
Educational Opportunities
Wildflower Walk
ENJOYING DARK SKIES
Greetings, astronomy enthusiasts!
With the heavy smoke filling the air and the chance of clouds and possible rain, we have decided to reschedule our Public Astronomy night, which was scheduled for July 13th.
We are optimistically rescheduling this event for the evening of August 24th.
To book a ticket for August 24th, follow this link or send me an email.
August 24th Public Astronomy night
Follow the link above and begin by choosing August 24th on the calendar. On the next page, you’ll find the information for the activity, along with a button to show available times. There’s only one time slot available for this night, and once chosen, you can add it to your cart. There’s no cost associated, but the next page will gather billing information before the process is completed.
We hope you can join us then!
Crystal England
Executive Director
Orient Land Trust
A Celestial Event at Orient Land Trust
The new telescope has been installed! The PlaneWave CDK20, is a world class, state of the art, research grade 20-inch telescope. This new scope has 4x the light gathering power and 10x the quality of the previous scope, and is one of only three in the state. The views are spectacular!
Orient Land Trust would like to thank all of the volunteers who brought this dream to life, including our entire Board of Directors and our own Cosmic Mark. And THANK YOU to all of our members for making this possible. Your continued support expands our educational programs.
Not a member of the Land Trust? Join us on Sunday, July 13th, at 8:30 pm, for a night of star gazing. This public event has limited spots available, so reserve yours today!
Follow the link below and begin by choosing the July 13th on the calendar. On the next page, you’ll find the information for the activity, along with a button to show available times. There’s only one time slot available for this night, and once chosen, you can add it to your cart. There’s no cost associated, but the next page will gather billing information before the process is completed.
We look forward to sharing a night under the stars with you!
Educational Opportunities
Thank you Saguache County
We offer a discount for all Saguache County residents. As of today, we are raising our local discount to $5!
Thank you for your continued support
Dear Members,
First and foremost, all of us within the organization deeply appreciate your dedication and support of Orient Land Trust (OLT), which includes Valley View Hot Springs, Everson Ranch, and so much more.
Secondly, we are writing to inform you that, due to rising operational costs, we find it necessary to adjust our pricing, effective July 1, 2025 (see rate table below). The adjustments will apply only to accommodations and admission rates. All levels of the Annual Membership Dues will remain unchanged, and accompanied children under 16 will continue to enjoy free admission.
For many years, OLT has maintained exceptionally low rates. In fact, while admission rates saw a modest increase in 2019—the first in 12 years—our accommodation rates have remained unchanged since 2013. With these adjustments, we believe OLT continues to remain competitively priced compared to similar hot springs organizations and U.S. Forest Service-developed campgrounds.
We understand that changes like this may be concerning, and we want to assure you that this decision was not made lightly. The process was challenging and involved careful consideration by many within the organization. This included the Executive Director, the Internal Affairs Committee, which is composed of a number of experienced members with deep historical and organizational knowledge, and all nine members of the Board of Directors.
The number one mission-critical need for these adjustments is recruiting and retaining talented team staff members by honoring our commitment to offering competitive wages in the San Luis Valley. OLT’s team members play a vital role in providing successful guest experiences, which directly affects the overall health of the organization. We are proud to note that almost six years ago, we began to provide health insurance to the OLT team, a valuable benefit to our staff. We are also exploring additional ways to enhance the appeal of joining the OLT employment team.
Other mission-critical needs with rising costs include the maintenance and upgrades necessary to sustain the facilities and amenities you are accustomed to enjoying. This extensive infrastructure includes roads, waterways, pools, and ponds, as well as essential facilities such as our wastewater treatment center and hydroelectric powerhouses. It also includes the 700+ acres at the historical Everson Ranch, a year-round astronomy program that welcomes thousands of visitors annually using state-of-the-art technology, and the ongoing preservation of our historic 100-year-old cabins. Additionally, in 2024, OLT expanded by acquiring 160 more acres in its viewshed. Your support helps protect this land, preserving open spaces, dark skies, and the natural habitat that provides sanctuary for wildlife in the San Luis Valley.
OLT is a unique place of peace, community, and soothing waters that nourish the environment and the people. Those unique qualities inspire us all to preserve it. We are committed to remaining an affordable, peaceful, and family friendly clothing optional experience, and we are deeply grateful for your support. That support directly contributes to preserving this natural wonder and ensuring that future generations can enjoy its beauty and tranquility.
