Oxbows great success was figuring out that petroleum coke, a byproduct of producing gasoline, could actually be used, instead of discarded. His downhome, aw-shucks demeanor seemed at odds with the businessman who has been demonized as a wicked energy baron. Koch tells a different version of the events. Known as one of the greenest commercial buildings in the world, since it opened its doors on Earth Day in 2013 the Bullitt Center has been setting a new standard for sustainable design. Yglesias will never get to see this town, not being a historian or a Koch or a guy who wants to sell Bill Koch an AK-47 that he claims was owned by Wild Bill Hickok. Charles Koch, 87, has run the company since 1967. It sits on a 420-acre meadow on his Bear Ranch below the Raggeds Wilderness Area in Gunnison County. Forbes estimates his net worth at close to $4billion. Kids have great sibling rivalries, Koch says. Anyhoo, dude's got a lot of money, and sharing is for queers and French people, and which one are you? This town is billionaire Bill Kochs fascination with the Old West rendered in bricks and mortar. His is an eclectic tribe. Its like something out of a Gunsmoke movie set, said Ramon Reed, chairman of the Gunnison County Planning Commission. Bill Koch, brother to Koch Industries' Charles and David Koch, lives in Florida, where his global energy company, Oxbow Carbon LLC, is headquartered. I visited with Koch, who rarely grants interviews, on multiple occasions, across several states, at four of his homes, and I was the first (and only, to this date) journalist to visit his Old West town. Each brother now has a framed copy of the letter, which Koch has read often over the years. It sits on a 420-acre meadow on his Bear Ranch below the Raggeds Wilderness Area in Gunnison County. Koch's project manager has told county officials that the enclave in the middle of the 6,400-acre Bear Ranch won't ever be open to the public. The Local newsletter is your free, daily guide to life in Colorado. William "Bill" Koch, brother of Koch Industries CEO Charles Koch, is the founder of petroleum coke and sulphur products company Oxbow Corp. So its been staggering to me to know that senior people in the company would steal from him, he told me at Oxbows corporate headquarters in Palm Beach. Design and build by Upstatement. The pastors smiled as they held the doors open, grabbing the hands of those who walked by and urging many to keep praying and to keep showing up. It sits on a 420-acre meadow on his Bear Ranch below the Raggeds Wilderness Area in Gunnison County. [1] Early life [ edit] . There are no TVs in the guest rooms and no cars in the town; instead, guests will ride horses and carriages, watch movies in the theater, and have historical discussions. Be kind and generous to one another and to your mother. It will be an extravaganza about the West, Betsy Broun, the Margaret and Terry Stent director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, says of the exhibition. RHONY star's ex-husband lets slip she has a boyfriend named Bill - but friends say she's keeping 'hot and heavy' romance quiet while her beau finalizes his divorce, Ethics investigators say there's 'substantial reason to believe' AOC DID violate House rules by attending 2021 Met Gala on $35,000 comped ticket, 'Left-wing celebrity' Squad member accused of ethics violations: Cori Bush's secret marriage to security guard sparks watchdog to demand an FEC investigation, She has a type! Both Bill and David headed to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1958. Will there be real girls here? I asked. When the lawsuit failed, he returned to the United States in the 1930s as a multimillionaire and a firm believer in free-market capitalism. Fifty years old, whip thin, with dark brown hair and light green eyes, shes not your standard trophy wife: Shes a vegan and an avid skier and recreational kickboxer. Hes also the brother of Charles and David Koch, the high-profile businessmen and bankrollers of conservative causes. The youngest child was born to Koch and his current wife, Bridget Rooney Koch, granddaughter of Art Rooney, who founded the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1933. It's an unpopulated, faux Western town that might boggle the mind of anyone who ever had a playhouse. As we wandered through the town, the lead historian on the project said, Its as if you are literally going back in time. Four of the children were present. When his family said hed gone to Reno, Nevada the 29-year-old lived with his mother Deb Rudibaugh on the struggling family ranch known as 7-11 and wasnt returning text messages his friends grew suspicious. Martensen made no calls, according to Zhan. He also disapproved of using company money to fund Charles and Davids libertarian causes: