Mountain Do

“When we were kids outside climbing trees, running in the grass, and playing in the dirt, the only thing that was on our mind was where you were going to get something to drink and when food was going to be ready.”

Bobby Massie is still a kid. Don’t let his size fool you. Although Massie is massive.

The 6’6, 325 pound former 10-year NFL offensive tackle who played for the Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, and Denver Broncos, now has a new work address…the rivers, trails, and picturesque beauty of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.

Growing up in the small Virginia town of Lynchburg, Massie’s way of life centered on the outdoors. Whether it was football, fishing, hunting, camping or cooking and grilling, outside was the preferred side. So, it was a no brainer when he and his wife and longtime journalist, Angel, decided that life after the NFL was to be headquartered into the great wide open with their luxury outfitter, Wanderland Outdoors. From mid-May through October, guests can enjoy the gold-medal standard of guided fly fishing trips, mindful hiking experiences, yoga classes, trail rides, and unforgettable gourmet dining excursions.

“When you’re spending premium money on something like this, things are supposed to be a certain way with levels of service and expectations,” Bobby begins, sprawled in a patio chair at a Lone Tree coffeehouse. “Angel loves to travel. I don’t, so the way to get me to travel is to go fishing. I’ve fished every coast. Up North. Down South. She and I compiled all the trips we’ve been on, watched the video, ran the data back, and addressed everything we would want to have with outfitters and experience on guided trips.”

While Angel is a certified Kripalu Mindful Outdoor Guide who oversees the mindful meditative walks, you can find Bobby once it’s time to eat.  Wanderland’s “Food x Fire” experience is anchored by the former right tackle who’s now protecting appetites instead of quarterbacks, “Cooking has always been a part of my life,” he says with a big grin. “My grandma used to run a restaurant. I’m always cooking for people. We’d host the Broncos’ offensive line over at the house for meals, so, if I can cook for 16 guys who weigh over 300 pounds, then I can cook for 30-to-40 people.”

The menu from Wanderland reads like a dream. Smoked Rainbow Trout Mezze with Crudite. Charred Sourdough Bread with Bone Marrow. Grilled Wagyu Tomahawk. Four-hour Hung Chicken with Creole Spices and Smoked Rosemary Salt. Lump Blue Crab with Old Bay Honey and Aged Cheddar. Bourbon Maple Pears with Brown Sugar Crumble and Smoked Pineapple with Dolce de Leche.

The Michelin Guide needs to know about this.

Massie explains, “You see the food being prepared and cooked. You smell the smoke and flavors. You see the flames. It’s a whole experience for the senses with a beautiful backdrop instead of just eating at a restaurant or at home. I’m there preparing everything from the menu that you select. I’m a big foodie. I love to eat good food and I love to entertain.”

The experiences that will make you hungry include backcountry fly-fishing tours to some of Wanderland’s exclusive, 33 miles of private, gold-medal waters; horseback trail rides through Jefferson County in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, wrangling by Brown Family Ranch; and guided hikes through Rocky Mountain National Park, focusing on mindful movement, breathwork and meditation, culminating with a tea ceremony by fire.

Through 2024, excursions will feature Colorado’s vistas as their backdrop, but expect new voyages to the wilds of Montana and beyond in coming seasons.

It’s all a very special outfit for all the aforementioned reasons, and one that the Massies take a lot of pride in assembling, “We’re a black-owned business and we employ a lot of minorities, but that’s not our only demographic. That’s not the case at all.” Bobby points out. “That’s just who we are. We’re for everybody, just like the outdoors is for everybody. As adults, sometimes we forget about just being free. That’s what Wanderland is all about. We want people to feel how we feel about Colorado. My wife and I aren’t from here, we’re not natives, but we’re going to die here and we’re raising our kids here. We just want to provide a little of what this great state provides in a nutshell.”

Sounds like a touchdown from a proven NFL player and journalist who have seen their fair share of scores.

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THE TWO-MINUTE DRILL

Of course we’re going to talk football with Bobby Massie…

ARE YOU STILL FOLLOWING FOOTBALL? I can’t not follow football. With the Broncos, I’ve been in that building. I was there. I’ll always watch them. I know guys there and I played with 40 percent of the current team. I follow them. They don’t want to use the word “rebuild,” but that’s what it is. Russell Wilson walked with that huge cap chunk, so it’ll be interesting to see how they put things together. I think the strong part of the offense is the offensive line. They’ve built a good unit up front. If running back Javonte Williams looks like the player who I played with before his injury then they’ll be solid. They have some exciting receivers too. Making the playoffs this season would be a dream, but when they do get everything in order, Denver is a championship organization. I also follow CU. I remember the days of Kordell Stewart there. Deion is trying to turn things around and it’ll be fun to see what he does. It all starts in the trenches with those offensive and defensive lines. I’ll be watching that and to see how they flip things from last season with a lot of new players and new coaches.

WHAT ARE YOUR FONDEST NFL MEMORIES? The camaraderie with the guys. The brotherhood every day and grinding it out for a common goal. The blood, sweat, and tears no matter what. I loved the competition and preparing all week to kick a guy’s ass, knowing he’s training to do the same thing. Then you meet on that day of battle, and you’ve got that back-and-forth to see your hard work pay off.

WHAT’S THE MOST MEMORABLE PLAY THAT YOU’VE EVER BEEN A PART OF? It was the 2015 playoff game between the Cardinals and the Packers. It was a back-and-forth shootout. It went to overtime. I was blocking Green Bay’s defensive end and the play is extended. My quarterback Carson Palmer is buying time, and the defensive end spins inside, I’m turning, and now I’m looking right at Carson. He bumps into me. I move him out of the way. He rolls out and connects with Larry Fitzgerald who zigs and zags down to the four-yard line, setting up the game-winning touchdown. We went on to the NFC Championship game. (You can watch the play on YouTube titled “Fitzgerald Sends Cardinals to NFC Championship. Massie is #70 playing right tackle for Arizona).

I’ve also been a part of games blocking for 200 yard rushers and 400 yard passers as well as 40 and 50 point games on offense that are not easy to do in the NFL. I’ve also had seasons where I’ve only given up one or two sacks. To go that many snaps without giving up a sack is also very memorable. If your name isn’t getting called, you’re doing your job.

WHAT’S SOMETHING THAT MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT BEING AN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN IN THE NFL? It sucks. You’re in the trenches banging your face in every single day. Day in and day out. However, it’s also beautiful. You’re like the blue-collar worker in the football world. You’re not the flashy skill player, the pretty boy quarterback, or the superstar defensive lineman. Nobody knows you unless you make a mistake. We’re the unsung heroes of football. It’s fun to manhandle and ragdoll other players.

WHO ARE THE BEST PLAYERS YOU PLAYED AGAINST IN YOUR 10-YEAR CAREER? Hall-of-Famer Julius Peppers was very good. The guy who gave me the most trouble was when I was in Arizona and playing against Cliff Avril of the Seattle Seahawks, He was part of that “Legion of Boom’ defense. Michael Bennett was on that team, and he was tough too. The way Avril could jump the snap was like nobody I’ve ever faced. He was a monster.

DID YOU MODEL YOUR GAME AFTER ANY PARTICULAR PLAYER? LeCharles Bentley (former NFL player) trained me my entire career. He turned me into the player that I was. He was a phenomenal offensive line guru.