Discover Cedar Ridge Ranch: An agritourism hub with horses, glamping, and Alpaca Yoga
Cedar Ridge Ranch/Courtesy photo
It’s unusual for a family with no generational experience to take up ranching. But that’s exactly what Randy and Pam Johnson and their daughter Merrill did when they moved from Chicago and purchased a 67-acre Missouri Heights property known as Cedar Ridge Ranch.
In 1999, the Johnsons found themselves at a crossroads when they were invited to spend the week in the Roaring Fork Valley.
“We came out and saw the blue skies and went river rafting, horseback riding, hiking, and the two of us came back that night and realized we had to change our lives,” Pam Johnson said.
Soon after, they picked up and moved to the valley and found the ranch while living in a small cabin.
“Merrill and I drove down this driveway and looked back at Mt. Sopris and said, ‘Oh my gosh, this is it,'” she recalled.
Merrill Johnson was around nine years old at the time and had always loved animals and the outdoors, so once the family settled here, they never looked back. The property came with a house, a barn, and horse boarding facilities, which was a big plus for the family.
“My mom had always loved horses; I loved horses and was active and wanted to be riding all the time,” Merrill Johnson said. “But the boarding was a whole new business. My mom got thrown into that, and she did a great job with it.”
For Merrill, that start was the next step in a lifelong love affair with horses. She went on to compete in a range of events from Hunter Jumpers, Reining, and Western Riding and ended her show career qualifying and competing three times at the American Quarter Horse World Show.
“It was just such a big part of my desires,” she said. “And I remember when we came here, my goal was to qualify and compete at the World Championship show. I did it three times and loved it and was able to create an awesome relationship with the horse and make that team; and now, I just get to inspire all types of riders and people who want to evolve but also evolve a relationship with a horse. They are incredible teachers.”
After going away to college, she returned to Cedar Ridge to run the equestrian program and ranch operations.
She practices Natural Horsemanship, which encourages riders to connect with their horses through trust, respect, and love. Her approach is meant to help each rider gain a strong seat and intuitive connection, learn horse care, understand horse safety, and build a relationship with their horse, giving them a strong foundation. Every rider she teaches begins riding bareback and then graduates to either English or Western.
“Horses come from the heart,” she said. “There have been studies that show that there’s a 30-foot electromagnetic field around them. Just walking up to them, they can start to change your heart and coherence, but you can also change theirs. And so the mirroring image and aspect is amazing. It shows you how powerful you are, and how your thoughts and energy can shape the world around you.”
It was the belief in this dream that has kept the business growing and transforming for the past 25 years. About six years ago, the Johnsons decided to diversify their offerings at the ranch and wanted to provide the same experiences that they enjoyed daily to visitors and guests.
“We went into agritourism with glamping tents, then yurts, a stargazer cabin, and eventually a farmhouse,” Merrill Jonson said. “We wanted to offer different types of living and different types of being with nature. We thought we’d been so blessed; how do we keep on sharing the blessing? And how can we facilitate stronger families? I truly believe that fundamental change starts with the individual, but then the family, and that family has so much impact on our community and the world. So that’s where it started.”
These days the ranch, which is now open for the summer, offers an array of activities for locals and visitors alike.
The pet-friendly ranch offers a range of high-end amenities crucial to the experience of cozy, intimate glamping. Beyond the accommodation, visitors can immerse themselves in the farm experience by harvesting eggs for breakfast, embarking on a farm tour, or practicing outdoor yoga with their resident alpacas. Enjoy horseback riding, engage in old-style games for kids, and unwind during quiet evenings by the campfires.
Their signature Alpaca Yoga is a popular offering. Leading the classes is Emilee Celeste, a Carbondale native with a passion for yoga and holistic wellness. Guests can also join an alpaca felting class.
The alpacas came to the ranch after Pam Johnson did some research on the South American domesticated camelid. She learned that their fleece is considered some of the most luxurious in the world. Plus their good nature and small stature make them easy animals to maintain. They have had the alpacas for five years now, and she believes they just add to the overall mission of the ranch.
“Our philosophy is ‘come connect, create, cultivate.’ Come, and create amazing experiences, new chapters, new ideas, new habits, new thought processes,” she said. “Most importantly, come connect with yourself, with other people, and with your highest best potential.”
For more information: cedarridgeranch.com
Discover Cedar Ridge Ranch: An agritourism hub with horses, glamping, and Alpaca Yoga
It’s unusual for a family with no generational experience to take up ranching. But that’s exactly what Randy and Pam Johnson and their daughter Merrill did when they moved from Chicago and purchased a 67-acre Missouri Heights property known as Cedar Ridge Ranch.
