The Retreat
Turkey Toe Ranch
59 acres in the heart of Colorado's Wet Mountain Valley. A place where the spirit of the Old West meets modern hospitality.
The 4th Place
Turkey Toe is where people come back to reconnect
If home is the first place, work is the second, and bars, coffee shops, and casual gathering spots are the third, Turkey Toe is becoming the fourth place, a destination with enough soul, fun, and shared ritual that people do not just visit once, they build a relationship with it.
Where It All Begins
The 1936 Homestead
The heart of Turkey Toe. This historic log cabin was built by Chuck Kidder in 1936 and has been lovingly restored over decades. Still called the “Old Coffee Place” by locals, it's where the magic happens: gatherings, planning sessions, and unforgettable nights around the woodstove.
“You can always go back to The Turkey Toe; it's a magic place where you never have to grow up.”
This is where every Turkey Toe experience starts, and where every great story ends up being told.
Explore the Property
The Grounds
Turkey Toe spans 59 acres of pristine Colorado ranchland. From the historic 1936 homestead to the legendary Cadillac Wanch 19th Hole, every corner tells a story.
The 1936 Homestead
The heart of Turkey Toe. Built by Chuck Kidder, this historic log cabin hosts gatherings, planning sessions, and unforgettable nights around the woodstove.
Learn moreWanch Golf Course
Short course and long course with an 18-hole loop — plus extended holes being built. Pasture golf meets dream golf — this is Wanch Golf.
Learn moreThe Cadillac Wanch
The legendary 19th Hole. After your round, gather for bourbon, stories, and camaraderie where friendships deepen and the spirit of the West comes alive.
Learn moreStandalone Sleeping + Hangout Spaces
The best flow on the property is to treat these as a connected zone, private sleeping, western character, restored charm, and flexible hangout energy all living together in one part of the Turkey Toe experience.
Loud Guitars
Private retreat feel with king bed, loft, and shower setup.
Sheepherder Wagon
Western character and a step-back-in-time stay with views.
Pheasant Hutch
Restored sleeping quarters with a custom patio hangout.
Eva's Bunk House
Flexible bunkhouse stay with fireplaces, patio, and views.
The Views
Panoramic vistas of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains from every angle. Sunrises, sunsets, and the old-west work ethic all show up in the landscape.
Where You'll Stay
Sleeping Experience
Turkey Toe works best when the stay feels intentional, shared spaces in the homestead, standalone sleeping areas with their own personality, and a few bunk-style options for the bigger crew. It all blends together as one ranch experience instead of separate lodging buckets.
Stay flow
One property, multiple ways to stay
The 1936 Homestead anchors the experience, kitchen, gathering spaces, and the kind of shared rooms that make the ranch feel communal and memorable.
Around it, Loud Guitars, the Sheepherder Wagon, and the Pheasant Hutch now read as standalone sleeping areas, each with its own energy and story, but all connected back to the same core retreat rhythm.
Evas Bunk House and Wanch House round out the larger-group options, and nearby overflow keeps the whole property flexible when the guest list grows.
Capacity snapshot
On-site capacity
About 20 guests across shared rooms, bunk spaces, and standalone stays
Best mix
Core group in the homestead, private sleepers in the standalone areas, overflow in nearby lodge options
Overflow
Lamp Post Lodge →1936 Homestead
main houseThe original ranch house with shared gathering spaces, kitchen, and a mix of king, queen, and twin sleeping rooms.
6 guests
Loud Guitars
standaloneA private retreat room with a king bed, loft, and indoor/outdoor shower setup.
2 guests
Sheepherder Wagon
standaloneA restored western wagon stay with mountain views and a step-back-in-time feel.
2 guests
Pheasant Hutch
standaloneA one-of-a-kind restored sleeping space with twin beds and a custom patio hangout.
2 guests
Evas Bunk House
bunkhouseRustic bunkhouse accommodations for guests who want a classic ranch group stay.
4 guests
Wanch House
bunkhouseLoft-style bunk room with 4 twin beds and relaxed summer-camp-for-grown-ups energy.
4 guests
See the Land
On-Site Activities
And do not forget, the fun does not stop at the front door
Turkey Toe is not just where you sleep, it is where the whole place turns into its own playground. Between the open land, the ranch roads, the golf energy, the gathering zones, and the anything-could-happen spirit of the property, there is always another memory waiting a few steps from your room.
This is the kind of retreat where one moment becomes a story, a rip around the property, a laugh-out-loud adventure, an unexpected photo op, or a sunset mission that somehow becomes the highlight of the trip. The on-site experience is part wild freedom, part Western summer camp, and part creative chaos in the best possible way.
