El Rancho: A New Chapter Or The End Of The Road?

I passed by El Rancho, the iconic foothills restaurant located in Evergreen, Colorado, yesterday afternoon and decided to stop and take the photograph seen above. El Rancho was built by the Jahnke family in 1948 and taken over by the McEncroes in 1953. The McEncroes added a post office, which was a really smart move, since the restaurant was then able to get its own exit off Interstate 70 when the freeway was built. I have heard that President Eisenhower, a friend of the owners, had a hand in that decision, but don't know if that is true or not. In any case, El Rancho, with its great views of the Colorado mountains and cozy, rustic bar was a dining destination for years. However, after a dispute among the owners, it closed back in 2022 and has recently been sold, with plans to put a QuikTrip gas station on the property. However, the developers are offering to sell the restaurant itself for $2.65 million and move it across the street onto a new foundation. The question is, will someone step up and make an offer? If not, El Rancho will be torn down. It would be a shame if that happens. Not only would it mean the loss of an Evergreen landmark, but also, I would miss the opportunity of photographing the move of that huge building across the road. Now that would be something to see.