Canyon of the Ancients Guest Ranch

09/08/2026

Just another beautiful evening at ranch! Last night the last golden light touched the mountain and the ancient granary tucked into the canyon wall…. A quiet reminder of those who called this landscape home long before us. The light, the mountain, the history, the stillness…each evening brings something a little different and it was especially beautiful last night! ❤️

09/06/2026

The Spirit of Symphony Chaco 🎶

Some photographs capture a scene. This one, by our dear Aaron O’Brien, beautifully captured a feeling.

What made Symphony Chaco so special was not simply the performance. It was the connection between the music, the people, the architecture, the landscape—and even the weather.

When the rain came, we found ourselves sitting shoulder to shoulder inside the circular Sky Kiva, some of us still damp from the rain, while R. Carlos Nakai played his flute just a few feet away. None of it was planned, yet it became one of the most intimate and memorable moments of the evening.

And then the rain passed. We gathered outside again as daylight faded into darkness and the music returned to the canyon. Beautiful notes seemed to dance along the canyon walls and drift into the night sky, touching all of us who were there.

More than a chamber concert, Symphony Chaco became a gathering of music, landscape, sky and community—a reminder that sometimes the most beautiful experiences are the ones we could never have planned.

One evening. One place. One shared experience.

08/31/2026

Still Thinking About Saturday Night…

To everyone who joined us for Symphony Chaco at Sky Village, thank you. What a night we shared.

Just before the concert, rain swept across McElmo Canyon. After the long drought, it truly felt like a blessing from the sky. Some gathered in Star Tower, others in Sky Kiva, and some happily stayed beneath the rain.

Then came a moment no one could have planned: R. Carlos Nakai played for those in the Kiva and shared the meaning of female and male rain, while the storm continued outside. Eventually the clouds moved on, everyone came back together beneath the open sky, and the concert began.

There was beautiful music, wonderful food and wine, laughter, friendship, and a landscape washed fresh by the rain. And somehow, the perfect ending was all of us turning toward the moon and howling together.

We are grateful to each of you for your patience, enthusiasm, and the wonderful spirit you brought. You turned an unexpected rainstorm into part of the experience. Some evenings are carefully planned. The unforgettable ones seem to have a little help from the universe. Thank you for making this one unforgettable. 🌧️🎶🌙

Our deepest gratitude goes to the Symphony Chaco Chamber Group, led by Gary Gackstatter, R. Carlos Nakai, and Christina Martos, who traveled so far to bring their extraordinary music to McElmo Canyon. What you gave us went far beyond a performance.

Thank you to our production team making the magic possible: Doug at Eagle Sound Studio (sound); Victor Handerson & Aaron O’Brien lighting/tech); Bill Caver (shuttle); Cody, Kristina & Jameson (guest care); Audrey Marnoy & Cherylene Caver (setting); and Nate & Keifer (platform/tent).

Last, we are deeply grateful for the generosity of our sponsors: Dolores State Bank, The Farm Bistro, KSUT, Shoreline Digital Marketing, and Holly Lake Films. Your support made this evening possible.

08/29/2026

Sound check/rehearsal for tonight- Symphony Chaco - Chamber Music. It will be a magic night!!!

08/20/2026

https://www.ksut.org/ksut-conversation/2026-08-20/ksut-conversation-symphony-chaco-returns-for-mcelmo-canyon-performance

Come join us next Sat. 8/29 7:00pm!
Ticket sale: https://symphonychaco.eventbrite.com

'Symphony Chaco' will be performed by the Symphony Chaco Chamber Group on Saturday, August 29, at Sky Village at Canyon the Ancients Guest Ranch in McElmo Canyon.

08/17/2026

Please join us. Ticket sales: https://symphonychaco.eventbrite.com
See you Saturday August 29, 2026!

08/17/2026

Thanks to our recent guest Noah who shared the beautiful dark sky picture!! When the lights go down, the ranch comes alive in a different way. ✨

Under the vast skies of Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, the Milky Way stretches above the Wagstaff Cabin—quiet, timeless, and almost close enough to touch.

Out here, darkness isn’t something to escape.
It’s part of the experience.

08/06/2026

We are thrilled to welcome Craig Childs back to Canyon of the Ancients Guest Ranch for his 4th Annual Autumn Equinox performance, STRATA, on September 19, 2026.

🎟️ Tickets & Information: https://CraigChilds-2016.eventbrite.com

As the sun slips below the horizon and the desert begins to glow, STRATA takes audiences on an unforgettable journey through the layers of geology, history, and human connection that have shaped this remarkable landscape. Led by Craig Childs, this outdoor performance is equal parts storytelling, music, science, and wonder—something between A Prairie Home Companion, a TED Talk, and an ancient desert ritual.

Joining Craig this year is the extraordinary Beth Quist—vocalist, hammered dulcimer player, and multi-instrumentalist. Beth has toured worldwide with Bobby McFerrin's Voicestra and performed as the lead singer and multi-instrumentalist in Cirque du Soleil's KÀ in Las Vegas. Together, they promise an evening that stirs the imagination beneath one of Colorado's darkest and most spectacular night skies.
Event Schedule
✨ Gates Open: 5:30 PM
🚌 Final Shuttle: 6:45 PM
🌅 Performance Begins: 7:00 PM (at sunset)
🎟️ Tickets & Information: https://CraigChilds-2016.eventbrite.com

Come celebrate the Autumn Equinox with us for an evening where stories, music, and the timeless landscape come together under a sky filled with stars.
We can't wait to share this special night with you on September 19!

Experience STRATA, an unforgettable evening of storytelling and music with Craig Childs and Beth Quist under the stars.

08/06/2026

Please join us this August 29, for an unforgettable evening beneath the vast dark skies and amazing music by Symphony Chaco - Chamber Group. Ticket sale: https://symphonychaco.eventbrite.com

After an extraordinary response from last year’s performances, Symphony Chaco – Chamber Concert returns to Canyon of the Ancients Guest Ranch - Sky Village on Saturday, August 29, 2026, 7PM for another immersive night of music, landscape, culture, and soul-stirring artistry. This intimate chamber performance brings together world-class musicians in a truly one-of-a-kind setting.

Featuring:
- R. Carlos Nakai — Grammy®-nominated Native flutist whose music has touched audiences around the world
- Christina Martos — acclaimed soprano with a powerful and moving voice
- Garry Gackstatter — conductor and musical visionary guiding the evening’s journey

Whether you are a lover of classical music, Native flute, dark skies, or meaningful cultural experiences, Symphony Chaco promises a night you will remember long after the final note fades into the desert night.

We really appreciate our sponsors' steadfast support: Dolores State Bank, The Farm Bistro, Shoreline Digital Marketing and Holy Lake Films


.CarlosNakai

08/02/2026

A thousand years before skyscrapers, there was Chaco Canyon, about 3 hours from the ranch. It is a major historical and geological treasure located in the southeastern part of the Colorado Plateau.

These soaring stone structures rose three to five stories high, built with astonishing precision and vision in the heart of the high desert. Every doorway, every timber (brought by hand from as far as 50 miles away), every carefully placed stone speaks to a culture of remarkable ingenuity.

Many questions remain unanswered, and perhaps they always will. That mystery only deepens our appreciation for this extraordinary place.

More than an archaeological site, Chaco Canyon is a sacred cultural landscape—a testament to the ingenuity, resilience, and enduring legacy of the Ancestral Pueblo people.