APRIL 2013
"Some of the most beautiful places on earth are lesser known and undisturbed. There's a special sense of wonder that goes along with discovering a place like this. You feel somehow it belongs to you. You take that place with you, even when you leave. "
This is often said of the area surrounding Gunnison. We would like to share that with you and so look forward to sharing the summer with you all. Mesa RV Resort is idyllically situated - in an environment where you can give yourself time to day dream away from the hustle and bustle - come, recharge and enjoy yourselves. Gunnison lies in a large valley surrounded by mountains. National forests, parks, lakes and trout streams make Gunnison one of Colorado’s premier camping paradise. Tourists come to Gunnison for many reasons, but all come to enjoy one of the finest summer climates in America. Daytime high temperatures rarely reach 85 and the humidity is very low. Evenings are cool enough for very comfortable sleeping.
Our goal is to make your stay with us here at Mesa RV Resort a pleasant, fun and happy experience. Our enthusiastic and friendly team of workampers are ready to welcome you.
Remember that reservations are guaranteed with the processing of your credit card for one full night’s deposit per site reserved. Should you need to cancel, we require a notice of 7 full days before the reservation date to refund your deposit less a $10 cancelation fee for processing. Over Holiday weekends such as 4th of July and Labor Day, we enforce a no cancelation and a no refund policy.
We have space for one vehicle per site only. If you have more than one car, a boat/atv trailer etc, it needs to go into our storage yard. Please make sure that we are informed when you make your reservation. Storage spaces are limited so please make sure you reserve your space!
There is much to do and see in and around Gunnison. Should you not find the information you need on our website, we recommend you visit www.GunnisonCrestedButte.com for further details of area activities.
We certainly look forward to meeting new guests and seeing return visitors again, and so take this opportunity to wish you all well till then. We hope that you’ll come and enjoy this wonderful area , and we will make every effort to ensure that your time with us is a happy one.
Feel free to contact us at any time if you have any questions.
Francie, Allan, Tash and J.
March 13 2013
“I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape - the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show.” ~Andrew Wyeth
And suddenly the temperature has crept up into the high 40s F..snow is melting, birds are singing and there have been sightings of robins in various parts of Gunnison! Soon the cranes will be flying over announcing that spring really is here.
Winter at Mesa RV Resort seems to have flown by so fast this year. It is almost time to get going with outside chores already!
Before we get to the chores however, let me dream a little longer as I share some of the wonderful Gunnison winter fun with you all.
We know that most of you only get to enjoy this area in the lovely summer and fall months, so here is a glimpse of the fun we have in Gunnison during those snowy cold but wonderfully restorative winter months.
Gunnison as you all know, is located at the bottom of several valleys. This means that cold air in all the valleys settles into Gunnison at night, making it one of the coldest places in winter in the United States, especially when snow pack is present. The average January low is −8 F but this year we managed to survive a couple of weeks of -30 F. YIKES!!! For all the snow and the cold temperatures, the winter is generally filled with sunny days just perfect for cross country skiing and snow-shoeing. Snowmobiling takes you far out to areas often not accessible any other time
..and of course Dog Sledding is a must..
Ice Skating is enjoyed by young and old.. either on the frozen ponds turned ice-rinks and for a more exciting experience, distance skaters glide for miles on Blue Mesa. Hill Skiers and Snowboarders seem to have had a fantastic season this year.
Of course there is much Ice Fishing taking place throughout the winter months. There is a much better snow pack than last year and hopefully Blue Mesa lake will fill up again! We hear that the rivers are starting to melt and many a local fishermen are out and about catching already.
“Under the... snow blossoms a daring spring.” ~Terri Guillemets
....soon it will be mud season..very soon...the cottonwoods are almost budding in anticipation for that ever so slightly warmer day.
We, at Mesa RV Resort are already taking reservations.. it will be a good summer. And we are looking forward to seeing everyone again.. The Pickleball courts have survived ...there is music in the air..there are plans for a few improvements around the Resort. We are excited about our 2013 team of workampers... Natasha and J are ready to welcome everyone and soon -old and new friends will be gathered around tables laden with food as we get together for some sociable Potlucks.
“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art..It has no survival value: rather it is one of those things that gives value to survival.”- C.S.Lewis
If you are planning a trip to Gunnison this summer, please consider preparing for acclimatization ahead of time. Gunnison is located at 7,775 feet above sea level and we’d like to help you get the most out of your vacation, after all, you deserve the best holiday ever! Follow this link for Acli-Mate® Mountain Sport Drink . It works by helping the body to adapt. For optimal acclimatization, Acli-Mate® should be taken 3 days prior to arrival at elevation. Acli-Mate® Mountain Sport Drink Supplement helps to support healthy adrenal function, optimal hydration, energy production and red blood cell integrity, all pathways that promote well-being and performance at elevation. For these reasons, Acli-Mate® Mountain Sport Drink is the perfect sport supplement for the mountain visitor. The best thing about it is that it was developed by a local Naturopath right here in Gunnison!
Be safe, keep smiling and see you all soon for a wonderful season filled with fun.
Francie
PS Colorado’s special winter secret... Left Hand Brewery’s Nitro!! Cheers and here's to Summer 2013!!
Photos by Allan Ivy Photography, Francie IVY Photography, Matt Burt and
Sports Fish Colorado.
DECEMBER 2012
“ If we had no winter , the spring would not be so pleasant:
If we had not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”
- Anne Bradstreet 1612-1672.
As winter draws in at Mesa RV Resort and we move closer to a new year I am reminded of the wonderful year that has past!
I have always thought of winter as a time for reflection and now that the ground is covered with its beautiful blanket of snow and the birds have moved on, I have been able to reflect on this past year. Mesa RV Resort became our new home and joining the team here has been an exciting new adventure for J and I. This season has brought us new friends and it has been wonderful to get to know all of you!
We have had a few inches of snow over the last few weeks bringing a lot of new outdoor activities and much needed water for the area!
