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A Tribute to Russ and Marian Wolfe
A Story of the Flying W Ranch
 It all started in 1947 when Don Wilson, Marian Wolfe's father, purchased the Douglass Homestead, northwest of Colorado Springs. Robert Douglass founded the homestead on the ranch that is presently the Flying W Ranch in 1867. The Land was originally owned by William Palmer, the founder of Colorado Springs, and is adjacent to Palmer’s Glen Eyrie.
Don Wilson decided that his three ranching operations in El Dorado, Kansas had reached a peak and he wanted to settle down on one ranch. He wanted to try ranching in Colorado. He also wanted his wife and daughters, Marian and Marietta, as well as his son-in-law Russ Wolfe to make the move with him. At age 55 he left his other relatives and the land he had worked for many years to move to Colorado. Russ and Marian lived on the Douglass Ranch and helped with the ranching operation.
During the summer Russ rented horses. People would come out from town to ride over the beautiful ranch lands. The ride on the trail with Russ as the guide was a popular way to spend an afternoon. Some evenings, the group would be small enough for Marian to invite the riders to share a "potluck".
Russ and Marian decided to make the affair a regular event with a scenic horse back ride followed by a home-cooked meal under the stars around an open camp fire. In 1953, with 11 paying guests at $3.00 each, the dream began. Russ brought water to the ranch in a 1937 Dodge truck with a tank on the back. Marian found the largest pots and pans around and cooked for the riders while Russ spun yarns and tales on the trail. The second night, Russ and Marian served 7 people. There was one picnic table under a lean-to in the event of rain. Russ and Marian did a lot of the cooking in their home, and washed the pots and pans at the hydrant in their backyard. They fed 1650 people that summer and were opened two nights a week. By the next summer they had added another night. By the end of 1963, 10 years later, they were open 7 nights a week and had served a total of 125,000 folks. In the beginning days, Russ and Marian had their share of raccoons in the kitchen, rattlesnakes on the trails, run-away buses, locked keys in cars, bears in trash cans, cows in tepees, torrential rains, washed out roads and …
As more people heard of the Flying W Chuckwagon they came out early to find the area or make sure they had a reservation. Since there was nothing for them to do until the dinner bell rang, Russ and Marian decided to build a western town so that they would have some amusement while waiting. Russ's first building was, of course, the Trading Post. The logs used to build the Trading Post were from the flag poles from the National Girl Scout Jamboree that was held in Colorado Springs that year. There were several flag poles scattered through the Jamboree site. Russ, never lets anything go to waste, sees a use for everything and thus bought the flag poles from the girl scouts and put them to good use in the construction of The Trading Post.
Russ obtained his Class A Contractors license so he could continue to build the western town. He gathered old siding, windows, show cases and a host of items from various places knowing in time they would become part of a building that would tell a story of the old west in design and style. Each and every building at the Flying W Ranch represents western history at its best. One of the more recent buildings, the Village Assembly Hall sports some of the most spectacular Southwest /Native American architecture in the state of Colorado.
When the historic Ute Theatre was torn down in Colorado Springs in the 1960s, Russ was there. He preserved as much as that cherished Colorado Springs landmark that he could. The ticket booth, lobby, and stage from the old movie house along with curtains and light fixtures are now found in the Winter Steak House. Paintings, mirrors and doors from the Ute enhance the wonderful western ambience of that treasured building. The Winter Steakhouse seats 200 people and has become one of the most sought after restaurants for individuals as well as groups and meeting planners in Colorado Springs.
Over time, brick by brick, Russ and Marian added many more attractions, amusements, activities, stores and the like to make the Flying W Ranch one of the most unique and beautiful restaurant/picnic facilities/meeting and reunion sites in the country. The most recent addition is the Rodeo Arena. The rodeos hosted are of the highest caliber and are set amongst the most awe-inspiring mountain scenery in the country.
The highlight of Russ and Marian's achievements at the Ranch are the Flying W Wranglers. Their initial vision of a ride through the ranch followed by a meal under the stars, was completed by the offering of a western stage show. In the beginning the performers ranged from college students and folk singers to the Sons of the Pioneers. The Flying W Wranglers were officially unveiled in 1957. Russ and Marian have been intimately involved with the Wranglers since their inception. There have been over 39 individuals that have been a part of the Flying W Wranglers with several of them performing for the ranch for over 20 years. Currently the wranglers perform nightly during the summer and at the Winter Steakhouse in the Fall and Winter. The Wranglers specialize in beautiful 3 and 4 part harmony and play a variety of instruments. They have toured all over the world from the front lines in the Vietnam War, to London England, to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and to Carnegie Hall in New York City. They have performed with symphonies and in a wide variety of sporting events and the like.
Russ and Marian have been honored with many community and service awards over the years including:
Russ served on the District 20 School Board for 26 years, many years as president.
1964 - Right Attitude Award-Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce
1966 – Salesman with a Purpose Award-Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce
1967 - Served as President-El Paso Country Soil Conservation Society of America
1967 - Awarded Life Membership-Colorado Springs Jaycees
1669 - Colorado Motel Association Award-for outstanding promotion of tourism for the State of Colorado
1970 - Gold Key Award-Pikes Peak Motel Association
1973 - Helped form the Pikes Peak Country Attractions Association and has served on its board.
1975 - Formed Chuckwagons Of The West-group of 8 independently owned chuckwagon supper business formed as an Association to better serve and entertain the chuckwagon guest. Russ still serves as president.
1977 - Served as President Pikes Peak Range Riders-to promote the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo-Russ is still an active member.
1980 - Helped form the Colorado Springs Convention and Visitor’s Bureau-Russ served on its Board until 1987
1980 - Appointed by the Colorado Springs City Council to the first Lodgers and Auto Rental Tax Advisory Board
1982 - Russ was presented the Colorado Hospitality Award by Governor Richard Lamm. The award honors the Coloradan who most exemplifies the natural spirit of warmth and hospitality this is Colorado’s greatest asset
1984 - Travel Achievement Award-for outstanding contribution to the Colorado Travel Industry, by the Colorado Tourism Board
1985 - Beryl Rithey Achievement Award for exemplary civic service and leadership in bringing significant improvement in the quality of life to the people of the Pikes Peak Region
1986 - First person in Colorado to be designated a Certified Tour Professional, by the National Tour Association Board of Directors
1988 - Elected to the Hall of Fame-Colorado-Wyoming Restaurant Association
1989 - Russ was presented the Bill Wiley Award-by the Western Music Association-in recognition of contributions to Western Music by a non-performer
1989 - Acknowledged by the Historical Society of the Pikes Peak Region for Preserving Colorado History. The Wilson ranch and The Flying W Ranch was acknowledged by the Historical Society of the Pikes Peaks Region for Preserving Colorado History
1990 - Honorary Life Member –Pikes Peak Range Riders
2000- Silver Spur Award-Pikes Peak Range Riders for civic duty to the Colorado Springs area.
Although Marian passed on in 1999, today at age 82, Russ’s quick wit, twinkling eyes, and fast paced steps are the driving force behind the whole of The Flying W Ranch. He is more than the sum of the parts. His family and staff stand in awe of all his accomplishments and look forward to future dreams in his and Marian's honor.
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