Native Americans used the healing waters of the Wagon Wheel Gap hot springs for thousands of years prior to American settlement. An area rich in geologic features enticed pre-treaty explorers. But it was the 1873 Brunot Treaty that brought mining interests and a silver boom to the San Juans. Modernization to a first-class resort followed. More than three thousand acres and six miles of world-class fishing attracted illustrious guests such as Walt Disney, John Wayne and Dwight Eisenhower. Follow the history of this century-old ranch, including its various owners, from its infancy through to the establishment of the surrounding exclusive community. The 4UR Ranch has been in the Leavell family for more than forty years. Now with the fourth generation contributing, the Leavells hope to be welcoming guests for many years to come and continue their stewardship of this extraordinary valley.
Author of Hidden History of the Upper Rio Grande and San Luis Valley, Sandra Wagner grew up and attended college in northern Colorado, retiring in 2008 after many years as a chemist at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. She now teaches chemistry part time at Adams State University. She and her mother-in-law, Carol Ann Wethrill, started jointly writing history articles back in 2006 for the Lake City, Colorado newspaper.