Keep an eye on our website and our facebook page for some winter photos, you will be surprised to see how different the Resort looks in the snow!
Since we closed the Resort, we have been working on various projects readying the park for your return for the 2013 season!
and remember..
"Miracles come in moments. Be ready and willing." Have a wonderful winter filled with miracles, laughter and love.
Natasha
AUGUST 27 2012
Hello RVers and Campers of Mesa RV Resort!
Natasha and I hope you all are enjoying the end of the summer and are anticipating the coming fall colors! Some color change is already evident in the high country. We hope everyone is having a comfortable and relaxing time here at Mesa RV Resort as we are making our way into the last few months of the season. We have enjoyed having you all here and thank you for choosing to stay with us in the beautiful Gunnison Valley. We also thank everyone for the kind words and support in regards to us joining the team and the recent changes we have been making around the resort. We will continue to improve upon and maintain the resort for your enjoyment.
We would also like to take this opportunity to extend a friendly reminder of some of the rules we have implemented in the resort and inform you of a new policy regarding these rules. We would also like to remind everyone that these rules are put into place in order to help us maintain the resort as efficiently as possible and to create a pleasant and respectful community. We do our best to keep up with the daily maintenance while improving upon what we already have in order to provide a fun, friendly and enjoyable atmosphere for all.
We would like to remind everyone that the posted speed limit is 5 miles per hour. This is for the safety of you and others as well as the small children and dogs on the premises. We ask that you recognize and abide by this speed limit in order to avoid any incidents. Also, when returning to your site, please remember that the designated parking spaces are within your own site or directly in front of your RV. Anyone parking in or in front of any other site but their own reserved site will be charged for that additional site. We would also like to remind all dog owners that dogs must be leashed at all times. We also ask that dog owners pick up after their dogs regardless of where and when your dog decides to do its business If a problem arises such that the owner is not abiding by this rule we are reserving the right to implement a $60 service charge added to the owners bill in order to offset the time spent by our staff to clean up and dispose of such.
We do our best to provide a clean, friendly and relaxed place for our guests to enjoy and ask that our guests do their part in keeping the resort beautiful. We thank everyone that has been respectful and conscious of the rules we have and hope this letter will remind everyone of the importance and necessity of these rules in regards to efficiently and effectively making this park beautiful and enjoyable for everyone. If you have any questions or concerns please contact us personally.
Thank you,
Natasha, Jay and the Mesa RV Resort team
AUGUST 2012
What an awsome summer it has been! And as we enter the second half of the season we would like to introduce our daughter Natasha and our Son-in-Law J who will be joining us as managers. Natasha and J will be responsible for a number of new projects and improvements which we hope to have in place by next summer. Both have excellent people's skills and we are proud to have them work with us.
This summer has seen the introduction of "Pickle-Ball" to Mesa RV Resort. Introduced by workampers Karen and Bill it has been taken on with great gusto by many of our guests and we now boast two outdoor courts resulting in much fun and laughter resounding through the Resort.
John and Margie have been wonderful and have quietly been taking guests out fishing. They were also a wonderful part of our Annual Trans Blue Mesa Swim and helped out with ferrying swimmers and spectators. We would like to thank them for their quiet contribution.
Workampers James and Melba deserve a big round of applause for the beautiful flowers brightening up the whole Resort this summer. They have done a wonderful job and this year is surely the best " flowers" we have had. Thank you Melba and James.
We now look forward to the fall colors that take over the Gunnison Valley in September. Allan will be offering a "Fall Color" photographic workshop and the dates will be announced later this month.
We will end our season with our Annual Harvest Music Festival on the last Saturday of September when we will have the pleasure of introducing a number of local young musicians. This will be a free event and we hope to see many of you enjoying the cool evening music on the lawns..
Thank you to all who have made this season fun and successful.
Allan and Francie
MARCH 2012
“Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush."
-Doug Larson
And yes…Spring has Sprung!...and the axis of the Earth is increasing its tilt toward the Sun and the length of daylight is rapidly increasing. It is the time of new beginings and rebirth and we welcome the cattle in the pastures across the road from Mesa RV Resort and watch daily for new baby calves.., the Sandhill Cranes are back, flying over head thrilling us with their wonderful calls, fishermen are out on the river, and we are beginning to prepare the Resort for the coming season.
Our workampers will be arriving soon. We are pleased to welcome two workamping couples back : Mick and Penny and James and Melba. We will also be joined by 3 new couples this season and we look forward to meeting them. Richard and Shana will still be with us but they have chosen to return as guests and are hoping to spend much time enjoying the fishing!!!
So it’s time to start thinking of summertime fun and what better place for that right here at Mesa RV Resort, 3 miles west of Gunnison which is rather like a home on the range surrounded by ski areas, a national recreation area, national park, lakes, rivers and mesas, and high-mountain sage that looks like it’s right out of a John Wayne Western movie. Gunnison is the kind of place where you don't feel like a tourist as much as somebody visiting the folks and is ideal as a base camp for exploring a treasure trove of natural and man-made attractions.
Head north from town and you'll end up in Crested Butte, passing through Almont, the home of the confluence of the East and Taylor rivers that forms the great Gunnison River. It’s the second largest tributary to the Colorado River.
Head west and the valley drops away into the Curecanti National Recreation Area, Blue Mesa Reservoir and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. In the summer, the reservoir — Colorado's largest body of water — is full of canoes, sailboats, pontoon and motor boats, and people water-skiing, fishing and even parasailing in the refreshing water. White water rafting on the Taylor or the Gunnison river is a must.
Among Gunnison's attractions is a man-made whitewater park on the Gunnison River. The park stretches several hundred feet, with various rock structures providing a playground for recreational kayakers and rafters. To take in the clear stable night skies, visit the new Gunnison Valley Observatory.
ATVs and jeeps are a great way to see areas that are otherwise only accessible by foot or horse. In fact why not take a horse ride into the Gunnison outback?
