But is the town simply the project of an eccentric billionaire, or is there more to the story? A robust picture emerges of what life was like in the West.. Edwin Edwards who died at 93 is set to marry his best friend - a 79-year-old former state Senate president: Exhumed last husband's remains against his kids' wishes, Tennessee Gov. Shes also smart and very funny. Fried asked if Martensen had ever heard of the company. A flat-brimmed cowboy hat hid his blue eyes and thick, tousled white hair. Another contention is that Koch purchased Buck Creek Ranch so the land could be used for a compressor station, a condenser station, or a pipeline. An Old West town re-created by billionaire William "Bill" Koch is seen near Paonia State Park in Colo., Aug. 22, 2012. I got better grades at MIT than he did, Bill Koch told me. Charles Koch, 87, has run the company since 1967. I dont want much to be in it anymore. When the coup failed, Bill was fired, and in 1983, Bill and his eldest brother, Frederick, sold their shares of Koch Industries. Wealthy Koch Brother Builds Old West Town : NPR - NPR.org Not far from the 7-11 Ranch, billionaire Bill Koch (brother of Charles and the late David Koch AKA The Koch Brothers who are known for funding conservative causes) built a private replica of an Old West town on Bear Ranch, which is located in Paonia (also in Gunnison Co.). Published: 18:49 EST, 21 August 2012 | Updated: 03:24 EST, 22 August 2012. Here are some of the craziest things rich people do with their money: Part of HuffPost Business. Bill Koch is the brother of David and Charles Koch, two other billionaires who have made headlines in recent years for shoveling money to conservative causes, including the Tea Party movement. SPORTS. The credit card-sized tintype photo was taken outside a saloon in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, when Billy the Kid, born William Henry McCarty and later known as outlaw William Bonney, was barely out of his teens. Billionaire Bill Koch's new Colorado town is a private Old West marvel In school, Koch realized that he could carve a place for himself in the world by virtue of his own achievements. Theres a 20-person team dedicated to overseeing, authenticating, and building the town and Kochs collection of Western memorabilia, which includes more than one million itemsincluding Frederic Remingtons painting The Trooper, General George A. Custers Springfield rifle, the only photograph of Billy the Kid (valued at $2.3 million), and an early Colorado hearse (a white horse-drawn carriage). According to the society, other items of his . It's like something out of a 'Gunsmoke' movie set. Koch says the governor would like Koch to host an exhibition of his Western collection at a museum in Denver and open the town to high-paying visitors and schoolchildren. Once Martensen arrived at Crystal Meadows, his Oxbow-issued computer and cell phone were taken away. He runs the school like a business: The headmaster is the president and CEO, and the kids and the parents are the customers. Fifty years old, whip thin, with dark brown hair and light green eyes, shes not your standard trophy wife: Shes a vegan and an avid skier and recreational kickboxer. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. But is the town simply the project of an eccentric billionaire, or is there more to the story? Youre not alone. It is no secret that energy magnate and collector Bill Koch is a fan of the old West, but the construction of this small town may be taking the obsession to a new level. In 2012, he donated more than half a million dollars to charities in the region. When you are 21, you will receive what now seems like a large sum of money. He bought out the Buckskin Joe Western town near Caon City for $3.1 million in 2010. Nancy Lofholm: 970-256-1957, nlofholm@denverpost.com or twitter.com/nlofholm, Billionaire Bill Kochs new Colorado town is a, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Get to know all 17 Denver mayor candidates , Billionaire Bill Kochs new Colorado town is a private Old West marvel, Denver weather: Strong winds and low humidity will elevate fire concerns Sunday, Vehicle owners can register for car theft deterrent program DenverTrack, Colorado property owners to face astronomical tax increases next year, Data breach of DPS computer servers affects all district employees, officials say, After School Satan Club launching first Colorado chapter, but organizer promises "we are not devil worshippers", PHOTOS: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band play Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado landlords say eviction-protection proposal could make dropping problem renters too hard, 5 can't-miss menus for Denver Restaurant Week, No more greasy pizza boxes, paper towels or takeout containers in Front Range compost bins come April 1, After teen's death, Denver East High students walk out to advocate for gun legislation, Boulder house where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Metro Denver housing market crosses firmly into negative territory in February, Kiszla: With Brendan Rodgers down and out, Kris Bryant could become $182 million face of worst team in Rockies history, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. It's an unpopulated, faux Western town that might boggle the mind of anyone who ever had a playhouse. A psychologist recommended the brothers be separated. