One
hundred years ago, ranch life was serious business,
with lots of cowpokes and chuck wagons and little dogies
getting along. But today, ranches defy stereotype, much
to our delight. While some still stick close to their
historical roots, others have branched out, including
spa treatments and gourmet dining with hoedowns and
cattle drives. Whether classic or creative, ranches
are a staple of American lodging, and we've compiled
a selection of the finest in the wild, wild West. Happy
trails.
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CALIFORNIA
 Solvang
The Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort
www.alisal.com
While
not as remote as many other ranches on our list—it's
only 35 miles northwest of Santa Barbara—The Alisal
Guest Ranch & Resort offers plenty of wide-open
range on which to roam: ten thousand acres of grazing
fields, hills and canyons, in fact. This working cattle
ranch dates back to the 1800s and has been welcoming
guests since 1946. Once the home of Kentucky Derby winner
Flying Ebony, the ranch now keeps 100 mounts, including
quarter horses, thoroughbreds and mustangs for guest
use. Private lessons and rides are offered, and you
can also participate in the weekly summer rodeos. If
you don't feel like saddling up, there's championship
golf, tennis and angling for bass. Unlike at most ranches,
which are all-inclusive, activities here are à
la carte, so we suggest checking into packages.
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COLORADO
Granby
C Lazy U Guest Ranch
www.clazyu.com
While
summer seems the obvious season to visit a ranch, C
Lazy U Guest Ranch likes to emphasize its winter attractions—horseback
rides through pristine snowscapes, crackling fires and
holiday events such as Christmas tree-trimming and New
Year's Eve swing dancing. You can also enjoy Nordic
skiing, snowshoeing and horse-drawn sleigh rides at
this 2,000-acre property in the Willow Creek Valley
overlooking the Continental Divide. Just a two-hour
drive from Denver, it has been welcoming aspiring cowpokes
since 1925 to rustic log cabins and the two-story main
lodge. There is a 10,000-square-foot indoor riding arena
and plenty of opportunities to learn the fine art of
horsemanship. During warmer months, all riding activities
culminate with the big end of week "Shodeo"
competition.
Steamboat Springs
Vista Verde Ranch
www.vistaverde.com
At
the Vista Verde Ranch, a working hay and cattle property
that encompasses more than 500 acres of forest, meadow
and pasture in Rocky Mountain high country, there is
an opportunity to go beyond the basics of horseback
riding. Specialized clinics focus on balance and rhythm,
driving and the art of horse whispering. Of particular
note are the cattle drive weeks offered throughout the
year: After getting comfortable with your horse through
trail rides, arena sessions and a special horsemanship
clinic, you will have the chance to herd cows down the
Elk River Valley. Although the log cabins look rough
and tumble from the outside, they are subtly sophisticated
where it counts, with lodgepole pine beds, antiques
and western art. Each also has its own hot tub on deck.
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HAWAII
Maunaloa
Molokai Ranch
www.molokairanch.com
APRIL 4, 2008: THE MOLOKAI RANCH HAS CLOSED. MORE INFORMATION AT www.molokairanch.com
When
it comes to the traditional ranch, most people think
wide-open spaces and big skies. But for some, it's all
about palm trees and the aloha spirit. On Hawaii's fifth
largest island, the 65,000-acre Molokai Ranch, which
once belonged to King Kamehameha V, has been a working
cattle ranch for more than 100 years. These days, paniolos
(Hawaiian for cowboy) tend 500 head of cattle, and guests
stay at the 22-room, plantation-style lodge or in solar
powered, two-bedroom canvas "tentalows" on
Kaupoa Beach. Equestrian activities include cattle roundups
in the rodeo arena, the Kaana Trail Ride and mule rides
down 1,500-foot cliffs to Kalaupapa. Whale watching,
ocean kayaking and spa treatments are also on offer.
If you're looking for an island idyll worthy of John
Wayne, this is it.
