Dude Ranches
Author: Avital Binshtock
May 2007
Features
Git Along Little Doggies!
Even without the iconic “Curly” ridin’ herd, a dude ranch meeting is guaranteed to reorient your group’s city-slicker perspective.
You can almost hear the energetic crescendo of one of those Old Western songs coming to its peak as you gallop onto the ranch in eager pursuit of your next great meeting venue. You want your attendees to remember this event for years to come. And you think you’ve just tracked down the perfect setting: a dude ranch.
To be sure, a dude ranch is an unusual choice—but different is good, different is memorable. It’s quite possible to plan an extraordinarily successful group event in one of these rustic, out-of-the-box locations. Just ask Steve Kemble, president of Dallas, Texas-based Steve Kemble Event Design: “I have planned many events at dude ranches,” he says, “and each time, the experience has been amazing. What could be better than arriving at a venue and being greeted with an abundance of beautiful scenery and the smell of home-cooked food?”
According to dude ranch expert and founder of Ranchweb Gene Kilgore, “Dude ranches are ideal venues for meetings because they reinforce solid work ethics and common-sense values. They allow participants to escape from mundane conference rooms and experience the great outdoors. The inherent laid-back nature of dude ranches makes meetings more bearable and creates an atmosphere that’s a stark, yet welcomed, contrast to the corporate world.”
Keep in mind, though, that if you’ve experienced one dude ranch, you most certainly have not experienced them all. Part of the beauty of planning at a dude ranch is that this isn’t a cookie-cutter experience. A common misconception is that each ranch has the same stuff to offer and that the only factor that differs among them is location. That might lead meeting professionals to simply book the nearest available dude ranch without looking at one that might be farther but more suited to the group’s needs. Dude ranches span a scale from down-and-dirty rustic all the way up to high-end luxury—so don’t neglect to survey all types of experiences available.
What all dude ranches do have in common, however, is the ability to take attendees out of their workaday environs and into nourishing wide-open spaces with mountain views and crisp air. And team-building opportunities at dude ranches are virtually endless. Deb Navratil, group sales rep for Flathead Lake Lodge, concurs: “A ranch provides opportunities for groups to spend more quality time together. Team-building occurs naturally through encouraging others to go on a horseback ride, toss a lariat, or to try sailing for the very first time.”
Other common camaraderie-inducing activities at ranches include cattle drives, evening cookouts, ropes courses, naturalist-led tours and singing and dancing. To add to these “classic” dude ranch preoccupations, there are new trends arising at ranches. Spring Creek Ranch, for example, has instituted a geocaching scavenger hunt. This highly entertaining cooperative activity lets teams use GPS tracking devices and maps to find “caches” (prizes, such as spa treatments and special dinners) hidden around the 1,000-acre property. Spring Creek also taps into ancient and New Age spiritual practices, like soul readings.
Many properties, such as Rancho de los Caballeros, are adding spa facilities, while others now proffer whimsical-themed activities. At M Lazy C Ranch, try calf tic-tac-toe, wherein participants sort baby cows by herding them into pens.
Kilgore is noticing one trend in particular: “While groups can still find the traditional cowboy experience, the latest trend is luxury dude ranches. These ranches offer the amenities and accommodations luxury-minded travelers have come to expect while still retaining an element of Western charm.”
Taking advantage of activity trends at dude ranches is an excellent way to plan. Tony Daly, managing director of a useful Web site called Ranch Rider, doles out other tips for planning at a ranch: Book far in advance—at least a year’s notice “gives everyone on site time to plan for your arrival and ensures everything runs smoothly.” Far-in-advance planning, he says, will also grant access to the best rates. But book when weather’s predicted to be good, since you won’t want to deal with, say, a hailstorm during a cookout. Daly also recommends that planners pay careful attention to space limitations, as they can differ dramatically from ranch to ranch.
One of the few drawbacks of planning at a dude ranch, according to Kilgore, can also be a blessing. “Planning a meeting at a dude ranch poses no greater difficulty than planning a meeting at any other venue. However, many ranches are situated in remote locations. Nevertheless, many planners find this to be a benefit because it encourages participants to attend the meetings rather than skip out in favor of shopping or sightseeing as they often do in more metropolitan locations.”
Worried about the potential lack of modernity hindering your event? Don’t be. Many ranches are technologically and organizationally well-equipped. Conference facilities do vary from ranch to ranch, but many provide adequate Internet access and audiovisual equipment.
So, how to pick the dude ranch that’s right for your group? Here are some geographically organized possibilities.
