Esty Ranch - Gunnison, Colorado
 

Esty Ranch


With the passing of John and Flora Outcalt, their three surviving daughters inherited the lands that made up the Outcalt ranch. His youngest daughter, Vevarelle, inherited the heart of the ranch. Her sisters inherited the remainder, which they soon sold. Vevarelle was married to a man named Eugene Esty and the property then became known as the Esty Ranch. Vevarelle and Eugene raised three children named Richard, Bernard and Ramona.

restored historic 1880s blacksmith shop
Restored 1880's blacksmith shop
Eugene and Vevarelle continued to raise hay and various grains on Esty Ranch. Eugene was a World War I veteran who experienced medical problems after the war and until his death in 1947. After his passing, Vevarelle continued to manage the ranch through a lot of hard times. She nonetheless prevailed and the ranch survived.

In 1955 after the decline of the railroads and the decline of the coal mines in the Crested Butte area, the D&RGW railroad tracks that ran through the property were torn up and removed. The original grade still exists and is used as a ranch road.

Vevarelle Esty
Vevarelle Esty in 1985 at the age of 83


Vevarelle never married again and continued to manage the ranch. Following the spirit of her pioneer father, Vevarelle was politically active in causes that benefitted ranchers. If a bill was introduced that would adversely affect ranchers, she mobilized the ranchers to write their representatives and senators. In 1971, the Gunnison Chamber of Commerce named Vevarelle the Rancher of the year. In 1987, she travelled to Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea with other ranchers on a mission to convince Asian ranchers to buy U.S. grains and feed.

Veverelle managed the ranch until she sold it in 1994. She continued to live on the ranch property until shortly before her passing in 1999 at the age of 97.

Since 1994, Esty ranch has been in a constant state of upgrade and restoration. Several original late 1800's structures, including a blacksmith shop (shown above) and a horse barn and calving barn (see our Home Page), have been completely restored.



Chapter 1: Gunnison

Chapter 2: John B. Outcalt and the Outcalt Homestead

Chapter 3: Esty Ranch