In 1977, the Kochs donated money to launch the Libertarian Cato Institute, and David Koch ran for vice president on the 1980 Libertarian Party ticket. Bill Koch's Wild West Adventure The controversial businessman is building an Old West town near Paonia that's a full-scale reproduction of a 19th-century settlement. Nancy Lofholm: 970-256-1957, nlofholm@denverpost.com or twitter.com/nlofholm, Billionaire Bill Kochs new Colorado town is a, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Get to know all 17 Denver mayor candidates , Billionaire Bill Kochs new Colorado town is a private Old West marvel, Denver weather: Strong winds and low humidity will elevate fire concerns Sunday, Vehicle owners can register for car theft deterrent program DenverTrack, Colorado property owners to face astronomical tax increases next year, Data breach of DPS computer servers affects all district employees, officials say, After School Satan Club launching first Colorado chapter, but organizer promises "we are not devil worshippers", PHOTOS: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band play Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado landlords say eviction-protection proposal could make dropping problem renters too hard, 5 can't-miss menus for Denver Restaurant Week, No more greasy pizza boxes, paper towels or takeout containers in Front Range compost bins come April 1, After teen's death, Denver East High students walk out to advocate for gun legislation, Boulder house where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Metro Denver housing market crosses firmly into negative territory in February, Kiszla: With Brendan Rodgers down and out, Kris Bryant could become $182 million face of worst team in Rockies history, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Hes obviously a driven guy, whether its business or sailboat racing or collecting wine or holding people accountable when theyve mistreated him. Its an unpopulated, faux Western town that might boggle the mind of anyone who ever had a playhouse. But Bill Koch, the other billionaire Koch brother, has a different plan for his money. Kochs six-foot-four-inch frameclad in a collared shirt, chaps, boots, and spurssat comfortably atop his palomino mount as we toured his estate, which lies just below the Ragged Mountains, a fluted wall of granite that rises from the high mesas of western Colorado. Although his primary residence is in Palm Beach, Florida, where Oxbow is headquartered, one of Kochs many passions is Western history. He also revealed that his wife told him he should go on the television show Hoarders. Its a show about people obsessed with amassing things. Koch describes a childhood shaped by fierce sibling rivalries. Space planning is key, and less really is often more. We had an extremely competitive family, and we didnt take care of one another, Koch told me over dinner in the Cook House, the Old West towns main dining area. Kochs designer and project manager agreed to tone down lighting so it wont be shining into the Raggeds Wilderness. Billionaire Bill Koch's new Colorado town is a private Old West marvel, Billionaire William Koch Accused Of Kidnapping And Imprisoning Executive On Colorado Ranch. When I was living in Wichita, a lot of people looked upon me as a rich kid, Koch says. There are streets made for carriages and several old-fashioned saloons, but the town is actually new. A 21,000-square-foot mansion filled with Jesse James memorabilia sits near the 50-building town which includes a saloon, church, brothel, jail and train station. In 1968, while studying for his doctorate in chemical engineering, Bill Koch started working for his fathers company; Charles had taken over the business a year earlier after Fred Koch died of a stroke. Its Kochs fantasy come to life, made possible by his staggering wealth. ENTERTAINMENT. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. He bailed hay, dug ditches, fixed fences, and mucked stalls12 hours a day, seven days a weekand got paid five bucks per diem, plus room and board. By now everyone knows about the Koch brothers' efforts to spend a fair chunk of their millions on defeating President Obama and reshaping American politics in the image of their oil extraction-friendly version of libertarianism. Published: 18:49 EST, 21 August 2012 | Updated: 03:24 EST, 22 August 2012. Anyone who knows Bill knows that he will chase down someone who has wronged him to the end of the earth. Koch has offered to build a new trailhead and improved access to the Ragged Mountain Wilderness through the acquisition of Buck Creek Ranch, an old homestead. In 1958, he graduated with honors. According to The Sideshow, the 72-year-old isn't designing the place for public consumption. Since the swap was proposed, Koch has added