Black Elk Gulch

Black Elk Gulch Guest Ranch, Black Elk Gulch, CO

[blackelkgulch]

An archive of material related to the Black Elk Gulch Guest Ranch and the surrounding area. 

[blackelkgulch]

Voicemail recorded from one of the guest cabins on the ranch. 

Transcript: 

00:02 Well, and that's even the problem. I mean, I'm supposed to be on vacation here, leaving, you the stressed out, voicemail, because I can't stop thinking about work. I just my brain is oh, the fuck. Did you hear that? Hello. Is somebody out here? I'm sorry, I have to go.

[blackelkgulch]

Newspaper clipping from the Black Elk Gulch Gazette, a local paper, advising residents to be cautious due to recent mountain lion sightings in the area.

[blackelkgulch]

Second letter from “B” to Anonymous from Black Elk Gulch Guest Ranch, Black Elk Gulch, Colorado.

Second letter from B, page 1.

Hey you -

When I said send me something good to read I didn’t mean the first book of a series! I have a lot of time on my hands and I think I burned through that book in a few days. Can you send the rest of the series? Please Please?

I promise I’m alright. Things have gotten a little better. Pepper started riding with me and we’re getting along. They (oops) are just an introvert. I found out they have worked here for two seasons. Apparently the family are just “like that” and Dan + Mateo will warm up. They’re used to people taking off. I don’t plan on taking off! I need this job and I already committed to being here for the season. I mean, I moved out of my apartment and everything.

I asked Pepper about the windows thing and they said Jack is superstitious or something? He doesn’t go outside at night and insists all the curtains need to be closed because “the woods are watching”. That’s not creepy or anything. I think about it every time I look at the trees. The woods are watching. Not exactly convenient to be thinking about since I need to ride through the woods several times a day. No surprise I feel like I’m being watched =)

Pepper says its the woods, of course you’re being watched - as long as the horses are calm I don’t need to worry. There are bears and shit out here. Deer. Elk, of course. They also said I should pay attention to the birds and bugs. [...] Second letter from B, page 2.  Needless to say, I am glad I bought bear spray. [CROSSED OUT] That’s all for now <3 B

Nevermind I have something I need to tell you. Dan + Mateo had a little bonfire going so I joined them. It was dark out (duh) but they were sitting out around the fire. I asked them about Jack and the curtains thing and they said it is because he believes in Bigfoot and all that shit. UFOs too. Now I feel stupid for being all scared of the woods. Apparently they call their bigfoot  thing a “Gulch Gazer” here and I refuse to be afraid of something so stupid and obviously fake. 

Meteo [REDACTED] told me it isn’t really “like” Bigfoot and that people claim they see eye shine out in the woods but not like an animal. Like it is like 9ft tall or something. Then he told me some bogus story about screams in the woods and a cow that got killed. They must think I’m dumb. I hate it here and I’m sleeping with my stupid curtains open. <3 B for real this time.

[blackelkgulch]

Second postcard sent from “B” to Anonymous from Black Elk Gulch Guest Ranch, Black Elk Gulch, Colorado. The name and address of the recipient have been redacted to protect their identity. 

Hey you!

I found a postcard with Potato Chip! Kinda wish she was more front and center and it wasn’t one of those ‘ooo its a painting’ filter things. Apparently there is a painter who vacations here. And lost of rich people so you know customer service will be fun. I shouldn’t complain, things haven’t even started yet. I’m staying with the family that owns the ranch until my [ILLEGIBLE] is ready in the main house. [ILLEGIBLE] is what my boss calls it because it is the biggest building. [ILLEGIBLE] room! <3 B

Notes: 

According to the anonymous recipient, the second postcard was received after the first letter though the content seems to suggest it should be placed before it for chronological accuracy. The postcard arrived with what the recipient initially thought were shoe prints in dirt on it. Upon closer inspection, it appeared to be an oily substance. No tread pattern is identifiable. The substance on the card has dried since it was initially received and no longer feels or smells ‘oily’ now that it is in our possession. 

[blackelkgulch]

First letter from “B” to Anonymous from Black Elk Gulch Guest Ranch, Black Elk Gulch, Colorado with accompanying photos believed to have been taken using a disposable camera. Scanned for archive. 

First letter from B, page 1.

Hey you!

Ok I know I've said over and over again that I'm ok out here but... I'm lonely. I hope you don't mind me writing more. It kind of feels like talking to someone? Maybe? I don't think I'd be so lonely if the other staff and ranch hands would talk to me? It isn't like there are a lot of people here. There's the owner, Jack and his wife Terri. Their daughter Sarah is like the receptionist and housekeeper. Their son Richie does like groundskeeping. The ranch hands are Daniel, Mateo, and Pepper. Pepper and I are supposed to do the trail rides once the season gets started but I think I've maybe had two conversations with him? Potato Chip and the dog are probably my only friends here. Oh. Her name is Bitsy. Or Itsy Bitsy. She's one of those herding dogs without a tail. Australian shepherd. I don't know why I always forget what they are. Since I'm already telling you about this stuff I should tell you about the layout of the place and where I'm living. OK so there is the main "big house" that has the office, kitchen and a living room with a TV. No cable but there are a lot of movies as long as it had a VHS release. Oh and anything with a rating higher than PG is in a locked cabinet so that's cool. There are a lot [...]

First letter from B, Page 2.

[...] of books and trail maps. Jack and his family also living in the "big house". The 3 guest cabins are in like a half circle behind the house. The ranch hands and I get trailers that are out of sight and closer to the horses. Mateo and Daniel share one, but Pepper and I have our own.

[drawing]

I hope that makes sense. There are a bunch of trees between us and the house. I can see the woods out my window. I stayed in the big house with the family the first few days I was here and Jack has a rule about not looking out the windows at night. I thought it was just a house rule but I was wrong. He had a bit of a freak out at me because I had my curtains open the first evening I stayed in the trailer. He said he didn't want anyone looking in my windows but who would? I don't know it seemed weird and I think that's one of the reasons I'm feeling lonely. Being chewed out like that felt kind of extreme for a curtain being open. Maybe I'll just keep them closed all the time. [...]

First letter from B, page 3.

[...] The season is supposed to to start next week so I've been doing several rides a day. Just me and two or three of the horses because they will walk the trail themselves. It'll be weird when Pepper starts riding with me. I feel like I'll be used to being alone by then. The trails are really pretty. I'm adding some pictures in that I took of Potato Chip and some elk. They're everywhere. Black Elk Gulch! I know, I know. Write back? Send me something good to read? <3 B

[blackelkgulch]

First postcard sent from “B” to Anonymous from Black Elk Gulch Guest Ranch, Black Elk Gulch, Colorado. The name and address of the recipient has been blurred to protect their identity.

Hey you!

I don’t get service up the mountain so old school letter writing it is. Ok maybe it is also an excuse to buy cheesy postcards. Shoot me. So far things have been good. Jack, my boss, has 23 horses on the ranch. My favorite is named Potato Chip. I see a ton of wildlife every day out on rides or even around the cabins. There was even a bear last night. I didn’t actually see it because Jack doesn’t let us open the curtains at night but I heard it. I’m going to have to figure out how to send pictures since I can’t just text them to you. And no one wants this [a crude drawing of a bear and a stick figure] It’s a bear. Trust me. Out of room! <3 B