3 years ago Mack, Kathy and I were driving in the Gunnison valley socked between Teocalli and Whetstone mountains on a dirt road in my 1981 jeep scrambler. It was actually on Mack’s birthday and she flew in to spend the long Memorial Day weekend with us. It was your normal fabulous sunset drive in what I considered to be the prettiest place on the planet. Mack and I have done hundreds of sunset drives together in Kerrville Texas but this one just hit different. We drove 5 miles down brush creek road and turned around to go back home and Mack was propped up in back of jeep and said “dad, I want to get married right here in that pasture”. My response was “well, don’t you have to be dating someone first”. We smiled and laughed and kept driving. What was unique about that pasture it is one of the only small working cattle ranches left in the valley called cold springs ranch and one of the only places that never has anyone but cattle and the old rancher working on it. This happened to be a year before Ricky had come into her life. Well time moves fast and Mack and Ricky’s relationship just blossomed into something so special. Fast forward a year Mack has only brought 1 boy to our Texas ranch and just turns out to be the man she is marrying. So engagement happens and instead of Texas they both land on Crested Butte. Wedding planning starts and we rent out local park in town for venue. For some reason “dad, I want to get married in that pasture” statement I couldn’t shake from my mind. Last August, 2 months into planning on a random whim Kathy and I jumped into the old jeep and drove down brush creek for a quick glimpse of the sunset. As luck and good salesmanship has it the old rancher was working with a friend baling the last cut of hay for the season on that fortunate drive. We drove by and I did a hard u turn with Kathy looking at me and said “ well Mr Sales guru go take your shot and we will see how good you really are at your craft”. Challenge accepted I get NO’s every day. One more ain’t going to kill me. So, jumped out of jeep in shorts and flip flops and walked 100 yards into freshly cut hay and address the 2 ranchers. First words I could think of “sir I know this is a long shot, but my daughter and I think this is the most beautiful place on earth and she wants to get married right here”. They both looked me up and down and said “you aren’t from around here are you”. My response “well have a home 2 miles down, but 5th generation cattle ranchers from Texas”. Old Ranchers buddy says “well we don’t like Texans with a smile….what part of Texas?” Long story long he actually knew my grandparents neighbors of 40 years because he too was from same area of Texas. This conversation lasted 10 minutes longer than Kathy ever thought I was going to get into, so she comes walking across the pasture because I didn’t get a 30 second NO. Only 1 other wedding has ever been hosted by Mr. Veltri and the Cold Springs Ranch in 50 years so can say I closed the deal. We are so excited about sharing this slice of beauty with all of you for our baby girls wish “dad, I want to get marrried right here!”





Kathy and Marc






https://1percentforopenspace.org/portfolio_page/cold-spring-ranch/

https://crestedbuttenews.com/2011/02/prime-brush-creek-land-will-remain-a-working-ranch/