Rocky Mountain Rustic
Tim Bergren
Colorado Springs, Colorado
More than a hundred years ago, homesteaders along the Rocky Mountains staked out new land by planting juniper (cedar) fence posts around their property. They strung barbed wire and the era of free-range cattle and sheep came to an end. The wood was naturally insect- and weather-resistant, and many survive to this day. In recent years, ranchers began pulling up those fence posts, opting for metal post replacements, or opening up land again for broader grazing opportunities.
In 1998, woodworker Wayne Murray got the idea to create a duck out of this remarkable wood—both rustic and refined. Wayne created many ducks for his company called Busy Woods.
Tim came to know of his business over the years, with family members who knew the Murray’s well, and heard they were looking for somebody to take over the business.
Tim had spent years as a liturgical designer and sculptor, doing large projects for churches across the country, but we’d been seeking something that was more small-scale and yet with larger opportunity. When he returned to the Flathead Valley for his annual summer vacation in 2012, he met up with the Murray’s and began serious (and not-so-serious) conversations about taking over the business. Happily, Wayne and Kathy saw potential in Tim and agreed to sell him the business.
Tim has been growing the business and maintaining the standards that have been the hallmark of both Wayne’s and Tim’s craftsmanship. The company was renamed “Rocky Mountain Rustic” to reflect our business location and the regions from where Tim salvages the old posts. Tim, and Rocky Mountain Rustic continue to create the beautiful ducks for which we’ve become famous and now is venturing into other artistic products and creations, including fish.
In 1998, woodworker Wayne Murray got the idea to create a duck out of this remarkable wood—both rustic and refined. Wayne created many ducks for his company called Busy Woods.
Tim came to know of his business over the years, with family members who knew the Murray’s well, and heard they were looking for somebody to take over the business.
Tim had spent years as a liturgical designer and sculptor, doing large projects for churches across the country, but we’d been seeking something that was more small-scale and yet with larger opportunity. When he returned to the Flathead Valley for his annual summer vacation in 2012, he met up with the Murray’s and began serious (and not-so-serious) conversations about taking over the business. Happily, Wayne and Kathy saw potential in Tim and agreed to sell him the business.
Tim has been growing the business and maintaining the standards that have been the hallmark of both Wayne’s and Tim’s craftsmanship. The company was renamed “Rocky Mountain Rustic” to reflect our business location and the regions from where Tim salvages the old posts. Tim, and Rocky Mountain Rustic continue to create the beautiful ducks for which we’ve become famous and now is venturing into other artistic products and creations, including fish.
