GILPIN COUNTY — For decades, people have made the drive up Missouri Gulch for one thing: Charlie's Ranch and its famously pure artesian water.

Today, the property has a new name—Wideawake Ranch—but visitors will still find many of the things that made the place a local curiosity. The water still flows from the same artesian spring, campers still pitch their tents beneath the pines, and stories about the water’s mythical qualities continue to circulate. 

The main lodge at Wideawake Ranch glows after sunset. The property, formerly known as Charlie's Ranch, is now operated by Charlie's nephew Matt Jamison and his wife Gwen, who have continued the longtime family business of sharing the ranch's artesian spring water with visitors.

Photo by Mindy Leary

The difference now is that Charlie's nephew Matt Jamison and his wife Gwen, are now welcoming guests and adding their own ideas while preserving what made the ranch special.

Charlie's death in March 2024 marked the end of an era, but not the end of the ranch. Matt said the couple simply wanted to build on what his uncle started.

"He started this company," Matt said. "We kind of just built on top of it."

The couple recently moved to the ranch full-time. While Matt continues operating a mobile mechanic business, Gwen manages the day-to-day operations at Wideawake Ranch, greeting campers, scheduling soaks, and helping introduce newcomers to the property.

The ranch offers camping, private hot soaks, cold plunges, paddleboarding on the pond, and the opportunity to try what I call the “magic water.” 

My paddleboard (free to use with a camping pass) rests on the calm pond at Wideawake Ranch as the setting sun reflects across the water. You can paddle the pond and hunt for the juvenile tiger salamanders that are often spotted along the shoreline.

Photo by Mindy Leary

According to the ranch's website, the property also borders the Arapaho National Forest and includes hiking opportunities near the historic mining community once known as Wideawake.

One thing the new owners have intentionally preserved is the water itself, which is said to be some of the only water on the planet that lacks deuterium, or heavy hydrogen, a component of many nuclear operations.

"We don't do anything to the water," Matt explained while showing off the soaking tubs. Instead of conventional heating systems, the ranch uses a wood-fired boiler so the water is warmed without altering its natural composition.

The water has long been the centerpiece of the ranch. Matt said testing suggests it comes from a deep aquifer roughly 20 miles underground, and that all of the ranch's water test results are published online.

A simple pleasure at Wideawake Ranch is filling a glass growler, looking through it, and witnessing the magic. It’s crystal clear, without a speck of sediment or even the tiniest floating particle. 

Wideawake Ranch currently offers one-hour private hot soaks for $65 in a single-person tub or $100 for a larger tub that accommodates two to four people. Cold plunges are also available, but bring your courage since it is a mere 40 degrees. 

The campground has 16 active campsites, with plans for more once an abandoned mine on the property can be safely mitigated through the state's reclamation process. Until then, some areas remain off-limits for safety reasons.

The couple hopes visitors stay awhile rather than just fill water jugs. Families can paddleboard on the small pond, explore nearby forest roads, or enjoy the quiet mountain setting nearly 10,000 feet above sea level.

And then there are the salamanders. 

While chatting with me, Gwen pointed toward the pond and said that orange-spotted tiger salamanders can often be seen in their aquatic juvenile stage (the high elevation actually prevents them from fully maturing).

These Western Tiger Salamanders are the only amphibians native to Colorado. Their feathery external gills make them resemble axolotls. She encourages visitors to grab a paddleboard and look along the shoreline closest to the ranch house.

Given the long-running folklore surrounding Charlie's famous "magic water," discovering what look like large axolotls checks out. 

Evening settles over Wideawake Ranch in Missouri Gulch. The property combines camping, private artesian-water soaks, hiking, and quiet mountain scenery in the heart of Gilpin County.

Photo by Mindy Leary

Whether for the water, the wildlife, or simply to get away, Wideawake Ranch offers a chance to decompress and find some magic, right here in the heart of Gilpin. 

For more information or to make reservations, visit Wideawake Ranch & Waterhouse.com or call 720-443-2586. The ranch is located at 2295 Missouri Gulch Road, Black Hawk.