Meet Jenna Gallas | Co – Owner/Booking Agent, Armadillo Ranch & Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce Special Events Coordinator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jenna Gallas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenna, every day, we talk about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
It was never a part of the plan, in all honesty. In a town holding a Colorado Creative District distinction, we are an artist-heavy community, with a bar/restaurant/music venue in the center of the Downtown Historic District of Manitou Springs. The Ancient Mariner was the literal and proverbial anchor of the music scene in Manitou, and the building was destined to turn from iconic venue to t-shirt shop. Upon hearing this news, I came home one evening to convince my partner Jason that we could intervene, sign a lease, and open up a new operation to keep the tradition alive that had been going for over 30 years at the time at 962 Manitou Ave.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

We met while Jason was City Administrator for Manitou Springs. As a local leader, Jason had a firm understanding of local dynamics and already had some crucial community connections that would assist with a start-up business. At the time, Jason had over 10 years of Municipal Management experience under his belt within the State of Colorado. He and then-mayor Marc Snyder were successful in substantially building the City’s reserve fund, overcoming the challenges of the Waldo Canyon fire and Williams Canyon flooding to follow. When Jason left the City of Manitou Springs, he did interim Town Manager work in Green Mountain Falls & was in-between what was to come next when this opportunity arose for the Armadillo Ranch. With Jason’s legal/municipality administration experience and Jenna’s connections and knowledge of booking entertainment from her job as Special Events Coordinator, they opened the doors of Armadillo Ranch on July 4, 2019.

Jenna recently celebrated her 5th year Anniversary as the Special Events Coordinator for the Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce, Visitors Bureau & Office of Economic Development. She remains the sole booking and marketing agent for Armadillo Ranch, booking music and events 5 days a week from local artists to regional talent and beyond.

Armadillo Ranch faced adversity within 8 months, as the pandemic hit small businesses hard in early 2020. After mandatory closures, Armadillo Ranch was the only venue still operating with live music during the height of the pandemic, by shifting the model in clever ways to abide by restrictions yet offering a solution to the high-demand for concerts while being able to support local musicians with paid gigs.

Having now surpassed the 3 year mark since opening, Armadillo Ranch has gained nationwide notoriety and has been covered in various print/online/television media. Armadillo Ranch was also a proud winner of the Economic Vitality Manni Award (an annual local awards ceremony) for 2022.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
It’s Manitou Springs, what’s not to love! We’ve got a motto here, and it’s “Keep Manitou Weird”. That’s exactly what we do.

From riding the Cog train up Pikes Peak, to visiting Garden of the Gods, there’s something for everyone to do in this small, tight knit community.

Let’s start with lodging- you’ll want to stay in one of the local motels- The Villa is a great choice, and you can walk into town from there. There’s also a free shuttle across the street to get you where you’re going.

Have coffee and breakfast at The Loft. Locally owned (like everywhere here), you’ll be greeted by the owners & offered some “breakfast like mom used to make while you watched Saturday-morning cartoons” and some of the best dang chai you’ve ever tasted.

After breakfast, take that hike in Garden of the Gods, it’ll only take 20 minutes to walk there, or hop on a Pike Ride E-Bike and get there even faster…

After that hike, you’ll be thirsty- so stop at one of Manitou’s 8 -underground-naturally-effervescent-cold-water-mineral-drinking-springs. After all, this is why we’re called “Springs”. And if that day is particularly chilly (or even if not), sit in that mineral water heated up in cedar soaking tubs at Sunwater Spa- an amazing way to spend the afternoon.

Before dinner, stop at the Penny Arcade & spend your change playing the horse races. It’s seriously the best way to spend 50 cents. Ever.

Next, you’ll want to head to dinner, and of course you’re coming to Armadillo Ranch, where you will enjoy the in-house-smoked pork, Boars Heads deli meats, and quality produce all around. There are even vegan and vegetarian options (more than 1, people!) on the menu. The kids will love the adorable armadillos on their menu for coloring, too. While you’re at it, you’ll want to order a seasonal cocktail while you nosh on the signature Fountain Creek Smokehouse Burger – with pulled pork, bacon, cheddar, bbq sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, and an extra large pick holding this tower together!

You’ll visit familiar faces at the bar, too. The bar is filled with mostly small barstools, but there are 3 larger chairs- ones that belong to friends you come to know the more you walk in. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a sighting of Manitou Mike once the music starts playing. His long white dreaded beard and iced-down-red-wine will certainly catch your attention.

Next is that live music, the jam bands, the ambience of an evening at the Armadillo Racnch. The twinkling lights, the friendly folks, incredible tunes in your ear, the bartenders pouring drinks into the shotski, smiles everywhere you turn and magical moments that will carry you to places you didn’t know you’d find at the base of Pike’s Peak. Or maybe you did.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There’s just one man behind it all, and that is Andy Wells, Jason’s father. When the idea was born, Jason called on his father to be the capital investor in this venture, and he accepted, instantaneously. Andy has been the constant in Jason’s life since day 1. Always guiding, leading, and supporting his son through his 50 years of life, Andy is deserving of more than a mere shoutout! Thanks to Andy, the music never stopped playing in Manitou.

Website: www.manitouarmadilloranch.com

Instagram: @armadilloranch

Facebook: @manitouarmadilloranch

Yelp: Armadillo Ranch in Historic Manitou Springs

Image Credits
one photo has credit on it. All others credit Jenna Gallas