There’s so much to see and do!
Winter is fastdrawing to an end and spring is definitely in the air in Gunnison!
We look forward to an exciting 2012 summer season so join us for sunshine, relaxation and especially laughter..we look forward to re-newing friendships, making new friends, and simply remembering to have fun because "Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower." ~Hans Christian Anderson
See you soon!
Francie and Allan
DECEMBER 2011
Winter Beauty
When it's winter in the Valley
and my breath hangs in the air,
The snow will crunch beneath my feet
and glisten in the air.
The stars at night light up my world
so I never walk alone;
It's clear and crisp and beautiful
in the Valley I call home.
by Joan Adams Burchell
Well it's that time of year again- A wonderful indian summer in November after the most gorgeous fall colors and now we are headed into winter. The last weeks of November and the first couple weeks of December are unique here in the Gunnison Valley. It’s actually possible to Nordic ski on perfect trails above Crested Butte, mountain bike on perfect trails at Hartman Rocks, play Hockey in Gunnison and Speed Skate along the Gunnison River Canyon.
After a delightful summer season at Mesa RV Resort, I would like to share with you some of the winter fun that take place during your absence…So what happens in Gunnison and at Mesa RV Resort during the cold beautiful snowy winter months?
A herd of mule deer take over the park during the fall and enjoy the safety provided around the RV sites thoughout the winter…the odd red fox runs across from the tipis towards the luxury sites, and that lovely blanket of snow appears, completely transforming the Resort allowing the trees, the grass, the ground to rest in anticipation for the spring.
A snowy mountain backdrop, lots of good cheer, and plenty of fun activities for all ages combine to create magical holiday moments in Gunnison as the winter season kicks starts with the “Night of Lights “ on Main street on the first Friday of December.
Blue Mesa Lake offers the perfect back drop for viewing the Lunar eclipse a few days later. The hunters leave and the skiiers arrive.
With the first snow falls, the dog sledding teams begin to train again and that magical experience becomes available..Imagine yourself gliding through a winter wonderland of mountains with a team of ambitious dogs pulling you down the trail between Taylor Park and Tincup…the only sound is the panting of the dogs and the swish of sled runners. Definitely a one-of-a kind activity in the scenic mountains of Colorado which leaves you mesmorised and invigorated.
For something more active, Gunnison provides opportunities for Snowshoeing..a great activity for the whole family or if you want to escape from it all. Ice Fishing is popular and Kokanee Salmon, Rainbows, Browns and Mackinaw Trout can all be caught in the winter on Blue Mesa and Taylor Lake.
And, it doesn’t matter where you are from, winter and Ice Skating are synonymous. Ice Skating and Ice Hockey are alive and well in the Gunnison Valley. The indoor ice rink is well used and for extreme Speed Skaters there is some fantastic skating on Blue Mesa lake and inside the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
An extensive trail system on vast stretches of open land makes snowmobiling a great activity for everyone, from first-time snowmobilers to seasoned “sled heads.”
White. Wondrous. Winters:
Watching the snow fall covering everything in a blanket of beauty.
Drinking hot chocolate wrapped up in a nice, soft, warm blanket.
The nice warm glow of heat given off by a wood stove.
The crunch of the snow as you walk on it.
Building a snow man.
Sliding down the hill on a sled.
Watching children making snow angels.
The feeling of graceful gliding as you ice skate around the lake, or rink.
The rush of the wind in your face as you ski down the hill.
Awesome view from the top of the montain after an exciting snowmobile ride.
The holiday lights that make the whole outside look like a winter wonderland.
And then, after a hard day playing in the snow or on ice, a soak in the hot pool at Waunita Hot Springs. What more could one ask for?
Gunnison in the winter is relaxing, magical, refreshing and exilarating and we’ll be enjoying all these adventures as we wait for our summer guests to return. Happy Holidays. We wish you Wisdom to choose priorities...For those things that really matter in life.
Here comes more snows, and it seems I have two choices: shovel or make snow angels. I chose to make snow angels…and enjoy the secret messages in the snow flakes softly landing on my face.
See you all in the spring!
JUNE 2011
“As you sit on the hillside, or lie prone under the trees of the forest, or sprawl wet-legged by a mountain stream, the great door, that does not look like a door, opens.” ~Stephen Graham, The Gentle Art of Tramping
It’s now June 2011 and our season kicked off with a wonderfully fun ‘Wear Your Hat” potluck on Monday celebrating Memorial Day and welcoming our early season guests . Our hosts, Mick and Penny arrived back late in March, ready to tackle the new season. Our team of workampers this year are already in full swing getting the resort ready and have spent much time getting the grass mowed and watered. It is looking fresh, green and welcoming. Richard and Shana, Melba and James have joined us again and our new team members, Judy and Jerry, Sharon and Kenny and Richard and Margie are settling in and are doing a great job. We are happy to have them on the team and we're sure they'll fit just right in. We are well organized for a wonderful summer with a fun and active team.
The creeks are full and we are enjoying the running water flowing through and around the resort. The grass is green, the birds have moved back and our early guests have settled in. Our seasonal guests have started arriving and we would like to express a special warm welcome to the Bobby and Paula who have chosen to spend the whole summer with us enjoying one of our Luxury Hot Tub sites. They have settled in, have made themselves comfortable and are obviously ready for a great summer in Gunnison. Bobby was our “best hat “ winner at the Potluck last week arriving with a wonderfully decorated fishing hat!
A number our seasonal guests from last year have already returned and are busy enjoying the warm weather and more importantly, the great fishing. Blue Mesa fishing has been excellent for Kokanee Salmon!!!! 35-60 fish days have been the norm so come take advantage of this hot bite!!!!
