Dawn Of Hope Ranch - A Hidden Gem

 

Song:  The Paris Match

Group:  The Style Council (Featuring Tracy Thorne)

I had a strong desire for pizza near suppertime.

I looked up a place nearby...

and to my surprise...

there was a highly rated Pizza place located

not so far from my home (1/2 an hour)...

technically in the town of Florissant...

and about 15 minutes from Woodland Park.

As I drove towards it...

the GPS map indicated a turn on to a country road which led  

through a sparsely populated mountain community.

I double checked the map...

and then the address...

yep...

I was headed in the right direction.

I kept going up this mountain...

and I then passed by this horse ranch...

and at the end of this ridge...

I saw the Dawn Of Hope Ranch.

On this ranch...

there are several restaurants.

I looked about and couldn't figure out how such a place 

could have a lot of business being so off the beaten path...

and several miles into the mountains and forest.

No matter...

I went inside...

and then went downstairs.

I loved this country cafe

(Wild Horses Cafe for breakfast/lunch...

it then becomes Cap's Pizza for supper...same place).

I talked with the waitress.

She said when it gets cold in the winter...

they light up this fireplace.

I will certainly be back for that.

What a beautiful view.

I worked out that this was a horse ranch which has paying guests over...

and the restaurants serve their guests

(and me from now on :)

This is a mountain cafe with great ambiance...

and magnificent views

(there was a gentle mountain breeze blowing through the slightly open door to my left).

I tried a great NY style pizza...

and the price, just as was the taste...

 was simply unbeatable.

I haven't had pizza this good since I had some in New York city...

decades ago.

I never thought I would get this level of quality...

this deep in the mountains and forest.

Anytime I simply must have a great pizza...

I will be returning here.

The atmosphere was so peaceful.

There was soft music playing...

but in my mind...

the song on this blog was playing.

Pike's Peak is visible in the background.

I will be back soon to try out the cafe in the morning hours.

Just as I have found everywhere I have been in Colorado...

the staff was very polite.

They make you feel so welcome.

Upstairs they have another restaurant...

but I am unsure of the name of it...

but I will certainly try it sometime in the future as well.

I walked outside to get into my car...

and you can see the country feel of the place.

The horses are kept just up the road.

The sun was just beginning to set as I walked towards my car.

I keep forgetting to wipe my phone camera lens.

My screen is almost on the fritz...

and so...

I can barely make out what I am photographing.

I will soon be getting an upgraded phone with a great camera on it.

Just down the mountain...

I saw these deer by the side of the road.

Bandi got excited as she stared at them from her open window.

I got on to the main road for my journey home.

The ranch (and the restaurants) is just a 30 minute pleasurable country drive from home.

I got home when the sun had already set...

I put the remainder of the pizza in the fridge for later...

and I kept thinking about that ranch.

It is both...

hidden (I had, at first, thought I had made a mistake as I drove up into the mountains)...

and a true gem of a place.

I will be taking future guests there for some great food...

and great views.

I will continue to search for hidden gems throughout Colorado...

but it was especially gratifying to have found one so near to my home.

This will be one of my go to places for a true mountain cafe experience.