Back In The Saddle Again

 It has been an interesting summer! You could say we got bucked off, but we dusted ourselves off and got back up in the saddle again.  We are officially open for business, and hope all of you come and see how much of the forest around Sprucedale has been spared. There have been some changes but Sprucedale is still a great destination to…

Read More of the Ranch Summer Newsletter

Read More On The Report On Sprucedale

Sprucedale Guest Ranch Reopens

Thanks everyone for your prays and donations we can now official start our season.  We hope to see you all on the mountain soon!

Lady and her colt Flame born before the fire

Fire can be picky of what it chooses to take, and ver sadly our Brother Billy at Beaver Creek lost five cabins. Durning the evacuation, the imminent fire threat was at Sprucedale.  Whitney and Billy worked to prepare Beaver Creek.  The fire unexpectedly came around the backside of the mountain.  The fire was then at Billy’s door steps with no fire fighter to help protect his ranch.  However fire fighters were located, but it was not the crew that was familiar or assingned to Beaver Creek.  The didn’t have the equipment, time or conditions needed to save Billy’s cabins.  Very sad as he really put his heart and sould into building those cabins.  He is determinded to rebuild and we Sprucedale/Wiltbank Family are determined to help him.  For those of you who desire, there has been a donation site created to help Billy obtain the resources to rebuild www.beavercreekranchfirerelief.com or Ranch Relief Fund where you can donate supplies and labor.

The Horses came home

Behind the Pine cabin

Lady and her Wallow

 Howdy to all from the Wiltbank’s and Sprucedale Guest Ranch.  As many of you know,the Wallow Fire was recently in our area.  On June 2 the Wallow Fire was not seen as a imminent threat, but the extreme weather conditions combined with the excessive fuel of the Bear Wallow Wilderness Area allowed the Wallow Fire to plume and spread across the forest.  This unpredicted fire activity allowed only 30 minutes for evacuation from Sprucedale.  The Sprucedale staff and family were quickly and safely evacuated to Eagar.  Whitney drove the horses into the mountains and opened all gates allowing the horses space to avoid the fire.    The fire fighters stayed at the ranch and fought valiantly all through the night to save Sprucedale. 

We tried to be patient but couldn’t help but call Bob Orriell, our Forest Service Liaison, often to get updates on the status of the ranch.  Everyday we were evacuated was filled with nail biting and trying to focus on the good things (everyone was safe).  We would received bits of information from many different sources.  One of our best updates was from a wife of a fire fighter who was stationed at Sprucedale, yet we really didn’t know Sprucedale’s fate.  We were overjoyed when we received the official notice that Sprucedale had lost no structures (cabins).  The news that Sprucedale was saved was sweetened when we saw pictures of the ranch that showed, for the most part, our beautiful treeline was spared.  Dad and Whitney were especially pleased to see the pictures that most of the horses came home safely and were in the meadow.  Emma, Whitney’s daughter, was ecstatic to hear that her dog was found, fed, and renamed “Whiskey” by firefighters 10 miles from Sprucedale!  And last but not least the three little pigs were alive.  We were even able to see Sprucedale in person via a Sherriff escorted on 06/11/2011 (video of the return) to assess the damage and prepare for repairs.  The fire for the most part stayed in the forest undergrowth, which will grow back after the rains start.  There were some areas where the tops of the trees were affected, and we are working to save as many as possible.  Sprucedale’s structures were protected with onlya few melted waterpipes and electrical lines.  The fences around Sprucedale took the biggest hit, but they are replaceable.   Sprucedale will be operational this summer, but we do have a lot of work to do.  For those of you who have asked how you can help please visit our Wallow Fire Restoration page on our website for more information.  Overall we feel so fortunate and thankful that the Sprucedale tradition can carry on.  Sprucedale needs some care but is ingood shape.  This season will be different, but will be just as good if not better.  It is going to be memorable summer pulling together as a Sprucedale Family and reviving Sprucedale.  We are “putting on the work gloves” and will be back in business by June 26.

