North Fork Tipi Haven SUN

aeolian acres is home to the North Fork Tipi Haven, North Fork Valley Hemp and Elsewhere @ aeolian acres Artist Residency (2019)  We welcome you to enjoy this magical place with us.

The Ute Indians lived on the Western Slope for over 10,000 years and they are considered 'native' to Colorado. However, white settlers moved in and forcibly removed them in 1881 to 3 separate reservations where they now live in squalid conditions. We wish to honor the Ute's by erecting tipis in the traditional east facing location to welcome the Great Eastern Sun. The Ute's worshiped Trees and believe the poles of the tipis contain the spirit of the tree and one should give thanks to the trees for providing shelter. If you have time please visit the Ute Museum on Hwy 550 just south of Montrose. 

I don't know how to right the wrongs done by my ancestors beside honoring their spirit as best we can by respecting, preserving and sharing the land with you. It is indeed a magical place with 100 year-old cottonwood, elm, box elder, juniper and sage trees in various stages of decay with Love Gulch and Farmers Irrigation Ditch running through it.

Mr. Wooten built his 'plantation style' house after houses in the panhandle of Texas where he was from, and for many years had an apple orchard on the property in the early 1900's. He built the main house over 2 log cabins and put on a second story. It was customary to build over log cabins rather than tear them down.

The North Fork Valley, encompassing Crawford, Hotchkiss and Paonia, was an important fruit orchard area for the western US in the late 1800's, its heyday being well into the early 1900's when the coal mines opened.

The valley is a banana belt perfect for fruit with the cold air coming down from the mountains at night and the heat from the mesas warming up the valley during the day. Coal mines up the road in Bowie and Somerset paid better, so many of the orchards languished over the years. Since the closing of all the mines but one, today the NFV is home to the largest concentration of organic farms in the state of Colorado, the best grass fed beef around, West Elk AVA for high altitude wines, and  a world class Creative Community.

The North Fork Creative Coalition serves the multitudes of creatives that call the valley home. There are many pick-your-own peaches, cherries, apples, pears, nectarines and if we are lucky, apricots, in the valley. Delicious Orchards 1 mile down Hwy 133 is an excellent place to pick your own, drink local hard cider and listen to live music on the weekend over a wonderful brunch. It is all about the farms, art, music, outdoor adventure, fun and relaxation here in the North Fork Valley.

During the  1940's-70's, the Mowrer's operated a Hereford Bull operation on the property and the barn with the bull pens are still intact. (The barn can be explored by you until we figure out what to do with it.) The open field behind the house, where the oats were grown for the cow feed, is now home to the North Fork Tipi Haven.

Made sense for us to farm people and share this special piece of land with others since we purchased the property in Sept 2017.  As promised by Mr. Fox, we have discovered many interesting things on the land like "scarred-trees" "twined-trees",  "paired-trees" "bent-trees" and just plain ol' bizarre trees along Love Gulch that will add some interest to your visit.  Strange juniper and sage trees just west of the tipis are an interesting respite to pick some sage to take home with you. 

Revisit your love of paperback novels while lounging under the 100 year-old cottonwood, elm and box elder trees. The tipis are fully lined for excellent ventilation along with an 'ozan' just in case it rains...it seldom rains here.     Colorado blue sky reigns most days. However, we are in a drought so no campfires for the time being. You can use the 3 burner camp stove in the kitchen area.

The tipis are custom made by the Colorado Yurt Company in Montrose, Colorado where they have been making yurts, tents and tipis since 1976. The tipis are expertly designed and made with custom paintings invoking the animal spirits that inhabit our land. As you enter a tipi it is proper to walk in a clock-wise direction, to your left, and do not step over the wood poles. The Ute's held trees as sacred and after a night in the tipi you will understand why.

Each tipi has a new IKEA foam mattress for your comfort and we ask that you bring your own bedding. We do have bedding available for $10 and if available, we have extra mattresses for $10. We have solar lights but you may want to bring our flashlight, 2 private composting toilets, a camp kitchen with tables, chairs and a cook stove. We will also supply drinking water in the kitchen area. If people want them, we will build solar showers. In the meantime, showers are available at the local Ultra Mat in Hotchkiss, (next to Zack's BBQ with the best pie).

Our goal is your comfort and to awaken your sense of wonder by sleeping out in nature. We want you to have a reasonable place to stay while you enjoy the North Fork Valley of the Gunnison River. You can visit the many wineries, fruit orchards, organic farms, farm-to-table restaurants, world class classical music at the Blue Sage, interesting movies at the community owned Paradise Theater, art at the Creamery in Hotchkiss, stand-up paddle boarding at Crawford reservoir, mountain biking in Grand Mesa, hiking in the West Elks, rafting down the Gunnison river in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park or relaxing in one of many hot springs within an hour of us.                                                                                                

Come and visit one of the last 'non-tourist' areas of Colorado and if you really must ...Aspen, Crested Butte (over Kebler Pass), Glenwood Springs, Gunnison, Grand Junction and Telluride all are about 1.3 hours away by car.  We highly recommend driving over Kebler Pass to Crested Butte for a day of exploring. 

We are 420 friendly and can host a 420 Happy Hour if you are over 21.