Who We Are
We moved to the Allenspark area in March of 2018 and have loved being a part of this close-knit community. When the opportunity to take over the former Distant Harbors presented itself, we jumped at the chance. We have always been community-oriented people and consider this the next step in that journey.
As high school classmates in Kansas, we knew one another but reconnected and married later in life. Jen began her career as a cardiothoracic surgical nurse and later found her niche in clinical research at Washington University in St Louis. Rick joined the military, went on to become an officer, and a military analyst afterward. Today, Jen continues her work in healthcare and Rick volunteers for the Allenspark Fire Protection District.
We've carved out a little life we love here in the mountains with our two dogs. This is where we intent to grow old.
How We Started
We could not have done this without the good grace and support from Christine Futro and Andrew Griffiths. Their knowledge, flexibility, and kindness are an example we hope to emulate as we try to live up to what they built.
Picking our name was a fun and creative process, but it wasn't easy. We gave it a lot of thought and realized that if we don't love trees, we probably shouldn't be in the mountains. Beyond that, it reflects something we sincerely value. Nature is what brought us all here and it binds us a community. It chllenges us, pushes us, improves us.
The truth is, we live in a dream. We live in a place millions of people come to vist each year for the sheer majesty it imparts. It is the best part of their year and many will return throughout their lives. We should never take that for granted. It's a privelage, a responsibility we must accept. And we do, inspite of our many differences.
We all have a little tree hugger in us up here.
The Tree Huggers building is on the historical registry because it was built in 1927 as a residence, before becoming a general store known as Sinn's Western Trail. Founded in 1948 by P.B. and Lenora Sinn, known as “Cece and Sinn”, the store wove itself into the happy memories of many generations of Allenspark visitors and residents. The Sinns provided everything from cowboy boots to film and cold bottles of soda—along with helpful directions for lost tourists.
Our first summer here, we met the Sinns’ nephew and his wife, Darwin and Milley. We were enthralled by the memories they had to share of Sinn and Cece and the “old days” of Allenspark. Their stamp of approval was one of the best compliments we could have received.