CALIFORNIA
The Old West state that’s farthest west has some spectacular dude ranch options. Though when you picture cowboys and 1800s-style livestock management, California might not be the first destination that jumps into mind (maybe Montana is more like it), the Golden State should be foremost among places to look when seeking top-notch ranch experiences and facilities. Alisal Guest Ranch proves this. It’s a 10,000-acre working dude ranch near Solvang in Santa Barbara’s wine country. Raising cattle here has been a tradition since 1843. A century later, Alisal opened to guests; since then, they’ve mastered the art of hospitality. Alisal welcomes groups of up to 200 to use their WiFi-equipped meeting space, enjoy breakfast horseback rides, tackle the ropes course or boat on their 100-acre lake. Note, though, that there are notelephones (or televisions) in guest rooms, so advise attendees to bring cell phones.
Much farther north, in Quincy, where the Sierras meet the Cascades, is 600-acre Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch. Facilities are available for workshops, team-building activities, even weddings. An on-site facilitator sees to details from customized meals to horseback riding.
Other great California dude ranches for meetings include gorgeous Circle Bar B in Goleta, north of Santa Barbara; woodsy Coffee Creek Ranch in northern California’s Trinity Alps; and Highland Ranch, a lush valley retreat in Mendocino County.
OREGON
Dude ranches in the Pacific Northwest? Sure, dude. Just look at Aspen Ridge Resort, a working cattle ranch in southern Oregon. A handcrafted pine lodge encompasses a traditional conference room and a dining room. Outdoors, buffalo and cattle graze, horseback riding trails await riders and a forest lures mountain bikers. Guests have opportunities to do real-life ranch work, whether moving cattle or checking on cows during calving season.
Historic Bar M Ranch, originally built as a stagecoach stop in 1864, is another lovely dude ranch option. Situated in the Blue Mountain foothills, about 45 minutes’ drive east from Pendleton, this 3,000-acre property is one place where horses reign supreme.
ARIZONA
It’s not surprising that the state in which the shootout at the O.K. Corral went down is still entrenched in the Old West cowboy culture; it’s got dude ranches aplenty. A few stand out for their ability to accommodate groups.
Rancho de los Caballeros in Wickenburg, about 60 miles from Phoenix, has been operating for nearly six decades. This Sonoran Desert ranch, a member of Historic Hotels of America, is ideal for meetings in a casual, intimate setting. After-work options include desert-trail horse rides, Jeep tours, hot-air ballooning, naturalist-led hikes or rounds at the golf club—not to mention hayrides, campfire cookouts, tennis and swimming. The resort also recently opened its full-service spa, so planners can treat attendees to the Home Sweet Home Milk Bath or the Aloe Leaf Massage.Exclusive buyouts can be arranged, as can themed parties and unforgettable cookouts under the stars.
Farther east in Arizona is Hidden Meadow Ranch, a getaway in Apache County’s White Mountains. Perfect for small corporate conferences, attendees stay in well-appointed log cabins and enjoy three gourmet meals each day (included in the cost of the stay). Hidden Meadow’s staff works closely with planners to schedule appropriate activities and to coordinate indoor and outdoor space befitting the gathering’s specific mission.
Another Arizona dude ranch to consider is 640-acre Tanque Verde Resort Ranch, secluded in the Rincon Mountain foothills just east of Tucson. City slickers wanting an authentic taste of the Southwest will find it at this fully functional ranch; pleasant distractions include breakfast horseback rides, horse-handling and roping lessons, guided nature walks, mountain biking and tennis. Overnight guests sleep cozily in individual casitas adorned with Southwestern art.
COLORADO
If you’re looking in Colorado, look in Grand County. The region, a 90-mile drive from Denver, is blessed with huge open spaces and so many dude ranches that they’ve formed their own association, The Dude and Guest Ranches of Grand County. The county is also home to Rocky Mountain National Park, so that breathtaking natural beauty is always close at hand.
C Lazy U Ranch is the most renowned of the county’s offerings, and has rightly earned a reputation for providing a first-class, all-inclusive experience since 1946. It’s America’s only Five-Star dude ranch; its luxury accommodations and upscale meeting spaces are complemented with elegant dining and first-name-basis service. Guests can ride along 8,000 acres of trails or in the 12,000-square-foot indoor arena. Other activities include tennis and racquetball. In winter, cross-country skiing is available, as are shuttles to nearby ski resorts. Groups of 40 or more can book the ranch exclusively.