Our website is doing well and we have had record “visits” since its launch at the end of 2009. It has been fun to include the Facebook interface this winter and we have enjoyed reading people’s comments. We would like to encourage guests in the Resort as well as our cyber visitors to join in and submit comments and stories. Our Facebook Community is growing and we would love it if you all joined us by following the link on the home page. It is an easy way to share events taking place on the Resort and in the Gunnison area.
Our events calendar has been up-dated. Allan will be opening a Gallery in Crested Butte for the summer and photographic workshops will be offered to anyone interested. A variety of Potlucks have been planned, an evening of art and music at the “Open Your Eyes” gallery, a Harvest dinner, impromptu live music, slide shows, a “gentle” restorative Yoga Class may be introduced later on, talks by our own Dr. Phil, and much more. We have a wonderful new partnership with “Sail Western Colorado” this summer and we can organize some fun and affordable Blue Mesa Sailing adventures and sunset cruises for you and your family. It’s time to think of summer vacation..make reservations and plan wonderful outings in this beautiful area.
Remember that “Great things are done when men and mountains meet.” (~William Blake) ..so come stay with us for a fun filled summer. Explore, dream, discover..
Happy camping and happy rv-ing. We hope to see you soon!
March 22nd 2011
22nd March 2011
Winter is slowly drawing to an end and spring is definitely in the air in Gunnison!
So what has been happening in Gunnison and at Mesa RV Resort during the cold beautiful snowy winter months?
Allan had a very successful Photographic Exhibition at the Gunnison Arts Center during the months of January and February. New photographs will be added to his collection at the " Open Your Eyes gallery" at the Resort and he has been busy printing and producing inventory. Remember to pop in during your stay! A temporary gallery in Crested Butte is on the cards for the summer months so we'd like to encourage you to take that in when you visit the quaint little town 30 mile north of Gunnison.
The " From Inspiration to Print" extended studies course taught by Allan at Western College is progressing well. Allan has a full class and both he and the students have been having fun together taking photographs and learning about aperture, depth of field, composition and how to use Lightroom. Allan is planning on having a number of workshops this summer and anyone interested can contact him through the website.
We have done a bit of work on the website...its been wonderful to see that our virtual visitors have had fun with our Facebook interface, leaving comments and "liking " some of our pages and photos. We are busy adding a portal page for our guests who log into the free wifi this summer. The page will include "news and events " for that week both at the Resort and in the Gunnison area. From there you will have direct access to the website which offers up to date information about the fun activities taking place in the surrounding area.
Ice Fishing on Blue Mesa has been reported as "Pretty Good!" this winter. Blue Mesa still has 3-5 inches of crusty snow on top of 10-20+ inches of safe ice. The fishing has been good most days with lake trout, salmon, rainbow trout, and brown trout all making appearances. The best fishing has by far been the first 3-4 hours of light, but there have been frenzys throughout the day. Take advantage of the only time of year you can ice fish in a tee shirt!!! The rivers are melting fast now and the local fishermen are out there catching right now! We have already had a few meals of freshly caught salmon!
The Lucky Cat Dog Farm is now our very favorite winter friend! Dog sledding in the beautiful areas around Ohio Creek, Tin Cup, Tayler lake and Pole Creek with Becky and Matt has been the highlight of our winter in Gunnison. Actually it has been a mild winter here in Gunnison..of course the Crested Butte and Monarch area have had well over their average snowfall and by the sounds of things they have had a great skiing season.
And now Spring has Sprung!..."Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush." ~Doug Larson
Yes..it's mud season but what fun lies ahead... the bulls are back in the field next door, the cow herd in the pasture across from the Resort has begun calving, the Sandhill Cranes are back, flying over head thrilling us with their wonderful calls, fishermen are out on the river, and we are preparing the Resort for the coming season. Our workampers should begin to arrive soon. It gives us much pleasure to welcome back 3 couples from last year: Mick and Penny, Richard and Shana and James and Melba. We look forward to meeting our 3 new couples and we will miss not having Lenny and Barbara in the team but hope that they will be able to come up for a short visit. In the next few days we will be updating our events calendar with Resort activities as well as Gunnison and Crested Butte fun events so keep a look out for that. We will probably kick off with a Potluck on Memorial Day...we have had many fun and tasty Potlucks in the last two seasons so we are all looking forward to being able to chat and make new friends as we share food again this year.
So look out for all the fun things to take part in this summer- swimming at the Gunnison Recreation Center, golfing, hiking, join a Zumba class, learn about Kundalini yoga and join a class, enjoy live music, river rafting, fishing, sailing, atving, simply sit and be still by the river, cycle, farmer's market, Classic cars, fireworks, gallery tours and Art walks, do some meditation...yes, there is definitely something for everyone. Remember this IS Gunnison- a jewel in a bubble- the perfect environment for all those special moments, a place where you will be able "to take time to breathe" and absorb the wonders of nature. What better place to do just that than from Mesa RV Resort where you Camp Hosts will be happy to look after you!
Join us this summer for sunshine, relaxation and especially laughter..we look forward to re-newing friendships, making new friends, and simply remembering to have fun because "Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower." ~Hans Christian Anderson
See you all soon. Take care.
Francie and Allan.
05 JUNE 2010
Well I guess it is time I wrote a newsletter…time seems to have flown since Allan and I returned to Gunnison after spending the winter in the UK.
Much has been accomplished since we landed back here on the 8th March and it feels like we have been running flat out since then. But today the sun is shining, we have finally got to a day that feels like summer…80F yay!! Flowers and plants are being planted out as I write…
As some of you know, Andy will not be with us this year. He will be in Australia for a couple of years. However, our daughter Natasha has joined us for six months.
We are pleased to have three of our workamper couples from last year, Richard and Shana, Barbara and Lenny and Penny and Mick, back with us for this season. Our team has been joined by Melba and James, Shirley and Ron and Shelley and Sierra. Welcome to you all!
Summer is here… the creeks, the trees, the team and the beautiful surrounding countryside..we're all ready for a great season which kicked off on Memorial Weekend with a “Cool Summer Nights” Potluck hosted by Richard and Shana.
