Guest ranch proposed in Sisters

The owners of one of Sisters' ranches have filed an application with Deschutes County to create a guest ranch with 10 guest cottages on the Cole Ranch.

The ranch, formerly known as the Patterson Ranch, is one of Sisters' iconic properties, with a much-photographed view of the Three Sisters across the pastures from Highway 242. The proposed guest ranch would be sited on the southwest portion of the 345-acre property, back toward the mountains.

Jennifer and Glenn Cole purchased the ranch last year. The couple has been coming to Sisters on and off for 20 years, were married at the Head of the Metolius, and for the past 10 years they've had a second home here.

The Coles are currently running cattle on the west end of the ranch, and the Pole Creek Properties, LLC land-use application notes that they "are beginning the process of establishing a bison and sheep operation on the property," which may "replace or reduce the cattle operation once one or both of these livestock operations are up and operating."

The application envisions the use of the stables for horses that could be ridden by ranch guests.

"The stable would also be used to operate a commercial horse operation that may include boarding, breeding, raising and/or training," the application notes.