Piney River Ranch was never just a place to me—it became my whole life.

For the better part of 15 years, Piney has been woven into nearly every part of who I am. We always said the road to Piney was part of the adventure, and while that road certainly came with its challenges, I believe it is also what helped preserve the magic that makes this place one of the most special destinations in Colorado. The mountain, the lake, the people, the wildlife, the celebrations, the struggles, and the triumphs became more than my work—they became my life.

When I was first approached in 2012 to become General Manager, I had no idea how profoundly this place would change me. Truthfully, that first year nearly broke me. The obstacles felt endless, and there were moments when the mountain seemed determined to test every ounce of resilience I had. But challenge by challenge, season by season, we found a way through. Looking back now, those hardships became the foundation of something extraordinary.

What followed was far more than a career. Piney became my heart and soul. I poured everything I had into helping build the destination it is today, but this story was never mine alone.

It took a village.

Over the years, hundreds of employees left their fingerprints on this ranch and on my life. Vendors became trusted partners and friends. Family members and loved ones rolled up their sleeves, got their hands dirty, and stepped in whenever help was needed. Every success, every improvement, and every memorable event was the result of people coming together because they cared deeply about this place.

There is one person who deserves special recognition. Having my childhood best friend, Sophia Agostini, by my side from day one as my very first hire has been one of the greatest gifts of this journey. We have grown up together, weathered every challenge Piney could throw at us, celebrated countless victories, and somehow always found a way forward. Quite simply, Piney would not be what it is today without you. Thank you for your loyalty, friendship, and for believing in this dream right alongside me from the very beginning.

I am endlessly grateful to all of my partners, who became family. Thank you for your friendship, mentorship, guidance, trust, support, and unwavering belief in both me and Piney. Some of our best ideas began as crazy conversations, and your response was always, "Run with it." Because of your encouragement, I learned more about business, leadership, and life than I ever imagined possible.

I also don't take for granted, and I never will, how fortunate I have been to close out my final season working alongside a hand-picked leadership team who are like family and are some of my closest friends. That's a gift most people never get to experience, and quite honestly, it's probably something I won't have again in my lifetime. For that, I am incredibly grateful and forever appreciative.

Piney didn't just give me a career—it gave me a second family, a purpose, and some of the most meaningful years of my life.

Some of my favorite memories were the simplest ones. Nearly every morning and every evening, I would make the walk to what I affectionately named "First Tree." It is exactly one mile each way, but after thousands of walks over the years, it never got old. I never grew tired of the views, the wildlife, the quiet, the changing seasons, or the chance to simply take in the beauty of this very special place. Along the way, I was lucky enough to have four of the best dogs by my side through the years, and today Huxton still walks beside me. Those walks became part of the rhythm of my life at Piney and are memories I will carry with me forever.

Piney challenged me in ways I never thought possible. It humbled me, strengthened me, and taught me lessons that only a place like this can teach. Time and again, we faced situations that seemed impossible, and somehow, together, we found a way through.

While this is not the ending I had envisioned, it is the final chapter of my love story with Piney River Ranch.

Leaving is heartbreaking because for nearly 15 years, Piney has been part of my everyday life. It has shaped me, challenged me, inspired me, and given me memories that I will carry for the rest of my life. No matter where the next chapter takes me, a piece of me will always remain here. 

To the Vail Valley community, our guests, our couples, our families, and everyone who made the drive up that mountain year after year—thank you. Thank you for believing in Piney, for sharing it with your family and friends, for celebrating your biggest milestones here, and for loving this place as deeply as we did. Every wedding celebrated, every cabin stay, every canoe launched, every meal shared, every hike, every fishing trip, and every return visit became part of Piney's story. You didn't just visit Piney—you became part of its legacy.

To everyone who walked alongside us, thank you. Thank you for believing in Piney. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for showing up year after year, through every challenge and every success. Most of all, thank you for helping create a place that will forever live in my heart—and, I hope, in yours as well.

Someone once described Piney by saying, "It's the kind of place that will stay in your heart forever." I don't think there are truer words.

As I close this chapter, there is one person who has sacrificed more than anyone else along the way—my beautiful son, Brooks. Piney asked a lot of me over the years, and with that came seven summers that I wasn't fully able to spend being the mum I wanted to be. Brooks, thank you for sharing this place with me for so long. My promise to you is simple: we will make up for lost time.

Piney River Ranch will always be one of the greatest adventures of my life, and I will be forever grateful for the years I was fortunate enough to call it home.

With so much love and gratitude,

Monique Busold