The First Chapter of Your Ever After

LePlatt's Pond sits on L-J Ranch, a 100-acre working Hereford cattle operation in the Pine River Valley of Southwest Colorado. Established in 1940, the ranch remains family-owned and family-run — what began as caretaking this land grew into ownership, and a continued commitment to preserving its legacy while welcoming new memories. When you book a wedding here, you're not renting an event facility; you're being hosted by a family who lives the ranching life every day, and who has thoughtfully designed every part of the celebration to feel authentic, intentional, and unrushed.

The 10-acre pond is the heart of the property — a private, spring-fed lake framed by towering cottonwoods and the southern Colorado mountains. Ceremonies take place lakeside on shaded log benches beneath a handmade willow arbor. Receptions unfold in a 40-by-80-foot draped tent positioned for sweeping water views, with greenery-wrapped chandelier lighting, a signature wood bar, and a fire pit lounge under twinkle lights. The 100-acre setting means you're not sharing the property with another event — your celebration has the full ranch to itself for three days.

Located 20 minutes from Durango and 40 minutes from Pagosa Springs, LePlatt's Pond is accessible to guests flying into Durango-La Plata County Airport without sacrificing the seclusion that makes a Colorado ranch wedding feel special. Every wedding includes a two-night stay at The Loft — our on-site bridal retreat sleeping six — so the wedding weekend begins the night before with a slow morning, and ends with you not having to drive anywhere afterward.