Publisher's Synopsis
Natalie, the two volume series, captures the essence of the western cowboy culture that dominated television and movie theaters in the 1940's, 1950's, and 1960's. A dude ranch sub culture was given birth, not only in the southwest in AZ and CA, but in New England and New York. Thousands of Americans packed dude ranches for several decades along the historic Dude Ranch Trail Scenic Byway, a 40-mile loop beginning and ending at Lake George. Painted Pony Rodeo in Lake Luzerne, 1000 Acres Ranch Resort (founded in 1940 by Jack and Ester Arehart) in Stony Creek, and Ridin-Hy in Warrensburg were favorites. By 1937, an estimated 40 ranches dotted the Catskills, Long Island, Adirondacks, Berkshires, New Jersey highlands, and the Poconos. The eastern ranches had names like the Lazy-J, Box Canyon, Hidden Valley, G-Bar-S, Sun Canyon, and the Bar X. Natalie fell in love with the western cowboy culture as a child and decided she had to live the culture, marry, a cowboy, and live on a ranch. She did not know that such dreams would take her to ranches and rodeos in Florida and take her down a rough and tragic trail.
