...and it encompasses a feeling of wide-open skies and vast wilderness that is absolutely beautiful!
Photo credit Rocky Mountian Land Library
Now South Park as a new attraction as nestled in a part of this magnificent valley, close to the South Platte River, is the Rocky Mountain Land Libary A work in progress, the Rocky Mountian Land Library is a dream come true for husband and wife former book buyers for the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver, Ann Marie Martin, and Jeff Lee. Back in the ’90s, while on a book-buying trip for the store, they came upon Gladstone's Library at St Deiniol’s, a residential library in Wales. That visit was the start of their dream to create a residential library in Colorado — one that focused on people and the land. They always knew they would find a home for their beloved tens of thousands of volumes about nature, the environment, history, literature, western land issues, archeology, and all things American West.
In 2013 they signed a 95-year lease for the 1,500 Buffalo Peaks Ranch, in South Park. Established in 1861 as a sheep and cattle operation, it was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places. Work began to renovate the ranch, using volunteers and donations.
This short Youtube link about the Rocky Mountain Land Library features Jeff and Ann and their visions for the library.
The Rocky Mountian Land Library will be a year-round, residential retreat center and library while also hosting additional programs and outreach through their Metro Denver locations. Visitors from all backgrounds and interests will be able to gain inspiration from the books and the surrounding landscape of South Park.
My husband and I were hoping to visit the library this past summer, but because of covid shutdowns we had to forego those plans, but we definitely hope to make it a destination when we can travel again.
If you'd like to learn more you can follow the Rocky Mountain Land Library on their blog, Facebook. Instagram, and Twitter.
Meanwhile, I am in the midst of decorating for Christmas, writing Christmas cards, and will begin preparing some favorite holiday treats. Most likely we will have to forego gathering for our traditional family gathering for the Italian style "Feast of the Seven Fishes" I prepare on Christmas Eve, as the Sars-CoV-2 numbers have been worrisome high here in Colorado. We do hope our grandchildren will be able to visit and see our tree and open their gifts, while we all wear masks, etc., and try to stay healthy as we wait for the vaccine to become available. I hope you are all enjoying the holiday season--it is still the most wonderful time of the year!
Stay happy, safe, and healthy!
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41 comments:
Beautiful photos. Reminds me of my daughters ranch in Eastern Washington.
MB
Hello Pat,
The views of the valley are beautiful. The Land library sounds wonderful and a great idea! Great post and photos.
Take care, enjoy your day! Wishing you a happy new week!
That's such a beautiful area, I love the mountain shots. Always makes me think of the Westerns from Hollywood. Lovely! I'm just planning out my Christmas menu these days, and figuring out which Christmas cookies to bake!!
Sounds like wonderful work going on there. Your photos are gorgeous!
That big sky is so pretty! Beautiful photos, Pat!
Breathtaking views. Of course, reading "South Park" brings much other things to my mind!
THat is such a gorgeous area. I love each of these scenes.
Those are those big skies, indeed!
I’ve never been to Colorado, so you are my tour guide! Beautiful scenes! Quite an ambitious library project! Hopefully this pandemic will be a thing of the past at some point, and you’ll be able to explore further. Christmas will certainly be different; counting our blessings, though, and will be ready for gathering whenever it’s safe to do so. Best wishes of the season to you and yours!
The Land Library is fascinating...I am off to look at the link you provided, as someday , I hope and assume, we will travel again. (I seem to vaguely remember that we have family connections in your beautiful State (haha). Actually our Colorado kids are moving to a different part of the State, so we will have a lot of newness to see ! .... it will be too bad to have to forego your seven fishes family feast. Oregon is I think in about the same place Covid-wise and we too are isolating and assuming no big Christmas family get together the same as Thanksgiving . We will all get through this eventually.
What fab photos and glorious views I'm jealous heheh!
Have a scenictastic safe week 😷😷😷
Wow! Amazing photos - I especially love the first one!
Thanks for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2020/12/i-miss-fall-colors.html
Beautiful wide open spaces.
Dawn aka Spatulas On Parade
Pat - how fascinating to find a prairie at that elevation! And how wonderful that these folks have created such a gift for others while making one of their own dreams come true! Another destination to add to the post-COVID list! Thanks for bringing it to the attention of everyone at Mosaic Monday!
Beautiful landscape to say the least.
The gorgeous skies add a lot of charm to the frames.
I am sure the sight of the pastoral land with mountains all around must have soothed you. I would not have left that place easily, I am sure.
Have a fantastic week ahead Pat.
Oh wow that sounds so neat! I just love any sort of library but this one sounds so special.
Give me the wide-open spaces of the West any day!
wonderful landscapes.
So very lovely. What a cool place.
your photos show a wonderful place - must be great to roam there
You live in such a stunning part of the world - sorry to hear about your Covid numbers but wishing you a fun run-up to Christmas despite plans being different this year.
Enjoy your baking!
Wren x
Stunning landscape! I could just gaze at that view all day long.
So beautiful and that library will be amazing. I loved the Tattered Cover in Denver.
Stunning views! Thanks for taking the time to share it with us. #HomeMattersParty
I love the quote...letting the books design the library....Michelle
wonderful views....animal farming and village look so peaceful....
Have a great day
A calm and quiet location for the library. I'm sure it'll be a great place.
You stay safe, too. Take care. :)
You did a great job capturing that huge, wide open feeling. Wonderful photos of a beautiful location!
Wonderful Photos!, We hope to make it to Colorado in May.
Beautiful views! I love the wide open spaces. The library looks like such a unique destination as well. Thanks for sharing!
Very dramatic clouds. Thanks for sharing.
Everybody has used all the wonderful adjectives I could think of to describe your photos! I can see why you would love it.
Your link at 'My Corner of the World' this week is an exciting addition! Thanks for joining us!
Wow, what an incredible, ambitious, audacious project. History is made by people who do things like this.
beautiful pictures. Love the rain shaft
What a beautiful place! How wonderful that a library has made its way to this beautiful place, and not just any library but one that offers so many resources to the community. Truly a marvelous thing! We are in Christmas preparations here as well. It is a different year for sure! Many blessings to you dear friend :)
Beautiful images! It's so neat that the Rocky Mountain Land Library exists. Aside from your post, I never would have known it existed!
With Love,
Mandy
South Park is gorgeous. Your photos as always are so beautiful! Thank you! Have a wonderful weekend!
Dramtic skies! So beautiful. Those clouds.
Thank you for sharing these fabulous photographs.
The Land library sounds a very good idea.
Christmas is going to be very different this year isn't it.
We still do not know for sure what family gatherings will be possible.
I think some of them may be via the internet...
My good wishes to you and your family.
All the best Jan
It really still is the most wonderful time of the year! Thank you for sharing this beautiful virtual visit to this gorgeous part of the world too, Pat. Take care and thank you for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Community.
Colorado is full of the best vistas. You continue to capture them so well. Thank you for linking up!
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