Ride around
Mini bike laps, ranch roads, and easy ways to explore the land.
Play all day
Golf, hangouts, games, and the kind of downtime that never stays quiet for long.
Capture the vibe
Every corner has picture-worthy moments and stories worth retelling.
Starting with this one.
More on-site fun
RC Track Fun
And when the crew wants something fast, loud, and guaranteed to pull everybody in, the RC track delivers. It is part competition, part comedy, and part pure kid-like joy, the kind of on-site activity that instantly turns spectators into participants.
Turkey Toe has room for the polished moments and the playful ones, and this one lands squarely in the playful hall of fame.
Creative on-site fun
Art Projects like Tie-Dye Shirts
Turkey Toe is not all throttle and trail dust. Sometimes the best kind of fun is a table full of color, kids and grownups getting messy, and custom tie-dye shirts that turn into wearable souvenirs from the trip.
Judy Gebben has set up Eva's Bunkhouse with all kinds of art activities from her teaching days, including a kiln for pottery classes. It is part art studio, part memory-making station, and part Turkey Toe magic, giving guests creative reasons to gather, make something by hand, and come home with more than just photos.
Signature Adventure
Great Sand Dunes Hike
The coolest end to a hike and hang at the beach in May. It is one of the most unforgettable off-ranch adventures near Turkey Toe, equal parts alpine road trip, dune climb, and barefoot splash zone. Most of the year the creek is bone dry, and the runoff only shows up after snowmelt when there is enough snow in the mountains.
Why it is worth it
Great Sand Dunes National Park delivers a full-day memory maker, massive dunes framed by the Sangre de Cristo range, a leg-burning climb, and then a beach-like cool down at the base. It is an easy pick for guests who want the most dramatic nearby landscape.
Drive from Turkey Toe
About 1.5 to 2 hours each way
Best vibe
Spring hike + beach hang
Bring
Water, layers, sun protection, towel
Maps and route details
Click on the photos to see the details.
The plan
Head out from the ranch in the morning, make the scenic drive into the San Luis Valley, and hike out onto the dunes. If there has been enough mountain snowmelt, Medano Creek can create the sandy beach hang at the base, but most of the year it is bone dry.
Good to know
Sand can get hot later in the day, wind can pick up fast, and there is very little shade. Earlier starts are usually the move. Shoes you can take on and off easily help a lot. Water only flows during runoff season, and only if there is enough snowmelt to make it to the valley floor.
Best for
Guests who want a wow-factor Colorado outing, families who like adventure, and anyone excited by a dune hike with epic scenery, plus seasonal runoff when the snowpack cooperates.
Photo gallery
Click any photo to open it full screen.
Beyond the Ranch
More Area Attractions
The Wet Mountain Valley has plenty more adventures waiting nearby.
Bishops Castle
For nearly 60 years, Jim Bishop has been constructing one of the most impressive monuments in Colorado. Three full stories of interior rooms, a Grand Ballroom, soaring towers with hundred-mile vistas, and a Fire-Breathing Dragon make this an unforgettable experience. Always free and open to visitors.
Learn more
Sangre de Cristo Mountains
One of the longest mountain ranges on Earth, stretching from Central Colorado to New Mexico. Home to ten 14,000-foot peaks and more than two dozen 13,000-foot peaks. The backdrop to every Turkey Toe experience.
Learn moreHiking Marble Peak
More area adventures
Waterfall Hike
The Waterfall Hike gives guests a different reward depending on the season, rushing water, changing colors, unexpected forest details, and little discoveries that make the same trail feel new again. It is exactly the kind of experience that gives people a reason to come back to Turkey Toe and see what the mountain is doing this time.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Named #3 Best Zoo in North America by USA TODAY. America's only mountain zoo offers way more than just watching, create memories for a lifetime. Great stop halfway to the retreat, about 90 minutes from Turkey Toe.
Learn more
Lathrop State Park
Colorado's first state park, 1,451 acres of recreational enjoyment in the shadow of the Spanish Peaks. Two lakes offer boating and fishing. About one hour from Turkey Toe.
Learn more
More area adventures
Beach Day at Lathrop State Park
Lathrop is not just a scenic stop, it is a family memory maker. Sandy shoreline, mountain air, and easy water access make it a perfect add-on when guests want a relaxed adventure that still feels distinctly Colorado.
Lathrop State Park
Exploring the Park
Location
184 Co Rd 130
Westcliffe, CO 81252
Nestled in the Wet Mountain Valley with panoramic views of the Sangre de Cristo range. Two hours from Colorado Springs, a world away from everything else.
Want to Visit?
Turkey Toe is a private retreat. Get in touch to learn about visiting or see our upcoming events.