Where Life Happens EP. 5: From Gambling Den to Holy Ground: The Untold Story of Bear Trap Ranch

Step out of the noise and into the mountains. ⛰️

In this episode of Where Life Happens, Steve sits down with his good friend Keith Roy, Executive Director of Bear Trap Ranch – a historic Christian retreat center tucked just above The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs.

Together they talk about:

🏔 The story of Bear Trap Ranch
From its rough beginnings in the early 1900s to a redeemed mountain ministry starting in 1953, prayed over faithfully for more than 60+ years.

🏕 What makes Bear Trap feel like “second home”
150+ beds, rugged-but-cozy cabins, creeks, trails, log structures, a barista bar, board games, and spaces that invite people to slow down, breathe, and belong.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Life on the mountain as a family
Keith, his wife Jessica, and their kids moving back on-site, learning to live simply, host well, and turn their cabin into a place of safety and community.

🙏 A powerful story of hope and infertility
Years of waiting, global prayer, a simple moment of faith, and the miracle of finally welcoming their children into the world.

🎿 Four-season adventure & retreat
Family camps, wrangler breakfasts, hiking, waterfalls, repelling, rescue course, low ropes, ice rink, broomball, and the kind of “low-tech” space where teens forget their phones…and love it.

🎬 Preserving the legacy
How they’re working on a documentary to capture testimonies, history, and the impact Bear Trap has had on generations—including well-known leaders who first learned to study Scripture there.

If you’ve ever longed for a place to reset, reconnect with God, and be fully yourself, this episode will stir something deep in you.

🔗 Learn more or book a stay at Bear Trap Ranch:
Search “Bear Trap Ranch” online or visit their website to explore retreats, family camps, and group bookings.

📞 Connect with Steve (host of Where Life Happens):

📅 Book your free 30-min consultation:
https://calendly.com/steveherron/30min

📞 (719) 896-1235
📩 [email protected]

Whether you’re dreaming about life in Colorado, looking for a home that truly fits your lifestyle, or just love stories about where life really happens, you’re in the right place.

👍 If this conversation encouraged you, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share it with a friend who needs a place of hope.

#WhereLifeHappens #BearTrapRanch #coloradosprings

00:00 – Welcome & Why Bear Trap Ranch Matters
Steve introduces Keith, Bear Trap Ranch, and the heart behind the episode.

02:05 – What Is Bear Trap Ranch? (Colorado’s Best Kept Mountain Secret)
Overview of the ranch, location above The Broadmoor, and what happens there.

06:42 – From Wild Beginnings to Holy Ground
Early 1900s history, gambling past, and how God redeemed the property for ministry.

11:30 – “God’s Palm”: The Land, the Creek & the Peaks
What it feels like to be there—hanging valley, rugged cabins, dirt roads, peace.

16:20 – Not Camp Food: Hospitality, Meals & Wrangler Breakfast
Kitchen, homemade meals, Wrangler breakfast, barista bar, coffee + community.

21:45 – 65 Years of Prayer Over One Valley
The 94-year-old director’s wife, decades of intercession, and the tangible peace people feel.

25:30 – 7 Years of Infertility, One Simple Prayer & a Miracle
Keith’s vulnerability about infertility, the visiting pastor, “hope in my back pocket,” and finally getting pregnant.

34:10 – Moving Back On-Site: Simple Living & Making a Home
Downsizing, simplifying, hosting young staff, and what “home” really means in a cabin in the woods.

41:00 – Discipling the Next Generation on a Mountain
Summer staff, game nights, dish room discipleship, creating a safe place to ask hard questions.

48:20 – Family Camp, Low Tech, High Connection
Family experiences, no dishes, hiking, unplugging from phones, and being present together.

53:40 – Documentary, Legacy & Big-Name Stories
Archiving testimonies, long-time speakers, and the Timothy Keller / InterVarsity connection.

58:10 – Why Bear Trap Feels Like “Second Home”
Home vs. house, belonging, safety, and Steve’s closing encouragement + blessing over Keith and the ranch.