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy. Billionaire Bill Koch builds private Old West town in Colorado - Yahoo! The pastors smiled as they held the doors open, grabbing the hands of those who walked by and urging many to keep praying and to keep showing up. The Denver Post reports the town, located in Kebler Pass, has a saloon, church, jail and. It was during these summers that Koch says he, too, fell in love with the West. Energy company founder Bill Koch went back in time, the billionaire built an entire town in the Old West. All things Colorado delivered straight to your inbox. He was recalcitrant and undisciplined. Billionaire Bill Koch constructs his own Wild West town in Colorado By now everyone knows about the Koch brothers' efforts to spend a fair chunk of their millions on defeating President Obama and reshaping American politics in the image of their oil extraction-friendly version of libertarianism. The compound will also include a 21,762-square-foot mansion with an elevator, a wine room and his-and-hers . (Photo by Caveman Chuck Coker.). I want to live the rest of my life and enjoy that, and be a good father to my kids and hopefully leave my kids with very good values and very good ethics. Hes also reflecting on his past, warts and all, as he says, contemplating the things that influenced his lifes course. (Ol' Romney's a pretty good ROI, huh boys?) Is this a good thing for the American people, or is it not a good thing? When you take from the rich and give to the poor, you end up generating a lot of extra welfare as people who don't have very much can have their lives greatly improved at relatively low cost. Although this swath of BLM open space is dotted with aspens and offers views of three 12,000-foot peaks, BLM land traditionally is at the bottom of the public-land food chain. My husband and I are of the opinion that the American people will win. But as a husband she found him cold - while he feared her explosive temper, 'Stop exercising': Weight loss coach who helps clients 'reboot their metabolisms' shares his top four tips for quickly dropping pounds (and some of them will surprise you), Frail Bruce Willis, 67, is seen for the first time since his dementia diagnosis was revealed, as retired actor steps out in Santa Monica, Disgraced Paralympian Oscar Pistorius could be released from jail 'within weeks' having served half his sentence for murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, Dallas Morning News reporter fired after she addressed black mayor 'bruh' on Twitter and accused of racism by editor - 'I know my intent, and it was not at all about race', Illinois college professor says African-Americans should get 'black bereavement leave' when a black person is killed (even if they have NO connection to them), Cop-gone-wild Maegan Hall breaks her silence after being fired over sex scandal with seven fellow officers: 'I did say no, and he wouldn't take it for an answer', Karine Jean-Pierre now claims Biden 'expressed SYMPATHY' when he laughed at story of brothers killed by fentanyl: Press secretary says his words have been 'mischaracterized' - won't say if he'll apologize, Mother who lost both her sons to fentanyl poisoning says she's 'shocked' at 'despicable' Biden for LAUGHING at the claim his policies are to blame for their deaths - and demands he apologize, Weasel words from Joe: Biden insists he will go to East Palestine - 'at some point' - a MONTH after toxic train derailment, while insisting he's 'constantly' been talking to officials dealing with the disaster, Horrific moment driver in stolen car fleeing cops crashes into another car at an intersection and causes a building to collapse - killing a pedestrian and injuring five others, Leonard Cohen's son and daughter file new motion to remove former manager from $48M trust - after his lawyer ADMITS to removing page after the singer's death and replacing it with one stating his client is the primary trustee, Boyfriend of LA business manager to the Kardashians and Nicki Minaj is held on $3M bail ahead of his trial for 'torturing her with a knife before murdering her and driving around with her body in a trunk of the car', East Palestine residents erupt in anger as Norfolk CEO Alan Shaw FAILS to turn up a second time at community town hall, GOP California mayor who claims his city has NO homeless people says liberal enclaves like LA and San Francisco 'tolerate destructive behavior' and says his 'zero-tolerance' approach has cleaned up the streets, Does Ramona Singer have a new mystery man? . Hed been shot. Another chimed in, A peasant like you isnt going to give him your few pennies and get in there. Marston added, People like us are never considered to be fully human by him., Ullrey, whos never met or worked for Koch, and does not have any family thats ever been employed by him, says, There is a lot of emotion involved in this, and the emotion is irrelevant.