what he and his team consider to be several improvements to the original exchange bill. Koch is president of the Oxbow Group, based in Palm Beach, Florida, which operates the Elk Creek coal mine in western Colorado. The controversial swap would give the government properties near Blue Mesa and in Dinosaur National Park in exchange for a public swath that cuts through his ranch. In all of my interactions with Koch over the course of five months, it was not business, or the Old West town, that he spoke about most often. It sits on a 420-acre meadow on his Bear Ranch below the Raggeds Wilderness Area in Gunnison County. Another contention is that Koch purchased Buck Creek Ranch so the land could be used for a compressor station, a condenser station, or a pipeline. Theyre playing a legal maneuvering game because they want the case to be held in San Francisco, which would be considerably more liberal than the court in Florida, Koch says. The commission recently OKd a 22,000-square-foot residence for Koch above the town that already has two buildings in excess of 11,000 square feet. SEARCH. (Ol' Romney's a pretty good ROI, huh boys?) In February, the brothers famously announced that they were putting up $100million to boot President Obama out of the White House. Another chimed in, A peasant like you isnt going to give him your few pennies and get in there. Marston added, People like us are never considered to be fully human by him., Ullrey, whos never met or worked for Koch, and does not have any family thats ever been employed by him, says, There is a lot of emotion involved in this, and the emotion is irrelevant. It may be a blessing or a curse. The club, which would have been a watering hole for affluent types in the late 1800s, has a mahogany bar with two female figures sculpted out of the wood that overlook the room. The governor has also met separately with Ed Marston. It has sculptures and paintings, but also artifacts, historic photos, and material objects drawn from daily life in the West. Riding with him, and seeing him against this Western backdrop, it was easy to forget his colorful romantic history (hes been married three times and had a public falling-out with a mistress in 1995); his reputation for being litigious (hes been involved in 26 personal lawsuits); and his accomplishments as a sailor (he won the Americas Cup in 1992). Fried, whos worked for Oxbow for about 14 years, is mystified by Martensens alleged offenses. Youre not alone. The collection of properties may appear to be stereotypical billionaire preening, but Koch says he has different intentions. Her husband Dave Jackson received a 10-year sentence for his role in moving the body. It is simply for Koch's amusement and for that of his family and friends and historians. Koch says the governor would like Koch to host an exhibition of his Western collection at a museum in Denver and open the town to high-paying visitors and schoolchildren. For locals, by locals. In September, Marston led a group of locals up the contested BLM strip. Koch swings his leg over the top of his mount and hops off. Back at the barn, we pull up to the hitching post. Follow us on William Koch via Bloomberg. Proposed in 2010 by then Congressman John Salazar, a Democrat who lost his bid for re-election that same year, the Central Rockies Land Exchange, as the swap is called, aims to connect the two disparate sides of Bear Ranch into one contiguous piece of property via a Bureau of Land Management parcel. Kochs not yet sure what hell do, though hes not totally opposed to the governors terms. Koch recently bought a wardrobe from a movie set, and future guests will be able to dress up in Western garb. And Im doing it because I can., Wed spent the previous day strolling through the 70-odd buildings of the town, which is set in a pasture surrounded by Marcellina Mountain, the Anthracite Range, and the West Elk Mountains. Its full-size buildings come with polished brass and carved-mahogany details and are fronted with board sidewalks and underpinned by a water-treatment system. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy. A robust picture emerges of what life was like in the West.. The last time we heard from super-smart-collector Bill Koch, it was about how he got ripped off buying fake wine. It appears to have all the fixings of any young boys amusement park, but the Denver Post reports that the town is for Koch alone, and will not be open to the public. Priceless: Last year, Koch paid a whopping $2.3million for a small photograph of legendary Wild West outlaw Billy the Kid. His mother, while beautiful and charming, was focused on her social life, Koch says, and the boys were entrusted to nannies. Instead, he's putting up a gate and locking down the town. Initially, some of the nations