BLAST INTO THE PAST

At Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site, you don't need a time machine to travel to the past.

The ranch, a 277-acre working farm, is a living-history museum. In other words, the educators here don't lecture about history, they practice it.

The ranch is full of employees and volunteers dressed in turn-of- the-century garb. Animals wander the facilities, gardens of food to be harvested adorn the land and employees give various demonstrations.

Visitors can view this trueto-life history at the 1860s Galloway Homestead, the 1880s Chambers Farm and the 1907 Orchard House.

History: In 1874, homesteader Walter Galloway sold the ranch to the Robert Chambers family for $1,400. After 26 years at the ranch, the Chambers family sold the property to Gen. William Jackson Palmer.

Palmer eventually acquired about 11,000 acres in the area for water rights.

The 1907 Orchard House, built during Gen. Palmer's ownership, was remarkably modern for its time. The house had electricity, hot water and central heating.

The City of Colorado Springs purchased the ranch land in 1968. The living-history program was introduced in 1978.

Our favorite part: The annual Labor Day vintage baseball game. Watch baseball played like it was 1880 -- all heart and no multimillion dollar contracts. The Rock Ledge Ranch's local team, the Camp Creek Cloud Busters, battles its in-state rival, the Colorado All-Stars.

You can sit in the grass and enjoy a home-packed picnic or enjoy the concessions available at the ranch: popcorn, hot dogs and sarsaparilla. Join in with the other cranks (that's what baseball spectators were called at the turn of the past century) and cheer on the Cloud Busters.

Bet you didn't know: You can get married at the ranch. The American Mother's Chapel at Rock Ledge ranch would be pleased to host your outdoor wedding. Cost is $100 for wedding parties of 15 or fewer.

Kids will love: Learning about the homestead from junior docents, youth interpreters who work with children. Kids will learn about games children played during the homestead era in addition to the daily operations of the ranch. Children will enjoy the ranch's hands- on approach; visitors are welcome to help out with essential ranch operations such as picking rhubarb in the garden.

Kids also love the animals. Most of the ranch's livestock roam freely. Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site employees boast that kids who visit the ranch are especially fond of a cow named Patches.

Special occasions: Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site has an interesting event planned almost every week during summer. Sheep shearing is the first event of the year, on Saturday. As the ranch's sheep population receives summer buzz cuts, the newly cut hair goes right to use: The Pikes Peak Weavers Guild will demonstrate weaving, spinning and wool dying throughout the day.

The ranch also hosts a free summer concert series featuring Mark Gardner and Rex Rideout on June 17, Jon Chandler and the Wichitones on July 15 and The Erica Brown Band on Aug. 20. Each concert begins at 7 p.m.

Other events include the Southern Colorado Bluegrass and Culinary Arts Festival on Aug. 27, a folk arts festival Sept. 16-18, an autumn harvest festival Oct. 1, traditional hog processing Nov. 12 and the annual vintage baseball game on Labor Day.

Dress for the occasion: You'll be parading around in the great outdoors, so wear comfortable clothing and shoes.

Busiest days: On July 4, the ranch is humming with activity. Labor Day and the featured 1880s-era baseball game draw a large crowd as well.

Best time to visit: Weekdays, if you want to avoid the largest tourist masses; weekends tend to be significantly busier at the ranch. June is the slowest summer month at the ranch, so if you want quiet time, a weekday in June might be your best bet.

Souvenirs and snacks: At The Heritage Shop you can purchase all the touristy trinkets you desire, including books, toys from the period and penny candy (which costs more than that these days).

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ROCK LEDGE RANCH HISTORIC SITE

Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays today through Labor Day. During the fall months, the ranch hosts many special events at specific times on selected days.

Cost: Admission is $5 for adults; $3 for seniors 55 and older and youths ages 13-18; $1 for children ages 6-12; and free for children younger than 6 and members of the Living History Association.

Tours: Guests lead themselves across the ranch, but trained guides in garb from the era lead tours of specific areas, such as the 1860s Galloway Homestead, and answer any questions.

Phone: 578-6777

Web site: www.springsgov.com/Page.asp?NavID=782

Reservations: Not necessary for almost any activity at the ranch, but certain events may require reservations, such as the basic blacksmith workshop. Call 578-6777 to inquire.

Location: Take Colorado Avenue west from downtown and hang a right on 30th street. Take a left on the road entering Garden of the Gods, directly across from the Garden of the Gods Visitors Center, then take the immediate left toward the ranch.

Parking: Parking should not be an issue with a large dirt lot and ample field parking.

Handicapped-friendly: Yes. Wheelchairs may not be able to access the second floors of some of the older buildings, but employees are more than willing to show handicapped guests photos of the inaccessible regions.

Trails on the site are covered with wood chips that wheelchairs can roll over.

Pet-friendly: Yes, but only on leashes; many of the farm animals roam free.

Copyright 2005
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.