Guests, Friends, and Inquirers:

Greetings! A big “Howdy” from everyone at the Red Reflet!

Fall had about come and gone by mid-October. The steer calves have been shipped off, our foals and heifer calves have been weaned, haying is done and equipment put up for the winter, elk are off the mountain and gleaning in the hay fields after dark. We have had three or four snowfalls on the mountain and it looks like the last one might not melt away until springtime. The memory of yellow and gold aspens is fresh … it was a wonderful display all September.

Some 300 elk took up residence on our upper mountain and it took our cowherd moving through their aspen grove to spook them out to the Nature Conservancy Preserve. A few days later they returned to reclaim their aspen grove... but when startled they promptly ran back down the mountain to our neighbors... and later that night, were storming into our alfalfa fields to clean up the uncut plants so rich in protein... in complete disregard for our plan to have the heifers, bred heifers, and cows consume these plants before winter sets in... so much for good planning!

Our early snowfalls, always starting in September, invariably melt in a day or two... but one of the early snow falls did stay on the ground at the lower ranch for four days or so, and soon we will be snowmobiling from the shop, feeding the cattle from the stack yard of baled hay, and spreading the herd to their winter pastures.

Our small turkey harvest was enjoyed by most on the Ranch over the Thanksgiving holiday - an excellent method of recycling our kitchen trimmings and unused garden surpluses. Chef Alden Lanier raised hogs this year, a most unlikely Wyoming product, but they thrived on plate scrapings and unwanted leftovers, plus a supplement from Purina animal feeds. They ate their way up to a max 500 pounds and became Frisbee size pork chops, tender, tasty, and refreshingly homegrown. All the hams, bacon, sausages were a lot of work for Alden, and saying goodbye to his summer pets was a bummer...but he got over it in a few days...

The elk season ended with everyone's larder quite full, the herd looked healthy and numbers are very large.. so if the winter snows are kind there will be lots of elk to see in their favorite hiding spots.

Our summer guests all had a great Ranch experience with safe rides, beautiful weather, expansive wild flower gardens, abundant wildlife, and lots of adventures. Our fall guests enjoyed wonderful colors, lots of bugling elk, hundreds of deer and antelope, and near perfect weather.

Plans for 2008 are well underway. The Ranch House will get a complete makeover, a new “greenhouse” hot tub addition, a lower level sauna, steam showers and other bathroom upgrades. The five-bedroom/five bath redone version will accommodate a family of 12 – 14.

The Lodge menu has been expanded, more high scoring wines are being added to the cellar, the DVD library is growing at the theatre, and more drink recipes and a new mixer added to the bar. A removable Pool Bubble has been ordered for the solar heated Pool, so year-round swimming will be much more comfortable and the bubble will be removed and put away during the warmer months.

Rates for 2008 have changed to be easier on families:

We look forward to seeing all of our friends and guests from 2005, 2006 and 2007 back again and to greet many new folks in 2008. We hope you will come to see us, see all that is new, and relax and explore our unique, Western working Horse and Cattle Ranch.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Bob and Laurence Kaplan

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View our 2008 Calendar of Events Here