big oil-technology companies came after Koch, filing a patent lawsuit against him and all of his customerswho were small, independent refineriestemporarily ruining his business in the United States. The comments below have not been moderated. To do it, were going to need to think differently; to create new alliances, maybe break old ones. I was more interested in the most popular people on campus: the pretty girls, the athletes, David Koch told me last fall. My father couldnt buy me honors at Culver. Why so many apartment dwellers hear the sound of rolling objects through the ceiling. Hiyo, David and Charles Koch! The commission recently OK'd a 22,000-square-foot residence for Koch above the town that already has two buildings in excess of 11,000 square feet. It's an unpopulated, faux Western town that might boggle the mind of anyone who ever had a playhouse. Is this a good thing for the American people, or is it not a good thing? The federal government and private entitiesski resorts, developments, individualsexecute land exchanges all the time (typically more than 300 a year) to consolidate properties, and some observers have been surprised at the uproar Kochs swap ignited. Steven Fried, Oxbows COO, questioned Martensen. Soon, it will have a mansion on a hill so the towns founder can look down on his creation. After purchasing the photo last year, Koch told the Denver Post: 'I love the Old West. The only newsroom focused on exploring solutions at the intersection of climate and justice. Twelve years later, as vice president of corporate development, Bill spearheaded an attempted takeover with the goal of deposing Charles, the chairman and CEO, and David, who was an executive vice president. According to the society, other items of his . 5280 Publishing, Inc. How to put profit back in the non-profit National Western Stock Show -- enough to keep it corralled in its current location? This town is billionaire Bill Koch's fascination with the Old West rendered in bricks and mortar. Koch, known as Wild Bill to some of his friends, is the founder and president of the energy company Oxbow Group, which operates the Elk Creek Mine near Somerset. When he arrived, Koch was six feet one inch tall and weighed 120 pounds, and his peers teased him unmercifully for his gawky appearance. Oxbow buys coke from refineries and, in turn, sells it to aluminum, steel, and cement companies and fuel-grade markets, where its used instead of coal to generate energy. Edwin Edwards who died at 93 is set to marry his best friend - a 79-year-old former state Senate president: Exhumed last husband's remains against his kids' wishes, Tennessee Gov. This project shows how Americans can use a wasted resource for the betterment of our communities. Through his various companieshe owns the Elk Creek coal mine in Somerset, about 15 minutes from his ranch; Gunnison Energy, a major player in natural gas development in the area; and Bear RanchKoch pays more than $38 million a year in employee salaries. Everything from the ceilings to the accoutrements are period-specific. The streets widths are historically accuratewide enough so that a four-to-six-horse cart can turn aroundand are bordered by sidewalks at the perfect height for a rancher to load his cart. He would later go on to become an early member of the ultraconservative John Birch Society, known for its distrust of, and distaste for, government and for spreading fears in the 1950s that communism had seeped into the highest offices of American politics. Kochs parents were largely absent. Rebecca Schoenkopf is the owner, publisher, and editrix of Wonkette. All Rights Reserved, The Pacific Group. OPEN GOV US We climbed the stairs to the second story and toured the rooms wallpapered in Technicolor shades of teal, maroon, and pink. This fantasy, it would seem, is for Continue reading Billionaire Builds His Own Private . Soon, it will have a mansion on a hill so the town's founder can look down on his creation. It sits on a 420-acre meadow on his Bear Ranch below the Raggeds Wilderness Area in Gunnison County. Instagram, Follow us on He bought out the Buckskin Joe Western town near Caon City for $3.1 million in 2010. Koch describes his father, the son of a Dutch immigrant newspaper owner, as a very strong, ethical man and as a soft-spoken, John Waynetype. But his father was away from home often, building his oil refinery business. In 1936, four years before Bill and David were born, Fred Koch wrote a letter to his boys, Frederick and Charles, and to his future children. Martensen claims in the suit that he came under scrutiny after raising concerns about Oxbows questionable tax-avoidance strategies. Bill disagreed with Charles totalitarian control of the company and believed the stockholders were not getting their