Forever Protected: Bullsprings Ranch

There is a language that speaks without words—the rustling of quaking aspen, the distant call of wild turkeys, the soft padding of bighorn sheep across snowy slopes. This is the ancient dialect of the land, and at Bullsprings Ranch, it continues to resonate, uninterrupted by the clamor of frenetic culture that often overtakes wild places.

Along the historic Gold Belt Scenic Byway, where prospectors once traveled with dreams of gold, a different kind of treasure has been safeguarded. Palmer Land Conservancy is proud to announce the 134-acre Bullsprings Ranch is now permanently protected with a conservation easement. Bullsprings stands as a testament to what we value most in Colorado—not what we can extract, but what we can protect for generations to come.

Through a trusted partnership with the landowners, Carol Ekarius and Ken Woodard, and the support of a dedicated community of conservation-minded donors, we have not just protected a property—we have honored a promise to protect what we all love about Colorado.

We are reminded that conservation is not merely an act of preservation but an investment—an investment to be cherished for many generations. Carol and Ken, in partnership with Palmer Land Conservancy, have committed to protecting this sanctuary where the bighorn sheep will continue their ancient winter migrations undisturbed.

The ranch doesn't exist in isolation but forms a vital piece in a mosaic of protected lands. Within a ten-mile radius, approximately 11,500 acres stand similarly protected by Palmer—forming a constellation of gems for wildlife and our descendants. With proximity to Dome Rock Special Wildlife Area, Mueller State Park, Florissant Fossil Beds, and Pike National Forest, wildlife can migrate freely across the northern flanks of Pikes Peak.

Across the craggy slopes of the ranch, the Abert's squirrel will continue to dart among the ponderosa pines. Black bears will forage in autumn's abundance. Elk will bugle across valleys as they have for millennia. Mountain lions will move like shadows through the landscape. Mule deer will browse in dawn's first light. The peregrine falcon will still dive from impossible heights beneath the Colorado sun.

For more than half a mile, travelers along the Gold Belt Byway will glimpse this conserved piece of Colorado's soul—not as a museum piece behind glass, but as a living, breathing ecosystem continuing its ancient rhythms.