Russ Wolfe

Russell Marshall Wolfe (25 Jan 1925—29 Mar 2019). Served in the US Navy from 1942 until 1946, he was discharged with the rank of 1st Lieutenant, having served as second in command aboard the minesweeper YMS-298 which was based at Hiroshima, Japan for part of WWII. After the war he resided on his father-in-law’s working horse and cattle ranch near the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs. When folks from town wanted to ride on the property, the idea for a tourist destination developed. A licensed contractor, Russ built a complete western village on the ranch as well as a church, which became the seed for Wilson United Methodist Church, for which he donated the land and resources to build. His village eventually included 29 buildings, including Colorado Springs’ historic Ute Theater which he purchased after it was closed it down in 1960. In 1952 he and his wife Marian founded the “Flying W Ranch Chuckwagon Suppers and Original Western Stage Show.” To entertain their guests, the following year he formed a musical group, the “Flying W Wranglers” which, from 1953 until 1957 was comprised of an ever-changing roster including everyone from college students to the Sons of The Pioneers. To support his musicians, Russ later founded “Flying W Records” and began recording the Wranglers’ performances during their live shows. Not a musician himself, Russ emceed and performed his signature 'spead eagle' leap on stage. In 1989 Russ was presented the Billy Wiley Award by the Western Music Association in recognition of his contributions to the genre. As early as 1967 he served as president of the El Paso County Soil Conservation Society of America, and from 1977 until his death was a member (and sometimes officer) of the Pikes Peak Ranger Riders. In 1989 he was acknowledged by the Historical Society of the Pikes Peak Region for preserving Colorado history, as were his holdings the Wilson Ranch and the Flying W Ranch. Having served over six million guests since it first opened, the original Flying W Ranch facility was totally destroyed in the 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire. Since rebuilt, it’s due to open to the public again on 10 Jul 2020.