the water for fishing, irrigation, and entertainment. Sometime around the 1930s, ranchers learned they could entertain guests with guided fishing tours, horseback rides, and other ranch related activities. So, from around 1930 until the early to mid 1960s, the Gunnison River west of town to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison was home to several family ranches where visitors could get a real “wild west” experience. This led many of the ranch families to build cabins for lodging.
Blue Mesa’s Rippling River Ranch
One such ranch was called Eden’s Resort, located just outside the now submerged town of Iola. Founded in 1896, Iola was nestled along the Gunnison River in Gunnison County. The town served as a vital hub for transportation and commerce, benefiting from its strategic location on the river. With a population that peaked at a few hundred residents, Iola boasted a general store, schoolhouse, and several resorts that attracted tourists seeking the area’s natural beauty and recreational opportunities.
In 1947 Eden’s Resort was purchased by a man named Richard Steckel and renamed Rippling River Ranch. At its peak, Rippling River Ranch was a flourishing guest ranch. According to David M. Primus in his book titled, Beneath the Blue Mesa: The Gunnison River Valley Before the Reservoir
Rippling River Ranch offered it all: fishing, hunting, moonlight hayrides, ghost town tours, shooting, shuffleboard, badminton, croquet, horseshoes, and ping-pong. Guests could ride horses, burros, and Shetland ponies, and take an overnight camping trip to the Thunderbird Ranch, 20 miles to the south. Richard was famous for his family-style ranch meals, asking his guests to dress up for dinner.
In the 1960s, the decision was made to dam the Gunnison River to create the Blue Mesa Reservoir. As a result, all of the ranch families in the area had to move from their homes. Existing buildings had to go for fear that they would float to the surface when the reservoir was flooded, so for the most part these structures were either sold or burned.
Stay in the Historic Rippling River Ranch Today!
Fortunately, one of the cabins was saved and transported to Island Acres Resort Motel, just west of the town of Gunnison. This cabin still stands and continues to function as a guest house for visitors of the area looking for adventure in the area. Fishermen, biking enthusiasts, and other groups of guests continue to rent this cabin for the unique outdoor adventures, similar to guests of the past.
If you’re looking for your next mountain getaway vacation rental, we invite you to book a stay at the Rippling River Ranch cabin and experience this incredible piece of Colorado history! Now restored and renovated into a 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom cabin, this rental is equipped with all the amenities you need. Plus, you have access to the tree-filled parks on our Gunnison River-adjacent property, which include picnic tables, fire pits, and more!
Book your Rippling River Ranch Retreat!
Our one-of-a-kind cabin is a historic building we reconfigured into a 3-bedroom, 3-bath rental with a kitchen, dining space, and living room area. The cabin is furnished with fun, period pieces, including a 1959 GE electric pink stove and matching refrigerator, a 1960s Formica dining table, and more. Two bedrooms feature one king bed, and the third bedroom features two queen beds. Each bedroom includes its own separate bathroom. Outdoor seating is available to gather for meals just outside Maximum occupancy for the cabin is 9 guests. To sleep 9, one guest will be sleeping on a pullout sofa so should be age 12 or younger.
Book your stay today!
Book your stay at Island Acres Resort Motel today, your home base in the Gunnison Valley!
Enhance Your Gunnison Stay with a Nordic Sauna Experience
The Norra Dalen Nordic Sauna, a mobile sauna rental based is available, by request, right here at Island Acres!
Exploring the Rich Mining History of Gunnison, Colorado
Gunnison County is no stranger to gold rush dreams, boomtown drama, and the resilience of those who carved a life out of the high country.
Preserving Local History at Island Acres Resort
Sitting on an island straddled by two forks of the Gunnison River, Island Acres Resort Motel stands as a living testament to mid-century Americana and the vision of its founder, Elmo Bevington. Established in the 1950s, this restored historic tourist court motel...