Howdy Volkssporting Pardner! We have a real western treat lined up for our Thursday night social event that could be one of the highlights of your trip to Colorado. We will be visiting an old western town, enjoying an authentic chuckwagon supper, and a fantastic western stage show. Dress casual or go western; whichever, we know you are going to enjoy the evening.

The Flying W Ranch is a working mountain cattle ranch, that has specialized in western food and entertainment since 1953. They offer beautiful natural surroundings, an authentic old western town and mouth-watering Bar-B-Q beef or Bar-B-Q chicken suppers. Only recently (for the last five years) the Wranglers have been roping chickens for those folks partial to white meat.

Supper and show are held outdoors underneath the picturesque Colorado sky, so be sure to bring along a jacket should the weather be brisk. An indoor eating area stands ready for cool evenings or sudden thunderstorms. Dinner and show go on in spite of weather conditions. The Flying W Ranch can seat 1,400 people outside and in case of inclement weather, can seat 1,400 people inside and keep them toasty warm.

The Flying W Wranglers, a five piece cowboy band, top the evening off with their outstanding western stage show. “We take our music seriously, but we don’t take ourselves seriously,” leader Vern Thomson comments. Scott Vaughn shares cowboy stories, jokes and poetry. Bass player Wes English serves as the brunt of many jokes; however, his baritone voice and yodeling skills silence the jokesters. Fiddler Joe Stephenson and guitarist Ronnie Cook combine for several instrumentals - beautiful melodies to fast-pickin, ‘foot-stompin’ renditions of cowboy favorites.

The old western town of over a dozen completely restored buildings is furnished with authentic contents from the 1800’s and early 1900’s. Gates open at 4:30 p.m., giving you plenty of time to wander the brick walkways to the Old Jail, Funeral Parlor, Sentinel Newspaper, Old School and Church, only to mention a few of the buildings.

At the Kiva, Native American Indian weavers demonstrate traditional Navajo art on a large floor loom. Natural dyed wool and time-honored patterns evolve each summer season into beautiful rugs and wall tapestries. The weavings created at Flying W are never sold, but remain at the ranch.

The blacksmith will demonstrate horse shoeing between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. An open-air Biscuit Room attracts everyone for a 'finger-lickin’ pre-dinner treat. Staff members expertly bake the biscuits over charcoal in blackened Dutch ovens in batches of 25, serving as many as 4,000 biscuits an evening. There are numerous gift shops for souvenirs or how about something special just for you?

Youngsters steer their accompanying adults to the miniature train. A rock tunnel with mining demonstration serves as a depot. Tracks circle through pines and vermilion sandstone similar to the formations in the nearby Garden of the Gods. The deer often spotted are real. Hardy souls climb the narrow trail and rock steps of Christmas Rock, earning spectacular views of mountains and plains.

With the sun easing behind the mountains, the village closes at 7:15 p.m., and seating begins at hundreds of picnic tables. Locate your assigned table either inside or outside depending upon the announced eating and entertainment location for the evening. Be sure to balance the tables as you are seated so they will not turn over. Most tables are meant to seat twelve to sixteen adults so be sure to introduce yourself to your fellow Volkssporters.

Dinner is served promptly at 7:30 p.m. Following the host Wranglers’ instructions, guests take their place in line with tin serving plate in hand and have the sections of each tin camp plate filled with:

Western Menu

Your choice of Tender slices of Beef (in their special mild Bar-B-Q sauce)

or Bar-B-Q Chicken,

Foil Wrapped Potatoes,

Flying W Beans,

Chunky Applesauce,

Old Fashioned Spice Cake,

Dutch Oven Biscuits,

Served with Coffee, Lemonade or Iced Tea

The fare has changed little from the early days, as the menu reflects meals experienced along the trails of the Old West. Remember to keep your hand under the applesauce section on the plate!!!

After dinner, around 8:30 p.m. you will be entertained by the Flying W Wranglers. The Wranglers specialize in beautiful 3 part vocal harmonies about the romantic American Cowboy. Their voices are outstanding and their western humor is very entertaining. The hour-long show combines traditional Western music, bunkhouse humor and original songs written by the talented members of the Flying W Wranglers. The show is always good clean family entertainment. Everything is over at 9:30 p.m. and you should be back to the hotel by 10:30 p.m.

Bus transportation will be available from the Doubletree Hotel, if desired. Don’t forget to sign up when registering for the convention.

See ya all there.

Deb Liphardt, Entertainment chair

2003 Convention Committee