A History
of
Santa Fe Trail Council
and
Spanish Peaks Scout Ranch
By Dr. Carl Zacharias

When Sir Robert Baden-Powell, the "Hero of Mafeking" and the youngest British general to be knighted, started "Scouting for Boys" in 1908 he had no idea that this movement would spread all over the world. "On their honor" pledged the boy scouts to do their "duty to God and country and to help other people at all times", and with this idealism they hoped to receive happiness, build character and leadership.

In 1910 a number of boy scouts, among others Daniel Beard's "Sons of Daniel Boone" and Earnest Seaton's "Woodcraft Indians" merged and formed the "Boy Scouts of America". The charter, which they received from congress that year, recognized their goals and methods to achieve them, namely extensive outdoor activities in the form of hiking arid camping. The national council created local councils, of which the Kansa Council with headquarters in Hutchinson was to serve our area. The charter required that established organizations such as churches, civic clubs etc. sponsor individual troops, provide them with leadership, meeting facilities and ways and means to carry out the outdoors program of the B.S.A. It did not take long and there were boy scouts all over western Kansas. With the end of the Second World War, and the increase in patriotic enthusiasm, membership in the B.S.A. increased so much that a separate council had to be created to adequately serve the troops in western Kansas.

Therefore in 1945 the "Santa Fe Trail Council B.S.A." with headquarters in Garden City was established. Leaders were trained and new troops formed. The sponsoring churches were generous in their support and soon about 30% of available boys -in some towns all boys of scouting age-joined. In every town there were stores where scout uniforms and supplies could be bought and each summer hundreds of scouts of the Santa Fe Trail Council went camping. To help boys earn merit badges and become Eagle Scouts, well-organized summer camps were held at rented campsites of other councils. Particularly camp Don Alexander, near Lake George in Colorado was used in the early 60es. This proved to be so successful, that it was decided by the leaders of the Santa Fe Trail Council to acquire a piece of land In Colorado where a camp for year-round use could be built. Available sites were inspected and trial campouts were held there, which went on for a couple of years, when a 400-acre piece of land, which appeared desirable, was offered. It was located at the foot of the Spanish Peaks near Walsenburg, had 2 lakes, a creek, lots of forests and wildlife, nice meadows and plenty of wildflowers. But the purchase price of $ 60,000 was felt to be beyond of what the council could raise. A compromise was reached with the dealer, and 200 acres for $30,000 could be bought.

But which 200 acres? The inspection team decided that the 2 lakes and bear creek were essential and a plan was drawn showing 200 acres, which included the lakes and the creek. A scouter advanced the down payment and the contract was signed. The "Spanish Peaks Scout Ranch "was born.

Immediately the entire membership of the Santa Fe Trail Council went to work to raise the funds necessary to pay off the mortgage and to get the camp ready for use. Countless hours of work were spent by Scouters and scouts on location at the ranch during the summers of 1967 and 1968.Campsites were platted out and a water source secured. A large metal tank was erected at an accessible high location and waterlines brought from there to each campsite and other future buildings. A large and very sturdy metal building was erected to house the camp office, commissary and food storage, staff kitchen and dining room, tent storage and first aid facility, tools and equipment. 11 campsites were developed and each had a latrine, a washstand with running water, tent platforms and stoves for cooking. An outdoor chapel was constructed and a shower house. The larger of the 2 lakes received a dock and canoes. In 1969 construction of a health lodge was started and completed in 1970, and fully equipped and ready for use the same year. In 1972 the existing old farm-and bunkhouse were remodeled to sleep 23 scouts in bunk beds, kitchen facilities to feed them, as well as an attached latrine. In 1974 another large metal building was erected which housed the camp office, bathrooms for women, and a large meeting room. By now a dozen trails had been developed in the surrounding area and up the mountain, a fishpond built and stocked, 2 A-frames, another shower house and laundry room constructed. A bequest by a bachelor farmer from near Cimarron enabled the council to purchase additional 100 acres in1974, so that the Spanish Peaks Scout Ranch now has 300 beautiful acres. At about that time the mortgage was burned because it had been paid off. The Spanish Peaks Scout Ranch has grown into a jewel of excitement, adventure, nature study, and wonderment over the last 30 years and has yet to reach its full potential. Places like it, so close to nature and protected by being located adjacent to a national forest will become scarcer and more needed in the future. The enthusiasm, with which the ranch was received and supported by everybody in our area, showed itself very clearly in the donations of buildings, vehicles, tents, boats, tools of all kind, mountaineering equipment, medicines and first aid instruments, cook stoves, refrigerators, furniture. The list has no end, as well as countless hours of work and money. This enthusiasm and pride is still present and starts to glow, when one talks to somebody who has been there.

Thousands of boys and their leaders have been at the Spanish Peaks Scout Ranch during summer camp and as individual troops in winter and other times. There have been former scouts who spent their honeymoon at the ranch all alone with their wives, close to nature, being serenaded by coyotes, turkeys and other birds, and invigorated by the clean mountain air. It is there for you also--not a plush resort--but definitely a place to relax and recharge your batteries, thanks to the Santa Fe Trail Council Boy Scouts of America.