Taming the mountain
The Ute Indians originally settled the area around what is now Williams Peak Ranch, seeking therapeutic relief at the nearby hot springs. With the passing of the Homestead Act of 1862, adventurous pioneers seized the opportunity to make their home in the rugged West for $1.25 an acre (or for free if they stayed for five years).
The cost was enticing, but cattle ranching in the alpine environment was a constant challenge. Supplies arrived by buggy over Rollins pass, a treacherous journey in the snowy mountains. Cattle drives took relentless endurance, spanning months and miles of rough terrain to Denver and Boulder and back again.
Western appeal
The 1906 arrival of the railroad in Parshall introduced a new method of cattle transportation along with droves of settlers. Williams Peak Ranch is a patchwork of rich history, comprised of what remains of about a dozen homesteads. The Dahle Guest Lodge, for example, is the renovated home of the Norwegian Dahle family that settled it in 1910. But the land remains wild and natural, thanks to the conservation efforts of the Miniat family.
The new West
Mike Miniat grew up in a fourth generation family meat packing business. Driven by a passion for the outdoors and a dream to live the cattle ranch life, he moved to Williams Peak Ranch in 1989. Since then he has been operating the ranch in many ways as it was over 100 years ago. The cattle are raised without antibiotics and the land is cultivated with only natural fertilizer.
| Good News. We FOUND the Beef Our beef is just the way mother nature indended - naturally raised. That mean it's free of antibiotics and added hormones and never fed animal byproducts. We believe beef raised this way tastes better. And that's why we buy our beef from ranchers like the Miniat family in Colorado, who think likewise. We appreciate their commitment to the well being of their animals and the long-term health of the land - cornerstones of substantial agriculture. Beef raised with this kind of attention to detail costs more. But because of its superior quality, we think it's worth it. Serving naturally raised beef is another step along our Food with Integrity journey - bringing you the very best ingredients from the very best sources |
The Miniat family also introduced modern improvements to protect wildlife habitat and conserve the land that they have grown to love so much. They rotate cattle to preserve streambeds, they only herd the cattle using horses and have eliminated intense grazing to restore the land to its natural state.
Healthful living and soulful retreat
A core value that drives this is the Miniat family’s desire to cater to a society that wants to live and eat healthfully. In fact, Williams Peak Ranch is a contributor to Chipotle’s “Food With Integrity”, supplying high quality, antibiotic-free beef that is packed at the Miniat family plant and sent to Chipotle and other locations around the country.
In addition to supplying naturally raised nourishment, Williams Peak Ranch offers a modern retreat boasting the best of the qualities that drew the pioneers and Ute Indians before them. A visit to the ranch is a glimpse into the wild, traditional West with adventures abound. With mountain panoramas and natural alpine beauty, peace and tranquility can be found in every direction. The Miniat family invites you to join them for your own mountain ranch experience.