Most of our Park Model and Seasonal guests have arrived. It has been wonderful re-newing friendships that blossomed last year.
The new REC-HALL looks great and it should be a fun place to gather and have fun.
Apart from a new REC-HALL, the” ALLAN IVY PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERY” opened it’s doors on the 28th May.
We had a great crowd of people, many of whom have been following Allan’s work on his website and his Daily Photo Blog on the site. Every Ist Friday of each month, there is a Gallery Crawl in Gunnison and we have been included in the crawl. W would like to welcome you all to come and enjoy Allan’s wonderful photographs of the area as well as much of his international work from Africa, Bangladesh, Europe and the UK. Everyone is welcome and the Gallery will be opened Monday through Saturday, 10-12am and 2-5pm. Just “OPEN YOUR EYES AND LOOK OUT FOR THE BUS”.
As we now have our very own “ resort bus” we will be able to join the 4th of July Parade up in Crested Butte as well as participate in the Cattlemans Parade in Gunnison in mid- July. It is going to be a fun summer! Keep checking the ‘events’ calendar to see what’s happening!
The next "get together" in our new REC-HALLL will be a tasty Italian Potluck organized and hosted by Barbara and Lenny on the 10th June. There will be a sign up sheet in the office by the weekend.
We are ready for you and we would like to welcome you all to come and enjoy the natural beauty of the area and remember :
"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time." ~John Lubbockon
Have a wonderful day and keep smiling!
Francie
" To everything there is a season,
a time to every purpose under heaven.."
It's February already! Our second full season at Mesa Rv Resort is upon us! Reservations have been steadily coming in and planning for this summer has begun in earnest. We look forward to re-uniting with friends and of course meeting new ones! It will be fun to share this "little gem" of Colorado with you all. We all need to take time to breathe and absorb all the wonders of nature and what better place to do that than right here at Mesa Rv Resort, in the heart of Colorado!
Through the winter months, we have spent some time up-dating our website- the 2010 season rates are up and we have added all the events and summer activities to the calendar. Take the time to look at what promises to be a season full of fun and adventures. Allan has included the times and dates for photographic slideshow which were so popular last season.
We look forward to returning to Gunnison after a winter in the UK. Both Allan and I are anxious to meet and welcome our new teams of workampers as well as welcoming back 3 couples from last year. Barbara and Lenny, Shanna and Richard and Penny and Mick are all returning for another season with us. As far as we are concerned we couldn't ask for a better team to work with and we are confident that the three new couples who will be joining us will prove to be invaluable too.
If any of you would like to add any other activities on the calendar please don't hesitate to contact us and we can make the necessary arrangements.
Until we meet again I leave you with one of my favourite quotes:
"If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces, never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again."
10th October 2009
We began this year with hope and determination to achieve our goals at Mesa RV Resort. Now as the season draws to a close, we can say that it has been an exciting, difficult at times, but rewarding journey. Together with our fantastic team of workampers, I think you will agree that we managed to achieve most of the improvements we had planned but most important, we achieved an atmosphere in which our guests could relax, have fun and truly enjoy their visit.
The two cabins, "the Shrew", so named after our favorite Traditional Longbow, (which both Allan and Andy shoot) and "the Hawken", named after the rifle used extensively by hunters and trappers in the high country, were completed by the begining of the season. Andy did a wonderful job on them. Both have a little character of their own..At this point I should thank workamper Mick and Park Model Guest Jim Jaggers for their invaluable help. Both cabins were booked back to back all summer and bookings for the fall and winter season look promising. In fact we are thrilled that "the Hawken" will actually be occupied over Christmas. Peg and Hullit, we hope you have a wonderful and cozy Christmas here. You are the first guests to spend Christmas at Mesa RV Resort! Oh, the weather outside might be seem frightful, but Gunnison, in the winter is indeed delightful! I'm sure that this is the place to enjoy the most memorable Christmas you could imagine. From skiing to snowshoeing to snowmobiling, it is the place for enthusiasts from all walks of life. Gunnison sure becomes a winter-land of wonder, a winter adventure that is sure to warm your heart and spirit.
In April, we created quite stir when we put up two Tipis. One has become Andy's "abode". He has made it rather comfortable with a wood stove and skins amongst many weird and interesting bits and pieces..He enjoys showing it to people so if you missed out this year, be sure to pay him a visit on your next stay at Mesa RV Resort. The other, we rented out through the summer for a special camping experience which was enjoyed by a number of families who described their stays as "the best fun ever". A playground was also built near the club house and we managed to get the beginning of a Recycling Bank together. At this stage, there is no collection so we have had to cart all the recycling to the Gunnison Recycling Point ourselves. Mr and Mrs Barnes who were here for the season took the responsibility of doing just that for us twice a week and we would like them to know how much we appreciated their help. Thank you all for helping us make this a Green Park.
Our team of workampers deserve a special mention. They did a magnificent job. Richard and Shana spent a few days cleaning and restoring the clubhouse when they first arrived. They did a wonderful job giving the old building a good makeover. It looks cheerful and welcoming and has been an ideal setting for our many Potlucks. Mick and Penny also deserve a mention...Mick was Andy's right hand man on the second cabin..He has also revived the old compressor that had been abandoned for years in all weather in the boat yard, and Penny has been a star with the sowing machine...Thank you for the curtains Penny! I love them. Penny made curtains for the cabins, the club house and our house! Linda tackled the office and book keeping with great zeal and spent many hours organizing mountains of paper work. Sam did a stirling job improving the sites by adding gravel and getting the grass just right at the start of the season. Sam, Richard and Lenny spent much time improving the grounds- and as we had hoped,the grassy areas have been increased and improved through lots of extra watering, fertilizing and care. The ladies welcoming the guests in the office did a fantastic job behind the desk...they tackled the computer program with enthusiasm and soon had that under their belt. Just recently, Richard and Shana together with Barbara ad Lenny decided to give the office a new look and a fresh coat of paint has made the office so much brighter and cheerful. It is now ready for a new season. One thing for sure is that we received many a compliment about the helpfulness and friendliness of our workampers throughout the season. We are very pleased that most of them will be back again next year.