rewards. Koch also agreed to downsize a bit. Forbes described it as a place where once anyone might stake a claim, but now you must be a billionaire.. For a long time, I felt insecure and inadequate and wouldnt stand up for myself. Born in 1940 in Wichita, Kansas, Koch was the last of Mary and Frederick Chase Kochs four sons. William Ingraham Koch ( / kok / KOHK; born May 3, 1940) is an American billionaire businessman, sailor, and collector. Reed said Gunnison County has no restrictions on the size of residences, but the Koch home came before the planning commission because of a regulation that a residence of that size must not be obtrusive.. Billionaire Bill Koch loves the Old West so much that he decided to build his own private town somewhere within the wilds of Colorado. The next day, after the group strategy session, Koch had lunch with the executives and then took them on a helicopter tour of the town, after which the performance reviews took place. Soon, it will have a mansion on a hill so the towns founder can look down on his creation. Koch's town boasts its own water-treatment system and approximately 50 buildings including a. Do you hear marbles rolling in your apartment? Nope he will just build himself a whole empty town, unpolluted by our ilk -- unless he brings in one or two of us for a humdinger of a round of The Most Dangerous Game. (The eldest Koch brother, Frederick R. Koch, is seven years older than Bill and David and wasnt as involved in the interfamily politics.). It wasnt the first time Koch has laid down cold hard cash for some Wild West swag, and it was not the last. the significance of this extremely wasteful idea, spend millions to shift political opinion, Here is an otter that is smarter than Todd Akin, The Deluge is a climate nightmare and its based on reality, Amazons The Rig brings new energy to old eco terrors, In this Swedish bestseller, a young Smi woman fights for survival, Alcarrs review: In a new Spanish film, solar power threatens a family farm, From lab to market, bio-based products are gaining momentum, The hazards of gas stoves were flagged by the industry and hidden 50 years ago, How Alaskas coastal communities are racing against erosion, Construction begins on controversial lithium mine in Nevada. The Denver Post reports the town, located in Kebler Pass, has a saloon, church, jail and train station among its 50 or so buildings spread out over 420 acres. It's an unpopulated, faux Western town that might boggle the mind of anyone who ever had a playhouse. Period.. Conspiracy theories about him ripple through Paonia: One suggests that he (or his staff) flies his helicopter over his enemies homes, running surveillance or trying to scare his opposition. But, removed from his brothers, Koch began to flourish. Around 50 buildings, along with a water-treatment system, have been permitted by Gunnison County in the past two years. LIFE. Koch, known as Wild Bill to some of his friends, is the founder and president of the energy company Oxbow Group, which operates the Elk Creek Mine near Somerset. SPORTS. Unable to work in America, Koch decided to go overseas in 1929 to build refineries in Romania, and later in Stalins USSR. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); A nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Fried asked about Martensens dealings with a competing company that he was allegedly accepting kickbacks from. Elk Mountain was formerly a high-end hunting lodge. The site owner may have set restrictions that prevent you from accessing the site. And while Koch may be the sheriff of this no-horse town, he wont even live there, as the Gunnison County Planning Commission recently approved a 21,000-square-foot home for Koch that looks down at the buildings. Beginning at the age of 13, for five summers, Bill Koch worked on his fathers ranches. The Denver Post reports the town, located in Kebler Pass, has a saloon, church, jail and train station among [.] Solving climate change is going to be really hard, Schendler says. He owns Jesse James gun, Wyatt Earps vest, Sitting Bulls rifle and a flag that belonged to Gen. George Custer. Zhan says there were no armed guards, and that both men were offered a cell phone to use once they left the ranch, where cellular reception is limited. It sits on a 420-acre meadow on his Bear Ranch below the Raggeds Wilderness Area in Gunnison County. Both Zhan and Martensen took Kochs private plane back to California. Experts estimate it was taken around 1879. This is her first piece for 5280. You all take care of each other., Koch was at the ranch that weekend to work out some details related to the Old West town hes building on his land. Around 50 buildings, along with a water-treatment system, have been permitted by Gunnison County in the past two years.