Episode 140 // Jaye Wells of True Ranch Collection and Pop Up at O.T.O. Ranch
On this episode of the Rural Revival podcast we’re with Jaye Wells of True Ranch Collection based out of Tuscon, Arizona. Jaye and his crew are doing some incredible work with historic ranch properties in the west and have most recently created a concept called a pop-up dude ranch. It all started last summer at the historic OTO Ranch in Montana, just north of Yellowstone, and it’s unlike anything we’ve ever seen.
Jaye has also had a career as a preservation architect and his perspective is one you will all appreciate. Now he’s combining his background in preservation architecture and hospitality with ranching, and today he’s sharing why it’s so important to save these places and preserve this authentic lifestyle of dude ranching, all while providing an unforgettable experience in the west.
You’ll be inspired by Jaye’s efforts to save and steward these important pieces of western history and the lifestyle that surrounds them, and you’ll appreciate the perspective he shared on historic preservation. Scroll down to the show notes to see some incredible pictures of the OTO and the Pop Up Ranch experience, go give them a follow, and be sure to book your stay soon if you want to experience this for yourself!
Listen right here or on these platforms:
APPLE | GOOGLE | SPOTIFY | STITCHER
“To find something, knowing that it had been vacant since 1939 and seeing it in the condition that we found it just blew my mind. It was beautiful, authentic, untouched. It had so much history and so much personality.”
- Jaye Wells
“I think that as we’re burdened by technology and social media and just the rapid change in our connectivity, you need that moment to re-anchor or have a chance to just chill. I think that’s important.”
- Jaye Wells
“With the OTO there’s the opportunity for Montana to do something that is its roots and can help the forest service. Working with any governmental entity has its challenges, but it’s a public/private partnership in the long run and that’s the way of the future for most governments.”
- Jaye Wells
“We try to be as authentic to the original ranches as we can be in the sense of appointments — the type of artwork, bedding, furniture, etc. That’s something that I have a lot of fun doing. And I’ve been a preservation architect for years so I had a lot of familiarity with what types of items that we needed.”
- Jaye Wells
“We don’t call ourselves owners, we call ourselves stewards. Because all of these ranches are going to be around for a lot longer than we are.”
- Jaye Wells
“One of the things that stops people from taking on a project is because they think the cost of going in and dealing with the structure from head to toe - roofing, the back wall, etc. Saving what you see is more important than saving what you don’t see.”
- Jaye Wells
ARE YOU READY TO BOOST SALES AND EXPAND YOUR REACH USING SOCIAL MEDIA?
We’re bringing you a social media marketing course that’s different than anything you’ve seen out there, and it’s created specifically for small businesses in small towns.