Our social calendar kicked off with a bang on the 23rd May when we had our first Fish Fry to celebrate Memorial Day..Throughout the season we had numerous, well attended, delicious, fun Potlucks, Ice-cream socials, Birthday parties, "illegal" gatherings on the front bench as well as fun evenings of cards, bingo, pegs and jokers etc. The Duck Race and the 4th of July BBQ and Dance were attended by a record breaking 120 people. So many of you helped and participated in the preparations and co-ordination of these events and we would like to thank you all for your support and contributions in making these so successful. A big thank you to Ralph who gave up a great amount of time and effort to help us out with all our summer functions. We plan to continue with these fun plans next year and we welcome any new ideas..so get your thinking caps on..
One evening, Allan decided to have an impromtu slide show....a general collection of photographs taken in Africa- a nostalgic trip for Allan, Andy and I but it did give you all a pretty good insight into our family background...and so this became a weekly must..as everyone gathered in the club house most sunday evenings to be taken on journeys around Gunnison, the Grand Circle, Gothic Weekend and Gypsy Gathering in the UK, Bangladesh and after many requests, a second showing of the African Memories album.
And now Fall has come. The colors are a wonderful sight of glistening Gold. The summer seems to have whizzed past in a rainbow of fun, laughter and much hard work..
"These fields are full of rock, and the season is too short
Sometimes it seems there's naught but toil & labour
Yet there's joy enough to share, though the times be lean & spare
And laughter like a flowing cup we'll savour."
These lyrics from Joe Grant, seems to sum up our summer.. Andy has been busy with winterizing the park and is getting himself organized for his second winter in Gunnison.
Already we have said goodbye and farewell to all our new friends, many of whom have become part of our family- Thank you all for your help, your support, your constructive criticism ,your observations and enthusiasm without which we would not have had this great summer. We look forward to seeing you all again next year when a new adventure awaits us.
"Every end is a new begining".
Next year will bring new things and it will be our pleasure to share these with you in this wonderful location in the heart of Colorado. "Some of the most beautiful places on earth are lesser known and undisturbed. There's a special sense of wonder that goes along with discovering a place like this. You feel somehow it belongs to you. You take that place with you, even when you leave. "
Allan's daily photo blog will keep you up to date with any development through the winter months until we meet again, so be sure to check it out every now and then and feel free to add your comments, we would love to hear from you!
Take care till we meet again and happy winter!
Francie, Allan and Andy
17th September 2009
Autumn is here! The fall colors have begun to change and 'gold ' is all around us as we begin to say goodbye and farewell to our summer friends.
And what a summer it has been. It really has been wonderful meeting everyone and making new friends. We can truly say that our first summer at MesaRV Reosrt has been a heart warming experience for Allan, Andy and myself.
With the help of hard working and dedicated workampers and the support of seasonal guests we have achieved what we set out to do..the grounds have improved, we have been able to add cabins, tipis, a playground and most of all a tremendous atmosphere. The potlucks have been fun and delicious, our 4th of July BBQ turned out pretty impressive and generally I am sure everyone will agree that we have had a fun summer. Allan has loved to share his photographs with everyone during his slide shows and on his blog.
The three of us and Natasha who was only with us for a month, would like to thank everyone who contributed in making this summer the success that it has been.
And now we can take the time to slowdown and enjoy the autumn colors, the warm midday sunshine, the thrill of seeing the deer back in the park for the winter. Thank you all for making this journey with us, for your kind support, help, enthusiasm, advice and kindness. We look forward to next spring when we can begin a new adventure together. I'll end with the beautiful lyrics from the Keppel Township Love Song by Joe Grant:
"These fields are full of rock, and the season is too short
Sometimes it seems there's naught but toil & labour
Yet there's joy enough to share, though the times be lean & spare
And laughter like a flowing cup we'll savour."
Francie
20th July 2009
This Photo was taken of me recently by Rita Hill, well known Photographer from Fresno California.
Thanks Rita, hope you made it home safely.
9th July 2009
Our season is well underway and we have been having a lot of fun here on the Resort. Our texas BBQ on the 3rd was an enormous success with a record breaking turnout of 170. The food was great and we would like to extend a big thank you to everyone who contributed and helped. The dancing afterwards was great fun and Ralph's music was just what we needed... something that we will have to do again soon...
On the 4th, Allan and I went up to Crested Butte and enjoyed taking photos of the parade...our first real experience of Independence Day in the US. The photos can be viewed in Allan's photo blog.
The famous "Duck Race" took place in the afternoon.. over a hundred ducks participated and a good time was had by all.
The evening was spent enjoying the Gunnison Fireworks ..a wonderful show and a huge turnout at the Jorgensen Park.
A couple of nights ago, Allan organized an impromptu slide show. He chose a general collection of photographs taken in Southern Africa before 1999..a nostalgic trip for Allan, Andy and I.
Africa by Emily Dibb
When you've acquired a taste for dust,
The scent of our first rain,
You're hooked for life on Africa
And you'll not be right again
Till you can watch the setting moon
And hear the jackals bark
And know that they're around you,
Waiting in the dark.
When you long to see the Elephants,
Or to hear the coucal's song,
When the moonrise sets your blood on fire,
You've been away too long.
It's time to cut the traces loose
And let you're heart go free
Beyond that far horizon,
Where your spirit yearns to be.
We were happy to share some of those memories and experiences with everyone who attended. This was only the first of many slide shows. Allan is working on a program and we will keep you all informed.
Don't forget to join us for our next potluck, Thursday 16th: "Cajun fish fry and Gumbo Supper" at the Club House! Right now the sun is still shining, the wild flowers are blooming and the fish are still biting...we don't need much more than that!
