Colorado rodeo icon, inspiration for Rodeo Dunes, dies at 88

Head of family that sold land to make Rodeo Dunes golf project possible died Wednesday at age 88

By Jim Bebbington

Mike Cervi, the head of a Colorado ranch and rodeo family who leased or sold some of his family land holdings to Dream Golf to pave the way for the Rodeo Dunes golf project near Roggen, died at the age of 88 this week.

 

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Cervi’s family is one of the driving forces in the U.S. rodeo circuit. His families ties to the industry are the reason why Dream Golf opted to name their new Colorado operation Rodeo Dunes and an image from one of their rodeos became the logo for the new course.

Cervi is one of the largest supplier of stock for professional rodeos throughout the country. His company, Cervi Championship Rodeo, produces the National Western Stock Show in Denver each January as well as the RodeoHouston event, among other shows.

His home is outside of Roggen, Colorado, northeast of Denver. When Dream Golf’s leaders Michael and Chris Keiser were searching for dunes land for their next golf resort they met with Cervi and worked with him to acquire around 4,000 acres. The Cervi holdings there at one time topped 60,000 acres.

The first golf course for Rodeo Dunes is under construction now and expected to be open for public play in 2026. Company plans filed with Weld County show that over 20 years the company hopes to build a resort hotel, residential cabins and as many as six golf courses on the land. Dream Golf was founded by the Keiser’s father, Mike, when he created Bandon Dunes in Oregon in 1999.

According to ProRodeo.Com Mike Cervi was preceded in death by his eldest son, Mike Jr., who was married to Sherry, and survived by his sons, Binion Cervi (wife Hannah) and Chase Cervi (wife Carley); His sister, Carla Cervi, and granddaughters, Reagan (6), Reese (3), and Clay (3 months).