Copyright ©2024 River Bend Ranch – All Rights Reserved.
River Bend Ranch, 27846 Highway 550, Durango, CO 81301
After living in several big cities scattered across the states of Minnesota, Texas, and California, we wanted to escape the metropolis chaos. We visited southwest Colorado and found Durango was everything we hoped it would be. Within a couple years, we purchased the River Bend Ranch property and immediately felt like we found our pot-of-gold at the end of the rainbow.
Twenty years of city life didn’t diminish our desire to get back to our small-town roots and Durango provided just the right mix of opportunity and adventure for our family. Raising our kids in a Christian home and safe environment is a critical part of our family dynamic. We are so grateful to live in this beautiful place, and we don’t take that for granted; in fact, that is one of the reasons we enjoy sharing this blessing that God has granted to us.
Luke 12:48 says, “To whom much is given, much will be required.” It’s common to associate that statement with physical possessions, but that is only a part of it. Our faith and family, our home and property, our character and work ethic, our time and our talents, even our very heartbeat; they are all gifts. And so, we understand this statement Jesus made to be all-encompassing. We hope you agree but even if you don’t, at least you understand a little bit about who we are, and why we are here. We have so much to be thankful for and we love to share with others.
— Dan and Jenny, owners
River Bend Ranch is family-owned and operated, although we cannot do it alone. We have dedicated individuals who have demonstrated a joyful willingness to partner with us. These staff members are hard-working yet light-hearted. They take pride in their work but are willing to laugh at their mistakes, and they enjoy knowing that their efforts are recognized and appreciated by all who come here.
As you have no doubt noticed, the views from River Bend Ranch are absolutely stunning. If you’ve never been here, you might wonder if the drive from Durango to the venue is long or difficult. It is neither. Our property is nestled in the beautiful Animas Valley and only 2 miles outside the city limits of Durango. We are an easy 10 minute drive to just about any hotel, restaurant, shopping, or activity in Durango. Or if you want to head the other direction, we are 5 minutes from the Durango Hot Springs and 20 minutes from Purgatory Resort.
There are certain features of the property that propel us toward a style that is rustic, although we do provide some modern elements as well. You’ll find that the event barn has a warm, rustic feel (not to mention the pleasant scent of cedar) that invites you to relax and enjoy yourself. The bridal suite/dressing room takes on a more modern touch and includes all the amenities you’d want, being light and bright with lot of mirrors.
While the physical components of a property are important, and they might check all your boxes; don’t forget to consider a venue’s operational style. We didn’t become Durango’s relaxed wedding venue by accident— it is a direct result of the environment we created. We don’t do stress here. We want your experience with us to feel right from our first communication through the final goodbye after your event.