The Overland Trail

To some, the American Frontier exists now only in our collective consciousness and the threads that wove the fabric of Westen lore have long since unraveled. To borrow a phrase from Mark Twain, "Rumors of its death have been greatly exaggerated."

I challenge anyone who has visited the Robert's Ranch not to come away believing that there is something very unique, very special, very worth saving about the Ranch. This ranch represents not only who we were as an American people but also who we are today.

The Robert's family are stewards of this legacy, preserving the past for the future.

There may no longer be buffalo rolling in its wallows, but antelope still gracefully glide across its prairie meadows. Wagon trains may no longer painstakingly inch down the rocks of the "Devil's Washboard," but the visible remnants of their journey are preserved across a stretch of the Ranch. Eagles still glide in a sky shared by passing planes.

The saga of the American Frontier continues to be written on the pages of the Robert's Ranch, but this story is now threatened by mining interests that will destroy this fragile timeline of Western history as well as countless ecological and archaeological treasures.

YOU CAN RECLAIM A LANDSCAPE BUT NEVER ITS HISTORY.

The challenge that faces the Robert's family is being played out throughout the West. Each is a battle in a war to preserve and protect our American heritage, and each battle lost is erosion of that heritage.

Voice your concerns to the Laramie County Commissioners and State Representatives, or contact Derek Roberts at (970) 472-8888 to find out more information.

Remember, "A MINE IS A TERRIBLE WASTE!"

Larimer County Commissioners:
• Cheryl Olson
• Jim Disney
• John Clarke

Planning and Zoning:
• Larry Timm, head
• Robert Helmick (Sr. Planner)

Visit the OCTA (Oregon California Trails Association) pages for more information on other preservation projects!