Happy camping,
Francie
4th June 2009
Most of our Park Model and Seasonal guests have arrived. Allan met many of them last year and is re-newing friendships and for me, it's a case of making new wonderful friends. We are looking forward to the next "get together" at the Club House on the 11th June for " Mulligan Stew and Cornbread"..that sounds pretty tasty.
The Club House has seen a complete facelift. As I mentioned in my last newsletter, Shana and Richard patched, painted and scrubbed...Penny has spent the last two days measuring, cutting and sewing new curtains from a roll of material donated by Linda. Well the curtains are up and wow! what a difference they make to the look and feel of the Club House. We hope the guests will enjoy using it.
This week, we welcomed another workamper couple, Barbara and Lenny Perkins from Texas. We are happy to have them on the team and we're sure they'll fit just right in.
The Hawkin Cabin is just about complete...a few finishing touches touches inside and the railing for the deck. The first guests for the Hawkins will be arriving on the 8th, all the way from Switzerland. We look forward to meeting the 'Weildolf' family. Both cabins are booking fast so if any one is thinking of visiting the area..call us quick to make your reservations!
Summer is here in Gunnison..come and enjoy the natural beauty of the area and remember : "Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time." ~John Lubbockon
Have a happy day!
Francie
21st May 2009
Did you know that after the killing of Curley Bill, the Earps left Arizona and headed to Colorado. In a stop over in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Wyatt and Holliday had a falling out but remained on fairly good terms. The group split up after that with Holliday heading to Pueblo and then Denver. The Earps and Texas Jack set up camp on the outskirts of Gunnison, Colorado, where they remained quiet at first, rarely going into town for supplies. Eventually, Wyatt took over a faro game at a local saloon.
Slowly all of the Earp assets in Tombstone were sold to pay for taxes, and the stake the family had amassed eroded. Wyatt and Warren joined Virgil in San Francisco in late 1882. While there, Wyatt rekindled a romance with Josie Marcus, Behan's one-time fiancée. His common-law wife, Mattie waited for him in Colton but eventually realized Wyatt was not coming back (Wyatt had left Mattie the house when he left Tombstone). Earp left San Francisco with Josie in 1883 and she became his companion for the next forty-six years (no marriage certificate has been found). Earp and Marcus returned to Gunnison where they settled down, where that state's governor refused to extradite Wyatt back to Arizona on the grounds that he could not get a fair trial, and Earp continued to run a faro bank.
Gunnison isolated themselves from the surrounding area during the Spanish Influenza epidemic for two months at the end of 1918. All highways were barricaded near the county lines. Train conductors warned all passengers that if they stepped outside of the train in Gunnison, the would be arrested and quarantined for five days. As a result of the isolation, no one died of influenza in Gunnison during the epidemic.
Its now May 2009 and our season is about to start. We will be kicking off our social events on saturday 23rd with a Fish Fry to celebrate Memorial Day. Our team of workampers have spent much time getting the grass mowed and watered and tomorrow we will be planting flowers to add a finishing touch to the resort grounds. The creeks are full and we are enjoying the running water flowing through and around the resort. The last couple of days we have experienced amazing thunder showers in the early evenings...Allan was able to capture the feel and the color of the storms on photographs which can be seen on his daily blog.
Our guests have been arriving and we would like to express a special warm welcome to Jim and Elizabeth who have chosen to spend the whole summer with us. They have volunteered to help maintain the gardens at the luxury sites. At this point I also need to mention another Jim...Jim was the first of our seasonal Park Model guests to arrive and he has been helping Andy with the cabins, sorting out the electrics.
Workampers Richard and Shana spent a few days cleaning and restoring the clubhouse. They have done a wonderful job of giving the old building a good makeover. It now looks cheerful and welcoming and will be an ideal setting for our Fish Fry on Saturday evening. Mick and Penny also deserve a mention...Mick has been Andy's right hand man on the second cabin..and Penny has been a star with the sowing machine...Thank you for the curtains Penny. I love them. Linda has tackled the office and book keeping with great zeal and Sam is doing a stirling job improving the sites by adding gravel and getting the grass just right. Polly Spann was right when she told us that the trees would be green by the 19th...Its been a fascinating process to watch and appreciate and sure enough on the 19th most of the trees in the resort had greened up.
In other words the creeks, the trees, the team and the beautiful surrounding countryside..we're all ready for a great season. We look forward to welcoming you all.
Have a wonderful day!
Francie
1st May 2009
"It's spring fever.... You don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes
your heart ache, you want it so!"
- Mark Twain
I love this quote from Mark Twain! Welcome to spring fever at Mesa Rv Resort as we get ready for an exciting 2009 season.
Our second batch of Workampers arrived at the end of April and we welcome Lloyd and Judy and Richard and Shana on the team. A good team effort so far has produced amazing results. The grass is coming along nicely and greening up, the gravel has been spread and raked, picnic tables are out and all in all, it looks rather inviting out there!
Linda and the ladies have had the tedious task of organizing the office, learning to operate the computer program.. quite a challenge, but they are getting there and they have been able to welcome a number of early guests. Well-done ladies!
Our Tipis are up and creating quite a stir. Already we have had a number of people driving in from Highway 50 to come and "investigate". Andy has just about moved into his Tipi and is busy making it quite homely. We have one available for rent providing an exciting and adventurous setting to anyone's vacation or weekend. It sleeps 4 comfortably.
The "Shrew Haven", our first cabin is now complete. It has been furnished so as to create a "camping" rather than a hotel experience. We hope our guests will be able to get away from TV and media and
instead enjoy the natural beauty of the surrounding area. Andy is now tackling the second cabin and with the help of our workampers it should be ready within a few weeks.
We are thrilled at the success of our website since its launch at the end of last year. We would like to encourage guests in the Resort as well as our cyber visitors to join in and submit comments and stories.
