ASPEN:  Today we conclude the Aspen Series with 4th generation Aspenite and Aspen Hall of Famer, Tony Vagneur, who gives us a historical tour of Aspen.

Read Tony's column, "Saddle Sore" in The Aspen Times here: 

Visit the Aspen Historical Society: www.aspenhistory.org and if you're living in Aspen or moving there...

Hire his daughter Lauren, Creator & Owner of Chic & Tidy: www.chicandtidy.com

Inside this episode:

• The Paepke's vision for Aspen
• Judge Shaw & The Paepke Migration
• Silver, Limestone & Prostitutes
• Aspen Historical Society
• The Story of Hotel Jerome
• A ghost in Tony's childhood home

Next Week: Ande Wanderer, a former journalist from NYC who moved to Buenos Aires to escape the live-to-work matrix.

Questions?  [email protected]

Bio:
Tony Vagneur was born into the Vagneur ranching family in Woody Creek. His great-grandfather, Jeremie Vagneur arrived from Val d’Aosta, Italy, in 1882, and carved out a ranching dynasty that thus far includes five generations. He is a life-long rancher and businessman. Known primarily for his column, "Saddle Sore", in The Aspen Times and his exploits as a general raconteur and cattle ranching cowboy.

Tony grew up on the original Vagneur homestead in Woody Creek, named the Elkhorn Ranch by his grandfather, Ben. Tony graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing and business administration from the University of Colorado.

Once back in Aspen, Tony began working for his aunt and uncle (Eileen and Vic Goodhard) at Aspen Trash Service, Inc., a relationship that would indelibly mark Tony’s business career for the next 25 years. He also did stints as a builder, a bartender, an equipment operator, a horse trainer, a ski racer, a string of Marlboro commercials and a long run at the T Lazy-7 Ranch. Tony put in seven years as an Aspen Mountain Ski Patrolman.

Tony spent much of his free time helping the Vagneur Ranch Company take care of the cattle in the high country. The cow camp became his home away from home. In the late 1980s, he created his own volunteer educational position with the U. S. Forest Service, a relationship he maintains to this day.

Since 2000, Tony has spent winters on the ski hill and summers caring for herds of cows in the mountains above East Sopris Creek. He has been a regular volunteer on boards like the Roaring Fork Valley Planning Commission and the Red Butte Cemetery board. His column, “Saddle Sore,” appears each Saturday in The Aspen Times, and he fills up his spare time playing the piano around town.

The Vagneur family’s ranching legacy continues to now include Tony’s daughter, Lauren, and her husband, Ty Burtard. The couple leases the family’s original homestead in Woody Creek, operating it as a hay and cattle ranch.

Aspen Hall of Fame Inductee

Website: https://www.thequestexpress.com

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Say Hi: [email protected]

Music Credits: INTRO: Loyalty - Philip Ayers | OUTRO: Grasshopper's Dance - Etienne Roussel