Generations of travelers and residents may remember coming across a surprise when they reached the outskirts of Redmond: reindeer.

Nestled between Highway 126 and SW Helmoltz Way, Cindy and Mike Gillespie’s reindeer ranch has an iconic place in the city’s history that attracted families and interested travelers for six decades until it closed in 2015. Reindeer from the ranch were a holiday tradition at parades and festivals in Redmond and throughout much of Oregon.

Eight years after the last reindeer booked it out of town, the 10-acre ranch will now see a reinvention at the hands of local ranchers Julie and Jeff Larkin.

There will be no more reindeer, unfortunately. But the duo, who own Larkin Valley Ranch, aim to bring the history and significance of the ranch to life with a farm store, rentable guest house and a slate of events.

“That’s kind of what we want to keep — just that little bit of nostalgia,” said Julie

Larkin.

Holiday history

The original owner of the ranch, John Zumstein, traveled to Alaska in the early 1950s and caught wild reindeer to bring back to Oregon. Reindeer are not native to Alaska, but some raised as livestock escaped decades ago and now live relatively feral lives.

Through trial and error, the Zumsteins were able to fly a small group to Redmond and found a feed formula they were able to survive on.

“I think that really contributed to the success of how well the reindeer did (at the ranch),” Cindy Gillespie said.

That success in animal husbandry led to generations of reindeer — and generations of holiday traditions for Redmond residents.

“(There are) great memories out there,” said Curt Nitschelm, veterinarian at the Redmond Veterinary Clinic and the old ranch’s main doctor. “The reindeer were fun.”

According to Nitschelm, reindeer are similar to cattle in terms of anatomy and, aside from bulls in the rut, are somewhat tame animals. But their sizable antlers always seemed to get in the way.

“They’re a unique species because the females have antlers, too,” Nitschelm said.

When Nitschelm moved to Central Oregon in the early 1980s, he said the region was “a mecca for exotic animals.”

Buffalo, ostriches, camels and reptiles could be found in the region. He said his kids often teased him because he’d bring unusual species home for them to help raise.

“They got to experience little baby reindeer, little baby lamas, little baby this and that,” Nitschelm said. “The exotic trends have faded so we don’t see as many unusual animals.”

Despite both Cindy and Mike Gillespie’s day jobs, they took over the ranch in 2000 and brought the reindeer to the East Coast and California to show at shopping centers, downtown parades and corporate events. The reindeer made recurring trips to the Los Angeles and San Francisco zoos and Disneyland, among others.

But it wouldn’t last.

In the early 2000s, chronic wasting disease hit the United States and ended their touring days, Cindy Gillespie said. The herd could pass on the dangerous disease to cattle, so they could no longer travel and their owners were told to remove them.

With retirement approaching and a decreased herd size, the Gillespies decided to move on from the ranch. They eventually sold the last of the animals in 2015.

The Gillespies have followed along with the new plans and said there is a mix of sadness and excitement at seeing the renovations at their old property. But, they’re both glad to be out of the reindeer business.

“We miss not seeing the babies in the spring,” Cindy Gillespie said. “(But) I’m so done with reindeer.”

The comeback

When she was little, Julie Larkin rode horses along Helmholtz Way with a childhood friends to visit the ranch. She said she once watched a reindeer give birth in the barn that will be renovated into a market space.

Jeff Larkin also spent much of his early years involved with the reindeer ranch. He traveled to holiday events with the Gillespies, often dressed as an elf.

According to Nitschelm, Redmond’s youth softball teams sometimes trained the young calves and used them for photoshoots to raise money. Nitschelm said they were able to raise enough to help the teams compete through the spring tournament season.

While the reindeer will not be seeing a return to Redmond, the Larkins’ ranch will be dedicated to their place in the city.

According to Julie Larkin, the market — which will also be used as an events space — will include a history wall.

Some events may include some type of buckaroo breakfast in the summer, fall-themed events in October and November and Christmas events with a new white steer they named Nicholas the Santa Cow. The Larkins plan to deck Nicholas out with antlers and colored lights.

“Santa Cow is going to be with us always,” Larkin said. “We have some fun plans.”

Larkin said the market will be open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and they hope to throw open the gates in June.

They are hoping to bring in products from other ranchers and local craftsmen to feature at the market and help build the local community, Larkin said.

“We just really want to be that local spot for those people,” Larkin said. “We’re hoping to keep it a real farm feel.”