We also have a growing Facebook Community and invite you all to join us by following the link on the home page.
I need to end off with a bit of fishing news. It appears as if the season has started off pretty well. We have already feasted on a delicious Lake Trout caught by Matt and cooked by Andy and we "hear" from the local fishermen that the fish are biting!
Have a fun day and see you soon,
Francie
14th April 2009
Allan and I left our home in Yorkshire on thursday 9th, and arrived back in Gunnison on Friday April, 10th after a 9 hour flight from London. It is wonderful to be back here to begin this new and exciting adventure.
We have welcomed our first workampers, Mick and Penny from California and Sam and Linda from Texas. With a huge amount of enthusiasm, they have started getting Mesa RV Resort ready for the season. A few early guests have arrived and it has been great to be able to accommodate them at this early stage.
Summer is fast approaching and together with our team we are working on creating a place where families can come to get away together for some quality time. All of us at Mesa RV Resort are planning to have fun this summer and we look forward to meeting and making new friends.
Joseph Campbell said:
'The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure.'
We've said "yes" to our new adventure here at Mesa RV Resort in Gunnison ,Colorado. Come along, join us and take part in our adventure this summer.
Have a great day and see you all soon,
Francie
2nd April 2009
Camping time is just around the corner!
Allan and I will be back on site in time for the Easter weekend. Our first workampers are also due to arrive about that time and we look forward to meeting them. Preparations for the season can then begin in earnest..
We will be giving Andy's first Cabin its final touches and Andy will be able to get going on the next one. Our traditional Tipi will be up by the end of the month..already we have had good interest in both cabin and Tipi so the season looks promising so far.
"Some of the most beautiful places on earth are lesser known and undisturbed. There's a special sense of wonder that goes along with discovering a place like this. You feel somehow it belongs to you. You take that place with you, even when you leave. "
This is often said of the area surrounding Gunnison. We would like to share that with you and so look forward to sharing the summer with you all. Mesa RV Resort is idyllically situated - in an environment where you can give yourself time to day dream away from the hustle and bustle - come, recharge and enjoy yourselves.
See you all soon,
Francie
20th March 2009
We are currently upgrading our internet service and will soon have a much faster connection throughout the park that will be free. The new upgrade will be in place for the new season starting 15th April.
Also construction of the new Luxury cabins are well on the way with the first nearly complete and the second due for completion in time for summer.
For the more adventurous we are introducing a new Tipi that will sleep a family of 4-6 people and will be decked out with traditional interior.
With average snow fall this winter the fishing is going to be good this year so get ready for a great summer.
Allan
24th February 2009
Well, it's February already which means we are well and truly into the new year..and what an exciting if somewhat daunting prospect that is.
Much has happened since our last newsletter. Allan and Andy have so far survived their first Gunnison winter. It has been a thrilling and wonderful adventure for them, developing new skills from snow ploughing to cross country skiing in the moonlight!
Andy is making good progress with the cabins and we should have a couple of them ready for the start of the season. Allan's wonderful photographs of the area are accumulating and he is looking forward to sharing them with you through an exhibition in the near future and through his online Blue Mesa Gallery.
Unfortunately, Bob and Charlotte will not be able to join us as planned due to unforseen personal problems. We will miss them. However, we have a new team of workcampers arriving in a few months and together with them we will be sure to provide a superb visit to our guests.
We have entered this new year with hope and determination to achieve our goal at Mesa RV Resort and we look forward to embracing every moment, every new experience with a smile. Most of all, we look forward to sharing this "little gem" of Colorado with you all.
I'll end off by sharing a few words of inspiration from
Poet William Henry Davies who once said with great wisdom:
"A poor life this if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare."
Take your time. Breathe! And what better place to do it in but right here at Mesa Rv Resort, in the heart of Colorado.
Francie
24th December 2008
We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
We have been in the Resort for two months now and time has flown, we have made some great friends and visited some wonderful places. We have been welcomed into the community and made to feel at home. Thanks to all our new friends for making this possible.
Much of our time has been taken up cleaning and fixing and planing for next season. Francie has had to return to England for Christmas and I was joined by our son Andy in late November.
Andy will manage the Resort while we get on with all the improvements. He went straight to work just in time for the first snow.
Having lived in South Africa for most of our lives we are always in wonder of snow and how it transforms the landscape. Below are some photos taken of Blue Mesa Lake.
Have a wonderful festive season.
From all of us at Mesa RV Resort
Allan
September 21st 2008
Welcome to our first newsletter on this exciting new website!
First, let me introduce ourselves. We are Allan and Francie Ivy and we are the new owners of Mesa RV Resort. What an incredible place set in the heart of the magnificent Gunnison County! 
Our new managers whom some of you will have already met, are Bob and Charlotte Carpenter. This season they have been assisted by a fantastic team of Work Campers and together they have done a wonderful job to ensure that our guests had a brilliant stay at Mesa RV Resort.
We have some exciting new plans for the resort. Our first achievement is the creation of this new website which we hope will be fun and exciting to use while providing you all with the information you need.
This fall, we are planning to keep the resort open for as long as possible, weather permitting of course, in order to accommodate any guests and visitors who will be taking advantage of the local attractions during the shoulder season..so hunters, if you need a hot shower, do pop in. We will have some sites open and our laundry and restroom facilities will be open!
Next year should see some wonderful new developments. We will be adding some rustic comfortable wooden cabins to the resort. On the agenda is also a photographic gallery which will include a coffee shop. The gallery will offer some amazing fine art photographs for sale ( check our photo gallery section for a taster) as well as photographic workshops of various levels: from basic to advanced digital work.
Our coffee shop will hopefully become the heart of the gallery.. a place to make new friends and meet old ones.
Of course, we have many more ideas for improvements, all designed to improve the quality of your visit and of our service. We look forward to making new friends while creating a fun, relaxed and friendly environment here at Mesa RV Resort.
Francie
