Duncan Ranch project builds on investment at Ayres Natural Bridge Park and continues Oxy’s commitment to a community its employees call home
CONVERSE COUNTY, Wyo. — Last year, Occidental employees rolled up their sleeves alongside community volunteers to help transform Ayres Natural Bridge Park. Now, Occidental and The Great Outdoors Fund (TGOF) are returning to Converse County to help bring another community-driven outdoor recreation project to life.
Volunteers and project partners came together at Duncan Ranch to build a custom shade structure, assemble picnic tables, and help with trail construction as part of a larger effort to expand the popular trail system and improve the experience for visitors.
The Duncan Ranch Trail Expansion & Trailhead Enhancement Project will add a new 1.5-mile beginner-friendly loop along with a vault toilet and other amenities. Local partners, including the Central Wyoming Trails Alliance (CWTA) and Outdoor Enthusiasts of Converse County (OECC), have already built more than five miles of trails at Duncan Ranch.
For TGOF Founder and CEO Lori McCullough, returning to Converse County represents something bigger than completing another project.
“There’s something special about coming back to a community where we’ve already worked together and asking, ‘What’s next?’” McCullough said. “Our work at Ayres Natural Bridge showed what can happen when local leaders, volunteers, and a private partner like Occidental come together around a shared goal. Now, we’re building on that relationship at Duncan Ranch and helping local organizations take a vision they’ve already put so much work into even further.”
The Duncan Ranch property was acquired by the State of Wyoming in 2006 to ensure public access for hunting, fishing, and non-motorized recreation. The new beginner loop is intended to make the trail system more approachable for families, beginners, and a wider range of users, while new trailhead amenities will provide basic comforts that can improve the overall visitor experience.
For Outdoor Enthusiasts of Converse County, the project represents another step forward in a community effort that has grown mile by mile.
“Duncan Ranch is a place our community has really embraced, and a tremendous amount of local work has already gone into making it what it is today,” said Eli Geisier, President, Outdoor Enthusiasts of Converse County. “Adding a beginner-friendly trail and amenities at the trailhead gives us an opportunity to welcome even more people. That’s exciting because every new trail, every improvement, and every volunteer hour makes this an even better resource for Converse County.”
The project is being supported by Occidental funding along with funding provided by OECC & CWTA, with CWTA providing trail construction expertise and volunteer coordination. TGOF helped bring the public and private partners together and is coordinating the partnership to turn the community’s vision into reality.
For Oxy, Duncan Ranch continues an investment in a part of Wyoming where its employees not only work, but also live, raise families, and enjoy the outdoors themselves.
“Being a good community partner means working together to turn shared goals into tangible impact,” said Marcel Fuenmayor, Rockies Asset Director, Occidental. “We’re excited about collaborating with local partners and the Great Outdoors Fund to build on existing improvements at Duncan Ranch that will benefit this area for years to come.”
McCullough said seeing the partnership return to the same community to address a completely different recreation need, is exactly how TGOF hopes its relationships grow.
“A great partnership shouldn’t end when the first project is finished,” McCullough said. “You build trust, you learn more about a community, and you start seeing other places where you can make a difference together. Ayres was our first project with Occidental in Converse County. Duncan Ranch is our second. We certainly hope it won’t be our last.”