All Hat, All Cowboy
02/24/2025 12:53PM ● By Deb Olsen
Photo by Gavin Liddell.
As a small boy growing up in New Orleans, Scott Flower watched high-riding heroes like Roy Rogers and dreamt of moving West, donning a cowboy hat and riding the range. Today, he is livin’ that dream. "I still remember that magical feeling, coming into this valley for the first time,” says Scott, who has been in the Yampa Valley for 50 years. “I guess I’m almost a local,” he quips.
Within hours of arriving in Steamboat Springs, Scott had found both a job and a place to live. Over the years, he learned to fix fences and help with livestock, sometimes in exchange for space in a bunkhouse. Since then, he has worked with ranchers in north, south and west Routt County. Scott attributes his iconic lifestyle, close-knit family and many longtime local friends to the tradition of neighbor helping neighbor that has its roots in the area’s ranching heritage.
Although some old-time ranchers have left the area, Scott doesn’t want to see that lifestyle end: “Not on my watch.” For that reason, Scott donates his time to Winter Carnival, helping set up the street events, and to the Cowboy Downhill, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this winter. He has also been involved with Routt County’s agricultural community and is an advocate for the preservation of open space.
“I feel very thankful to be able to live here, and I want to help repay what this whole valley has given to me and my family,” he says.
At the core of the Flower family is Scott’s wife, Trisha, who starts every day with a new honey-do list. Their daughter, Danielle, recently moved back to Steamboat with her family, and their son, Jason, and his family often visit from the Front Range. Their youngest son, Cody, manages Wolf Run Ranch, a position he took over from Scott, who likes to say he’s “semi” retired. After all, he says, “ranchers never have to join an athletic club or learn to play golf to stay in shape.”
As a Navy veteran, Scott helps with the VA, American Legion, VFW and the Fourth of July parade. He also volunteers for Northwest Colorado hospice care, helping the families of hospice patients. For the past few years, he has been behind the scenes at the Balloon Rodeo, and he is deeply involved with Holy Name Catholic Church, where he helped to create the custom-designed stained-glass windows.
“It’s the people who live here that help make Steamboat so special,” Scott says. “This valley has always been a very spiritual place – Native Americans, early pioneers – we newcomers and the many visitors can feel it too.” Scott recognizes that the town is growing; he is the Chamber’s former marketing director. “You can’t blame people for wanting to come here. It’s an extraordinary place,” he says. “We’re fortunatet hat many very generous people have chosen to move here."
At the same time, he is concerned about the future. “We’ve got to make sure we attract the givers and not the takers as the valley grows. We don’t need people to move here and show us how to change it,” he says. “If you want to earn your local status, you’ve got to learn to give back to the community.”
With more than 90 nonprofits in the area, finding a way to help out is easy. “Get out of your shell and get involved,” he says. “When you find the joy of giving, you’ll realize the reason for living.” That sentiment is exactly what makes Scott Flower emblematic of “genuine Steamboat.”
As a small boy growing up in New Orleans, Scott Flower watched high-riding heroes like Roy Rogers and dreamt of moving West, donning a cowboy hat and riding the range. Today, he is livin’ that dream. "I still remember that magical feeling, coming into this valley for the first time,” says Scott, who has been in the Yampa Valley for 50 years. “I guess I’m almost a local,” he quips.
Within hours of arriving in Steamboat Springs, Scott had found both a job and a place to live. Over the years, he learned to fix fences and help with livestock, sometimes in exchange for space in a bunkhouse. Since then, he has worked with ranchers in north, south and west Routt County. Scott attributes his iconic lifestyle, close-knit family and many longtime local friends to the tradition of neighbor helping neighbor that has its roots in the area’s ranching heritage.
Although some old-time ranchers have left the area, Scott doesn’t want to see that lifestyle end: “Not on my watch.” For that reason, Scott donates his time to Winter Carnival, helping set up the street events, and to the Cowboy Downhill, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this winter. He has also been involved with Routt County’s agricultural community and is an advocate for the preservation of open space.
“I feel very thankful to be able to live here, and I want to help repay what this whole valley has given to me and my family,” he says.
At the core of the Flower family is Scott’s wife, Trisha, who starts every day with a new honey-do list. Their daughter, Danielle, recently moved back to Steamboat with her family, and their son, Jason, and his family often visit from the Front Range. Their youngest son, Cody, manages Wolf Run Ranch, a position he took over from Scott, who likes to say he’s “semi” retired. After all, he says, “ranchers never have to join an athletic club or learn to play golf to stay in shape.”
As a Navy veteran, Scott helps with the VA, American Legion, VFW and the Fourth of July parade. He also volunteers for Northwest Colorado hospice care, helping the families of hospice patients. For the past few years, he has been behind the scenes at the Balloon Rodeo, and he is deeply involved with Holy Name Catholic Church, where he helped to create the custom-designed stained-glass windows.
“It’s the people who live here that help make Steamboat so special,” Scott says. “This valley has always been a very spiritual place – Native Americans, early pioneers – we newcomers and the many visitors can feel it too.” Scott recognizes that the town is growing; he is the Chamber’s former marketing director. “You can’t blame people for wanting to come here. It’s an extraordinary place,” he says. “We’re fortunatet hat many very generous people have chosen to move here."
At the same time, he is concerned about the future. “We’ve got to make sure we attract the givers and not the takers as the valley grows. We don’t need people to move here and show us how to change it,” he says. “If you want to earn your local status, you’ve got to learn to give back to the community.”
With more than 90 nonprofits in the area, finding a way to help out is easy. “Get out of your shell and get involved,” he says. “When you find the joy of giving, you’ll realize the reason for living.” That sentiment is exactly what makes Scott Flower emblematic of “genuine Steamboat.”