 |
|
||
| |
OFF THE RECORD Preserving The High Lonesome By Jessica Freedson Paul R. Vahldiek, Jr. is a study in contradictions. He drives a Bentley sports car, has a jet, and even mentioned a retreat on a private island in the Bahamas. However, none of that luxury defines Paul. He seems equally proud of his 1969 jeep, and his real passion is the rugged 300-square-mile ranch in western central Colorado that he and his wife, Lissa, own and operate. Paul received his J.D. from St. Mary’s University of San Antonio in 1979 after graduating from Trinity University. He and Lissa both attended Trinity but did not meet until a blind date in 1992. Paul has been practicing law since 1980 and has been able to do quite well for himself. While he and Lissa have not had the privilege of having children themselves, The High Lonesome Ranch has become something of a child to the couple. While still working as a plaintiff’s attorney, Paul spends the great majority of his time these days dealing with the administration of the ranch. The property is located approximately 40 minutes driving distance from Grand Junction, Colorado. The western boundary of the property is the Book Cliff Mountains and there are over 100 ponds along 14 miles of mountain spring creek (plus an additional three miles of new water in Meeker). The main buildings are located in the North Dry Fork Valley, but there are over 50 different buildings scattered across the property. Paul’s primary purpose for the ranch is to protect it, from the animals that live on the land to the minerals beneath it. He is deeply concerned with conservation, as well as introducing children to the outdoors and conservation ideas. He has hired the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia to, as he states, “study the biodiversity of the entire ecosystem and relevant conservation issues related to both land and water and fish and wildlife.” Paul said that he feels a “tremendous fiduciary duty, and the land is my client.” To that end, The High Lonesome Ranch is undertaking another 16-mile stream restoration project in 2009. It is not all conservation and seriousness at The High Lonesome Ranch. It is a place where guests can explore, hunt and fish while feeling virtually alone in the spectacular outdoor scenery. The ranch has been extensively written about for its wing shooting (Hungarian partridge, pheasant and chukars), catch & release fly-fishing (brook, brown, rainbow and cutthroat), and big game hunting (mule deer, elk, bears and mountain lions). In addition, guests can enjoy mountain biking, hiking, canoeing, rafting, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing in an incredible variety of terrain. At night, guests stay at one of the lodges and enjoy fine wine and dinning. See www.thehighlonesomeranch.com for more information. In addition to his work as a plaintiff’s lawyer and rancher, Paul is a devout member of the Boone and Crockett Club. Founded over 100 years ago, by Theodore Roosevelt, the non-profit club is deeply concerned with conservation ethics, education and demonstration. This fits nicely with Paul’s efforts to conserve his ranch lands into perpetuity through mixed use. Specifically, Paul believes that this “large, contiguous area where natural landscapes and water elements co-exist should be preserved and stewarded in perpetuity as an ecological system.” Jessica Freedson is an associate at Greenberg Traurig LLP and is a member of The Houston Lawyer editorial board.
|
