• In the early 1880s, four men acquired four adjacent parcels of land just west of Aspen from the US government. It is not known if the four original men farmed on their properties. It’s possible that they bought the land for speculative reasons, since it was in a desirable location. It’s also possible that they tried farming, didn’t like it, and consequently sold out quickly.

• By 1886, Jerome B. Wheeler owned all four parcels.

• The combined parcels became known as the Stitzer Ranch, the Midland Ranch, and the Marolt Ranch.

• Wheeler then sold the properties to James J. Hagerman, trustee of the Colorado Midland Railroad in 1886. Hagerman transferred the property to Henry C. Lowe, trustee of the Midland, in 1888. It remained associated with the Midland for some time after that.

• On August 1, 1890 the Colorado Midland granted M.L. Chapman (a Holden Smelting and Milling company investor) an option to buy the property. Apparently, the Holden company did not make the first payment, and the contract was forfeited.

• Some agreement must have been reached because the Holden Works was constructed in 1890–91 on a 20 acre parcel within the 400 acre parcel. This land became known as the Holden Tract.

• The Midland Ranch (minus the Holden Tract) was leased to area ranchers for many years.

• By the late 1910s, the Colorado Midland RR was in bad financial shape, and the US District court ordered the trustees to sell the railroad’s property. Albert E. Carlton bought the property, the Midland Ranch minus the Holden Tract, in 1917 and became new owner and president of the Midland RR. He later transferred the title back to the Colorado Midland RR, but purchased it again in 1923 after the company dissolved.

• Apparently, the ranch continued to be leased to area ranchers.

• In 1927, Carlton sold the Midland Ranch to Frank Jr., Rudolph, William, and Stephen Marolt, taking it into a new era. Each brother owned an undivided share in the property. William sold his interest to the other brothers two years later. Frank, Rudolph, and Steve acquired the 20 acre Holden Tract in 1932.

• Frank and Francis Marolt immigrated to the US in the late 1800s from that part of Austria-Hungary that was Yugoslavia. They lived in Leadville before they moved to Aspen. Frank operated a saloon in town, and the family lived above it. They had 12 children, and the family eventually moved to a ranch west of Aspen.

• When Rudy, Frank Jr., Steve, and Bill grew up, they purchased the Midland Ranch, which was near their parents’ ranch. They worked the ranch, although they apparently lived elsewhere.

• When they bought the ranch, there were five buildings still standing, which had apparently been built for the lixiviation works: the office/assay building, the sampling works, the salt warehouse, and two small buildings. The majority of the mill had been demolished and carted off as lumber and hardware.

• The three brothers ranched the property until 1936, when Rudy died and divided his interest in the ranch among nine heirs. Soon, Steve and Frank received quit claim deeds from the other seven heirs.

• In 1940, they divided the Marolt Ranch into two parts. Steve owned the western part, and Frank owned the eastern part (including the Holden Tract). Two weeks after the division, Frank died. His wife, Elsie Helen Marolt, was his sole heir.

Mike and Opal Marolt

• Elsie sold Frank’s portion to his brother, Mike, in September 1940.

• Ted, Steve, and Mike ranched side by side, and Mike and his wife, Opal’s, ranch was the focal point for the extended Marolt family and friends. People came to visit on Sundays and often went on picnics. The kitchen was the heart of the house, where Mike, Steve, and Ted gathered in the mornings. Mike was well-liked, kind, gentle, and with a good sense of humor. He was known to be determined, yet sincere and fair. Opal was also well liked and delightful.

• Cattle: The Marolts owned a herd of beef cattle and a few milk cows. For many years, they raised cattle year round. The animals grazed in the national forest land in the summers and were fed in a pasture during the winters. In the spring, calves were born, branded and dehorned. Mike’s brand was X111 (X one eleven). He chose this symbol because it could be done with one iron, the 1 shape. Steve’s brand was U1/. Both of these brands can be seen on the doors of the granary.

• Pigs and chickens: Mike also raised pigs when the price of pork was high. They were kept in the old barn while the milk cows were there. The hogs were butchered for their meat. Opal raised chickens for fryers and eggs.

• Crops: The Marolts raised a combination of alfalfa, timothy, and brome grass for hay. They also grew burbank potatoes, oats, barley, and a small amount of wheat. The grain was used to fatten cattle and pigs. Opal had a garden in which she raised vegetables for the family. Her produce included onions, lettuce, carrots, beets, string beans, corn, spinach, cauliflower, and cabbage.

In the mid to late 1950s, the Marolts started decreasing the level of their ranching activities, and sold large parcels of their land. Several factors contributed to this change. The Forest Service decreased the number of cattle that the Marolts could graze on their range, the family needed money for the children’s college educations, and Mike’s health was deteriorating.

In the late 1950s, Mike stopped raising cattle year round. Instead, he bought cattle in the spring at an auction in Glenwood Springs or Rifle. After grazing them through the summer, he sold them in the fall. As a result he didn’t have to feed the animals during the winter, so he didn’t have to raise, mow, or bale hay; nor did he have to take care of the cows and their offspring during calving.

Over the years, Mike sold small parcels of the land to various individuals including parcels that are now part of the golf course.