Another ranch with unique offerings is expansive King Mountain Ranch. A tad more upscale than most, this dude ranch can accommodate 65 for a theater-style event. The King boardroom is perfect for 12 executives, and the ranch provides WiFi and all necessary computer-networking amenities. At the ranch, which is adjacent to Arapaho National Forest, guests enjoy an excellent riding program, a skeet-shooting range, a private 50-acre lake, tennis courts, an Olympic-size heated swimming pool—even an antique two-lane bowling alley!
Aspen Canyon Ranch, a 50-square-mile affair of pine forest and rushing streams, was built on an original pioneer settlement on the Williams Fork River. Groups are required to book the entire ranch, but each visitor receives personalized attention.
Latigo Ranch, in western Grand County, achieves a personal, intimate feel. Case in point: Staffers greet arriving guests with a jar of homemade caramel corn. Once everyone’s settled in, guests and horses are matched according to temperament and physique. If your event takes place in late summer, attendees can sign up to work a cattle drive.
Though 130-acre M Lazy C Ranch can only sleep about 38 (in seven cabins), it can host events for as many as 400, and the staff helps coordinate with nearby lodging facilities to accommodate more guests. Surrounded by national forest, M Lazy C offers unique ranch-style team-building opportunities amid nature. Ever tried wild cow milking? How about calf tic-tac-toe? Taken part in a cattle drive? You can try it all here.
IDAHO
The Gem State is known for its gorgeous open spaces, so the ranches here make full use of that advantage.
Western Pleasure Guest Ranch, located in the pristine Panhandle National Forest, frequently hosts groups of varying sizes (max is 150, though only 30 can be housed). Meals are country-gourmet style and staffers are eager to please. Activities include horseback rides, horse-drawn wagon or sleigh rides, evening bonfires, hiking, snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing and games of horseshoes, basketball and billiards. There’s even a covered outdoor hot tub.
Twin Peaks Ranch is another attractive Idaho option. It sleeps 50 in tidy cabins and has a good-looking dining room for 70, but it’s really the activities that sell the ranch. There’s whitewater rafting on the Salmon River, overnight trips, cattle drives, team penning, barrel racing and, of course, horseback riding.
WYOMING
Wyoming’s most famous ranch is Jackson Hole’s Spring Creek Ranch. The ultimate in dude ranch luxury, Spring Creek offers a spectacular setting for meetings: spacious conference rooms, excellent recreational activities, plus proximity to the airport and town (free shuttles are provided). Up to 300 can convene in the ballroom, while the boardroom fits 14. In summer, take your group horseback riding or rafting; in winter, try snowmobiling or skiing. Year round, go for the wildlife safaris. Other amenities include The Granary restaurant and the full-service spa. Rooming options include suites, studios and condos.
At The Hideout, another luxury ranch, corporate retreats encompass cattle herding and horsemanship classes while surrounded by Wyoming’s Shell Valley.
MONTANA
Montana, perhaps, is a ranch-goers’ dream come true. Wide open spaces and a go-with-the-flow mentality make it the nation’s quintessential dude ranch destination.
The state’s most luxurious offering is 37,000-acre Resort at Paws Up. Outdoors, sheer vastness and space greet corporate types eager to breathe in Montanan air. Indoors, groups of up to 80 meet in a variety of inspired spaces, including the tack room or the sky box at the massive equestrian center, two fine-dining restaurants or the 25-seat VIP Saddle Club suite. After work, attendees can head to the spa. Paws Up allows corporate buyouts, a major selling point for planners seeking exclusivity. The Resort is also implementing a Corporate Wellness Program intended to provide ideas for on-property team-building activities.
Another wonderful Montana venue is Triple Creek Ranch, perfect for meetings of up to 30 people (though 56 can be housed in on-property cabins). A member of both Relais & Châteaux and Virtuoso, Triple provides the utmost in customized luxury. The property’s event coordinator participates in detailed activity planning at this tranquil, all-inclusive 600-acre property in the Montana Rockies.
In northwest Montana is Flathead Lake Lodge, ideal for water-loving groups interested in lake-oriented activities. Its meeting rooms and outdoor locations work well for gatherings of up to 75.
Not far from Yellowstone Park is 320 Guest Ranch with its Western-style Brask Conference Center, an all-inclusive facility accommodating 200 attendees. Activities here include nightly bonfires, kayaking, float trips, scenic gondola rides and Yellowstone tours.
Another Yellowstone-adjacent option is Mountain Sky Guest Ranch, which hosts 70 in comfortable meeting spaces enhanced by fine-dining catering.
BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
Sure, dude ranching may seem to be an all-American tradition, but Canadians do a terrific job at it, too. