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For Chris and Amy Dorsey, creating the Ultimate Sportsman’s Lodge in the Colorado Rockies wasn’t just a build, but also a television series that aired on the Great American Country (GAC) TV network. The concept focused on celebrating the sporting life through architecture and art, showcasing a number of craftsmen and artisans who have been memorable parts of the Dorseys’ outdoor lifestyle.
“It was important for us to celebrate the outdoors as much as the indoors,” said veteran TV host and producer Chris Dorsey. “There’s hardly a room in the house that doesn’t have a dramatic view of the Rockies, unless there’s a mule deer standing in front of a window, which happens often.”
A fossilized fish from Green River Stone, one of Chris Dorsey’s favorite collectibles, graces the bar in his trophy room.
When it came to art, it wasn’t just a matter of finding pieces that fit their home; it was to celebrate the considerable talent of their many friends in the wildlife art world.
“We couldn’t call it the Ultimate Sportsman’s Lodge without having a photo gallery complete with stunning images taken during our TV shoots across the globe. And these aren’t just trophy snapshots; they’re captivating portraits from some of the best sporting-life photographers in the world—Dusan Smetana, R. Valentine Atkinson, Marcos Furer, and John MacGillivray, to name a few. Converting them from digital photographs to enhanced images on metal—an incredibly beautiful look—was the work of our friend Roland LaPierre and his Trophy Shot Prints company.”
A dozen leather recliners offer comfortable viewing in the Dorseys’ theater. Posters promoting his television programs appear on the walls.
But no sportsman’s lodge would be complete without a trophy room where multiple artforms create a breathtaking man cave.
“Taxidermy has become an indelible artform, and my friend Mike Jankovsky and his Artworks Taxidermy Studio are among the best in the world. And bronze sculptors Mike Barlow and Stephen LeBlanc are the best of the best in my opinion and are some of our favorite TV hosts, so it’s nice to not only have great art in the home, but to have the work of these dear friends surrounding us each day.”
The spacious trophy room includes full-body mounts of a bongo from Cameroon and a lion from Zambia.
Bronze isn’t the only three-dimensional art found in the Dorsey home.
“Lance Boen’s giant leather trout is an absolute show-stopper,” said Dorsey. “When people see the intricacy of the detail in Boen’s leather-work, they know that the piece is not just an original work of art but really a family heirloom.”
And when it comes to paintings that inspire the Dorseys, they look no further than internationally acclaimed wildlife artist and conservationist John Banovich.
“John’s work is in a league of its own. Once upon a time I used to run big outdoor magazines, and I studied a lot of art and artists and have found none better than John. He’s a living master.”
Photographs taken during Dorsey’s numerous TV productions around the globe line the walls of several rooms.
But one of Dorsey’s favorite pieces in the entire 10,000-square-foot home is the stunning fish fossil from the famed Green River Stone quarry in Utah.
“People look hard at the giant fish fossil, reach up and touch it, and then ask if it’s real. It’s really captivating, and we couldn’t think of a better way to adorn what we called the ‘Liar’s Bar’ on the TV series—it’s the fish that didn’t get away.
“But speaking of fish that did get away—sort of—it’s one thing to have a great photo of your prized fish before you release it, but when you have that photo converted to a replica fish mount from King Sailfish Mounts, you have yet another intriguing piece of art for the Ultimate Sportsman’s Lodge. Yep, if you’re a sportsman, there’s lots of good vibes in this house.”