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IDAHO
Soda Springs
Bar H Bar Ranch
www.barhbar.com
Hands on means just that at this working ranch, where
no more than six guests at a time saddle quarter horses,
brand and vaccinate cattle and ride parts of the old
Oregon Trail. The 9,000-acre ranch sits at the edge
of the Caribou Cache National Forest, home to elk, moose
and plenty of other critters. Guests stay in the original
ranch bunkhouse and dine on family style meals that
include homemade goodies like pie and bread. Prepare
to mend fences and rope little dogies rather than answer
emails. This place isn't wired for the web … or
phones and TV. Bottom line: good old-fashioned fresh
air and amiable company throughout the day.
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MONTANA
Livingston
The 63 Ranch
www.sixtythree.com
Dating
back to 1863, The 63 Ranch was the first dude ranch
in Montana to be declared a National Historic Monument.
It straddles Mission Creek Canyon on the border of Gallatin
National Forest, 50 miles north of Yellowstone National
Park, and has been family run since 1929. While fishing
and hiking are on offer, equestrian activities are at
the forefront—sidesaddle and western riding classes,
lassoing lessons, cattle roundups, leisurely rides through
wildflowers and expert rides through mountain passes.
Overnight pack trips to Bear Wallow camp may yield sightings
of elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep and mountain lions.
There are just eight cabins, housing no more than thirty
guests at a time. Family-style meals include grass-fed
beef from the ranch's own herd. FYI: BYOB.
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NEW MEXICO
Chama
The Lodge and Ranch at Chama
www.lodgeatchama.com
World-class hunting and fishing are the attractions at the 27,000-square-foot Lodge and Ranch at Chama. Guests at this luxuriously rustic retreat can hunt for deer, turkey and bison or cast their lines for Rainbows, Brookies and the elusive Rio Grande Cutthroat trout. After a long day in the great outdoors, kick back and enjoy choice steaks or quail at the lodge’s on-site restaurant or soak in the spa’s hydrotherapy whirlpool. End your evening relaxing in one of Chama’s two Greatrooms, equipped with twenty-foot stone fireplaces, western art and magnificent views of the surrounding San Juan Mountains.
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TEXAS
Marfa
Cibolo Creek Ranch
www.cibolocreekranch.com
Architecturally,
this property wins our vote. The trio of restored adobe
forts that make up the accommodations are surprisingly
stylish with their cottonwood beams, Saltillo tile floors
and period antiques. Listed on the National Register
of Historic Places, the ranch was founded in the 1800s
and sits on more than 30,000 acres in the Chinati and
Cienega mountains. It is quick to point out that it's
not a dude ranch but a working longhorn business. This
doesn't seem to affect the activities, though, which
include cattle herding, overnight chuck wagon camping
and horseback rides through mesas and canyons. The gourmet
menu (meals are included) features exotics such as venison,
antelope and wild boar. Notable onsite attractions:
pioneer ruins and four accessible Native American caves.
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WYOMING
Dubois
CM Ranch
www.cmranch.com
While
most ranches are family-oriented, this one is more so
than usual, with its simplicity, family-style dining,
log houses (smaller cabins are also available) and emphasis
on social activities such as softball and horseshoes.
It is one of the two oldest dude ranches in the state
and sits at the mouth of Jakey's Fork Canyon on property
contiguous with the Shoshone National Forest. You are
matched with a horse that suits your ability for the
duration of your stay, and you may join a variety of
daily rides with wranglers who will fill you in on the
history and geography of the area. The ranch owns four
miles of streams for private fishing for native brown,
rainbow and brook trout; you can also embark on private
horseback fishing expeditions. Highlights include evening
cowboy poetry and music.
Wapiti
UXU Ranch
www.uxuranch.com
If
you're looking for a well-rounded ranch getaway, UXU
Ranch offers a dose of just about everything on its
weekly schedule: a welcome cocktail party, all-day trip
to Yellowstone National Park and all-day horseback riding
trip and excursion to the Cody Nite Rodeo. A full riding
program with some instruction is complemented by guided
fishing, hiking, mountain biking and river rafting.
Weekly entertainment includes cowboy singing and poetry,
interpretive talks on local flora and fauna by the National
Forest Service and cookouts. A full wine list accompanies
western-style cuisine. The rustic cabins were built
between the 1920s and 1960s, and the Deluxe Historic
Cabin was once
a stagecoach stop on the way to Yellowstone.
 Top 10 Ranches Worldwide
(Updated: 05/28/08 HC) |
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