To Denver Water, the Denver Board of Water Commissioners, and all decision-makers involved in the future of Piney River Ranch:

We, the undersigned, respectfully urge Denver Water to work toward a solution that preserves Piney River Ranch as the treasured Vail Valley destination it has become: a place for families, locals, visitors, weddings, recreation, and lifelong memories.

Piney River Ranch is not simply a business operating on leased land. It is part of the cultural and emotional fabric of the Vail Valley. For years, it has been the place where children caught their first fish, families canoed across Piney Lake, couples got engaged, weddings were celebrated, anniversaries were remembered, visitors experienced the Gore Range for the first time, and locals returned season after season to reconnect with one of Colorado’s most special places.

For the past 15 years, Piney River Ranch has operated under a lease with Denver Water. During that time, General Manager Monique Busold and her team have poured their hearts into creating and maintaining a thoughtful, welcoming, and deeply loved mountain experience. Their stewardship has allowed the public to access and enjoy this extraordinary high-country setting while supporting local employees, local vendors, wedding professionals, tourism, and the broader Vail Valley economy.

We understand that Denver Water owns the land surrounding Piney Lake and has responsibilities related to land management, safety, operations, and long-term planning. We also understand, based on Denver Water’s own public statements, that Denver Water no longer holds water rights associated with the Piney property and is not pursuing a diversion project at this site. This makes the future of Piney River Ranch a land-use and community-access issue, not a water-diversion issue.

That is why we are asking Denver Water to pause, listen to the community, and work toward a future that protects both the land and the public’s ability to experience it.

The current lease expires on March 1, 2027, and because Piney River Ranch does not operate in the winter, the 2026 summer season is expected to be the final season under the current operation. While Denver Water has indicated that shorter-term lease extensions were discussed, a short-term arrangement does not provide the stability needed for Piney River Ranch to book future weddings, events, staffing, operations, and long-term maintenance. Without a realistic path forward, this beloved destination may be dismantled before the public even knows what will come next.

We respectfully ask Denver Water to:

1. Reopen good-faith discussions with Piney River Ranch, LLC regarding a workable lease extension, renewal, purchase option, or other long-term solution.
2. Consider an extension that provides enough stability for Piney River Ranch to continue booking future seasons and operating responsibly.
3. Provide transparency to the public about Denver Water’s future plans for the property, including whether public access, recreation, weddings, lodging, and local use will continue.
4. Prioritize a future that preserves the existing character, stewardship, and community value of Piney River Ranch.
5. Engage with Vail Valley residents, local businesses, wedding and tourism professionals, outdoor recreation users, and all who love Piney River Ranch before any irreversible decisions are made.

Piney River Ranch represents the kind of place that cannot easily be recreated once it is gone. The cabins, event spaces, infrastructure, staff, community relationships, and generations of memories are not disposable. They are the result of years of care, investment, trust, and stewardship.

For locals, Piney is a tradition. For visitors, it is often the highlight of a trip to Colorado. For couples and families, it is the backdrop to some of the most meaningful days of their lives. For the Vail Valley, it is an iconic destination that supports our community, our economy, and our shared love of the mountains.

We are not asking Denver Water to ignore its responsibilities as the landowner. We are asking Denver Water to recognize the irreplaceable value of what already exists and to work with urgency, transparency, and good faith to protect it.

Please do not allow Piney River Ranch to close without a clear, community-supported plan for its future.

Please help us save Piney River Ranch!

Signed,

The Vail Valley and Colorado community, visitors, couples, families, local businesses, wedding professionals, outdoor recreation users, and all who love Piney River Ranch!!!!

https://www.vaildaily.com/news/end-of-an-era-at-piney-river-ranch-as-operators-unable-extend-lease-with-owner-denver-water/