Sincerly,

The Wiltbanks

There are many videos and pictures on our Facebook Page and You Tube Channel

Please read more about the impact of the Wallow Fire and how you can HELP at Ranch Fire Restoration

Sprucedale Guest Ranch 1941

PAST This year marks 70 years that Sprucedale has been in the Wiltbank family.  We have felt blessed as a family to have the opportunity to be stewards over this little piece of heaven. On this anniversary year as we look to Sprucedale’s future, we would like to take a chance to step back and remember Sprucedale’s rich heritage.  The Pattersons purchased Sprucedale from Hyrum Thompson, the original homesteader, in 1921.  In 1941 the Pattersons approached Grandpa Walter and Grandma Fay Wiltbank to purchase Sprucedale. This was quite a change and challenge for Grandpa and Grandma as they were cattle ranchers and 1941 was at the end of the Great Depression. Grandpa went to work adding eight cabins to the original four cabins that the Pattersons built. Grandma made everything homemade including butter, cheese, clothes, curtains, and many of the quilts still in use at the ranch.  Grandpa and Grandma sacrificed much to get Sprucedale going and started Sprucedale’s tradition of hard work and hospitality.

Mom and Dad

PRESENT My father, Emer, grew up at Sprucedale and helped Grandpa cut down many of the trees that were used in building the new cabins. My mom, Esther, worked for Grandma Fay in 1963 when the love bug bit and Mom and Dad were married in 1964. They spent the first 16 years of their marriage together running Double Bar K, a kids ranch 5 miles west of Sprucedale. In 1981, after the passing of Grandpa Walter, Emer and Esther came home to Sprucedale and ran it for the next 23 years. Emer added a couple more cabins and enlarged the main lodge and dining room area. Esther focused on the ranch’s good food and hospitality by constantly improving the menu, cabin comfort, and overall ranch aesthetic beauty. Mom and Dad also put an emphasis on Sprucedale’s family orientated atmosphere through hiring great staff, new amenities, and a commitment to find the best families in the world. Many guests truly felt at the end of their week that they had visited Uncle Emer and Aunt Esther.

Whitney and Family

FUTURE I, Whitney Wiltbank, grew up working with my parents at Sprucedale.  There was something that got in my “blood” from a very young age, and I dreamed about being a part of the ranch when I was older. However, Sprucedale has grown to become quite a bit more complex than when Grandpa and Grandma began running it. I knew I needed additional tools and business understanding to be successful carrying on the Sprucedale tradition. With my newly incorporated CPA practice, I am ready to move forward on my lifelong dream of running Sprucedale. Janae, my girls, and I will be running Sprucedale each summer. I will complement my time at Sprucedale by operating my CPA practice during the winter. Janae and I feel fortunate to have this special opportunity to carry on the Sprucedale tradition. Our desire is to help families make memories that will last a lifetime. Our focus for the future includes the following:
• Continuing a family atmosphere through more family building activities
• Improving cabin comfort and overall aesthetic beauty of the ranch
• Understanding what is important to our guests
• Implementing activities that focus on increased horsemanship (horses are my love!)
Janae and I are very excited for the future of Sprucedale and look forward to serving you and your family. Sprucedale’s amazing past is what makes Sprucedale’s great future possible!

Xpedition 1993

Sprucedale

While my heart has always wanted to be at the ranch, I knew I needed additional tools to be successful at carrying on Sprucedale. I realized a higher education was crucial for operating our family business. Completing my MBA and CPA has been quite a journey for kid who just wanted to be a cowboy; however, the accomplishment of these goals has made it possible for me to be prepared to fill this position for Sprucedale. Now I will not have to manage the operations from a distance but will actually be able to spend the summers at the ranch.

Janae and I are excited that the timing is right for us to play this role for Sprucedale. Our mission while serving you and your family at the ranch is to maintain and build an atmosphere where “Families Come Together.” By providing wholesome recreational activities in a safe family friendly environment, we know we can help you and your family make memories that will carry you/them for a lifetime.

Family Photo