Meet Our Staff

The Bar Lazy J Guest Ranch carefully selects each of their 21 employees to be sure each adheres to the high quality standards and expectations of your hosts, Jerry and Cheri. The ranch staff is there to ensure that you and your family have a very memorable vacation.

Jerry and Cheri Helmicki, Your Hosts

Since 1995, this amazing couple of 32 years has owned the Bar Lazy J Guest Ranch and have called Colorado home.  Born and raised in Michigan, Jerry traveled the country as a sales manager for a large direct marketing corporation.  Cheri was a high school physical education teacher and a track, cross country and swimming coach.  After leaving the corporate life in Detroit and with an intense love for the outdoors, Jerry and Cheri decided to pursue their life long dream of owning a Colorado guest ranch.

With their daughter (now an attorney) in tow, they exchanged their commuter passes for horse saddles. "Coming from Corporate America, which is stressful and all-consuming, we understand the importance of allowing guests to experience one week out of 52 that is quiet, refreshing and rejuvenating". Owning the guest ranch combines everything they enjoy most – people, outdoor activities and horses – and, it gives them the opportunity to put others in touch with wonders of nature.

The payoff for this incredible couple is watching the adults tear-up as they leave the ranch. Jerry explains, "They tell us that they didn’t realize how important the week would ultimately become to their family".