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THE WILD WILD WEST GETS A
MAKE OVER
Ashcroft, British Columbia
 Even
the dusty ole wild west needs a make over now and
then, and under the direction the second generation
of the Rowe family, the Sundance Guest Ranch,
located in the beautiful Cariboo Chilcotin is
getting just that. Under the cover of a light snow,
the power tools are buzzing in this usually serene
semi-desert area. While retaining the feel
cultivated by original owners Stan & Vickie
Rowe, their children, led by youngest son and
general manager, Talesyn Rowe, are adding their own
flair to the 26 year old guest ranch.
"The foundation is here, we're just giving her a
little update. Guests that were here in the 2004
season will notice some pretty impressive changes
when our new season kicks off in April." Said
Talesyn. " It's important to us to maintain the
original feel of the ranch, so that means careful
renovations to ensure the integrity of the original
buildings. It would be easy to just rebuild some of
the older areas, but we would end up losing so much
rich history." The first stages of the 2-year
renovation plan will be unveiled on the ranches
opening weekend, commencing April 8th, 2005.
Since the Rowe family opened their doors in
1979, Sundance has become a home away from home to
both international and domestic travelers looking
for an escape from the frantic pace of city life.
The ranch, boasting a herd of over 90 horses, 23
buffalo, and assorted dogs, has always embraced the
history in their very own back yard. The ranch,
nestled in the hills over looking Ashcroft BC, is
located along the original gold rush trail, and is
connected with some of it's now infamous legends.
Some of the lore associated with the ranch includes
a shoot out between bank robbers and local
authorities, a matronly ghost from the 1800's named
Queenie, and the legend of the three horsemen.
After the renovations are complete, Talesyn
promises that Sundance will still be the kind of
place where you can take a hayride out bast the
buffalo herd, and listen to ghost stories by the
bonfire. "There are parts of this ranch that will
never change, nor should they. We're expanding what
we offer, rather than just changing it. We're still
about riding, and we always will be, but now we can
offer even more to our guests." In addition to the
new movie lounge, renovated kids' bunkhouse, and
expanded adult and kid's games rooms, the ranch is
also adding an on site store. Many of the items for
sale will have a 'local flair" either produced on
the ranch, or show casing the beauty of the
surrounding area. "We live in one of the most
beautiful places on earth, and I want everyone to
know it."
For more information on Sundance Guest Ranch,
please visit our web site www.sundanceguestranch.com
Sundance Guest Ranch
Contact Information
Kim Holden Box 489 Ashcroft, BC V0K-1A0 Canada
Ph-(250)453-2422 Fax-(250)-453-9356
Email- kimholden@direcway.com
or sundance@goldtrail.com
Chilcotin
Dreaming: Cariboo Ranchlands
to BC's Wild Coastal Archipelago
by
Scott Pick .
  For
years I've dreamed of the big blank area on the map
called the Chilcotin- the place where the icy
splendor of the Coast Range yields to the aridity
of the interior plateau; a forgotten land in modern
day British Columbia, Canada. It's a land of
superlatives; a place where back- roads run for
hundreds of miles, adventurers find new
opportunities for exploration and where wildlife
still roams free. Most of all I wanted to
experience the spirit of the Chilcotin and meet the
hardy people that call this outback their home. I
went there as a photographer, hoping to capture
elusive moments of light and the landscapes that
are the hallmark of this region. Chilcotin
Continued
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