Thank you again, and please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
In Gratitude,
OLT Board of Directors & Crystal England, OLT Executive Director
[email protected] / [email protected] / (719) 256-4315
Admission Rates:
Pass Type: | Current | July 1, 2025* |
Day Pass | $17 | $20 |
Overnight Pass | $34 | $40 |
Accommodations (per night):
Large Cabins: | Current | July 1, 2025* |
Elm, Cottonwood, and Willow | $75 | $90 |
Small Cabins: | ||
Aspen and Cedar | $60 | $75 |
Sunset House: | ||
Rooms 1- 4 | $70 | $80 |
Spruce House: | ||
Spruce Room #1 | $55 | $70 |
Spruce Room #2 | $70 | $85 |
Oak House: | ||
Rooms 1-4 | $30 | $35 |
Dorm Beds | $15 | $20 |
Camping: | ||
Vehicle Sites | $15 | $20 |
Tent Camping | $10
(No charge October – May) |
$15
(No charge October – May) |
*Adjusted rates will be applied for all seasons beginning July 2025.
Improving Our Forest Safety
A group of 18 volunteers and staff joined together on Easter Sunday for a deadwood cleanup
of the woods between the upper vehicle campsites and the main soaking pond. A snow storm
on Saturday did little to slow this group down. By 9am, the sun was out and the weather was
comfortable, and by noon the group had removed truckloads of dead wood for use at the ranch
and for heating the massage yurt. The event was organized by OLT’s Conservation Committee.
Thanks to all who participated!
Building Community
Come Volunteer with Us!
At OLT, we believe in the power of community and the incredible impact each individual can have. We’re excited to invite you to join us in making a difference in 2025. Here are a few opportunities for you and other committed community members to join the Conservation Committee.
A General Note for Volunteer Events
Volunteers are invited to camp with us for 2 nights at no charge. Plan to arrive the day before the event to set up and soak. Volunteer events are scheduled for 4 hours unless otherwise noted.
On September 20, 2025 we’ll gather at the Welcome Center at 9am to participate in Saguache County’s Adopt-A-Roadway Program, and clean up County Road GG. Staff will transport us from the Welcome Center to various stretches of GG, where we will work in pairs to gather trash from the roadside as we socialize with other OLT members.
Getting our hands dirty
Join us on June 16th for the annual community weed pull event.
We’ll join forces in the morning and combat noxious weeds across the property. Our goal is to stop their spread, and you can help us make it happen! Enjoy two nights of camping under the stars and a few hours of getting your hands dirty while building community.
Camp with us on Sunday, the 15th, and begin at 9 am on the 16th.
Email [email protected] to sign up or for more information.
What a start we’ve had to the new year here at Valley
View! So many new things are happening. We’ve
decided to do something old and get back to our
communal roots. The ways we are doing this are by
making Oak House a communal space again, and
providing coffee and tea to guests in the Welcome
Center every morning. Campers and those staying in
small cabins without a kitchen have the option to use
the facilities at the Oak House. We ask that campers
continue using the food storage cabin to store their
food, and those staying in the small cabins use their
refrigerators. Please continue to be mindful of extra
quiet hours from 10 pm-8 am, especially in communal
spaces. The pavilion kitchen is still an option, and we
strongly encourage guests to use this space when
weather permits. Thank you for your everlasting
support and understanding.
We look forward to communing over a warm beverage
with you all again!
Amory Reed
Visitor Service’s Manager
January 2025
A New Year
We celebrated the holiday season with our annual staff party in December. We honored Doug Bishop’s retirement and will forever be grateful for his many contributions. We will carry his lessons forward into the years to come.
Each department was busy in December with many projects, some of which we hope you notice and others we hope you don’t. The bathhouses and welcome center are sure to catch your eye.
We are thrilled to offer our members a new website. Thank you for your patience and feedback as we expand our online offerings. We continue navigating our new reservation system, learning more each day.
I am thrilled to step into the role of Executive Director as the new year begins. I am dedicated to keeping the culture and magic alive and continuing the legacy of those who came before me.
Thank you for your continued support of the Orient Land Trust.
Crystal England
Executive Director
January 2025