Schweiger Ranch Foundation

  • Animals
  • Arts & Culture
  • Education

Who We Are

Schweiger Ranch reveals the spirit of the western American ranch family, inspires an appreciation of our cultural and natural heritage, and preserves a legacy for the future. Schweiger Ranch provides diverse, recreational and educational opportunities to foster an understanding and enjoyment of the area’s cultural and natural heritage through displays, demonstrations, interpretive programs and special events for the greater community.

 

Schweiger Ranch was founded in 1874 by three brothers, John, Joseph and Jacob Schweiger after emigrating from Austria in 1866 and moving their way west to Colorado in 1869. The brothers worked in Horace Tabor’s mines in Leadville to save up enough money to purchase and homestead the land. John Schweiger married Anna Scheider from Germany in January 1885 and had seven children.

 

It is believed the current house, barn, stable and loafing shed were built after 1893 to accommodate the growing Schweiger family. The family cultivated their land with oats, corn, wheat and rye, and ranched their land with cattle, hogs and chickens. They grew their ranch from the original 38 acres to nearly 4,000 acres. In the 1950’s land was sold to a building company who fell on hard times, and the land was again sold in 1972, to what is now RidgeGate Investments. RidgeGate had leased its undeveloped land for ongoing ranching operations to local individuals.

 

Over the many years, the ranch buildings fell into disrepair. The master developer or the RidgeGate community, Coventry Development, saw a unique opportunity in Schweiger Ranch for a cultural and educational facility for the benefit of Lone Tree and Douglas County residents, as well as the region. In 2003, the master planning and visioning process began to preserve Schweiger Ranch in an environment where the public could learn about early ranching life and bridge the past to the present. In 2004, Schweiger Ranch received historic landmark status by Douglas County.

 

In 2007, the Schweiger Ranch Foundation, a 501(c)3 was formed, and the original 38 acres of land was donated to the foundation by RidgeGate Investments. Restoration and preservation of the historic buildings began in 2008 and continued through 2016, from grants received by the State Historical Fund and grant cash matches from the City of Lone Tree and Rampart Range Metropolitan District.

What We Do

Schweiger Ranch embodies the evolution of ranch life and is a living legacy of the west providing tours, educational and special events as a cultural resource to our community and surrounding neighborhoods. Free tours and events are provided to the public to introduce guests to the living history of the Schweiger Ranch and life in Douglas County for the last 100 years.

 

As a living history museum and working ranch, Schweiger Ranch is home to chickens and goats, as small representation of ranch life in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Special care and attention is required to maintain the property, historic buildings and care for the animals. Volunteers assist with minor maintenance and care of buildings, grounds and animal areas.

 

To provide a safe and healthy environment for our animals and volunteers, animal areas and implements are regularly cleaned during our monthly Ranch cleanup days. Volunteers can assist in the cleaning of the animal areas, animal grooming, such as brushing the goats, trimming hooves, trimming chicken claws, minor repairs and maintenance of the grounds and building, inside cleaning and preservation of the historic house, minor gardening/weeding, and miscellaneous projects.

 

Leadership opportunities are available for monthly oversight of the chicken coop cleanout and goat grooming care. A team lead will work alongside a team of 3-5 volunteers providing instructions and procedures for the chicken coop cleanout project. A team lead will provide and oversee grooming care to four goats with a team of 2-3 volunteers by brushing the goats and trimming hooves.

 

Monthly cleanup days are held on the 3rd Saturday of each month for two hours. The times vary during the year to accommodate seasonal temperatures. Most typical times are 9-11 am and 2-4 pm.

 

Special event help is a great way to support the Ranch with minor setup, teardown, greeting guests, assist with refreshments, provide oversight in historic buildings, and enjoy the event before or after your shift. Opportunities available on varying Saturdays from June through December.

Details

Get Connected Icon (303) 917-5126
Get Connected Icon Tamra Hirschman
Get Connected Icon Volunteer Corrdinator
https://schweigerranch.org/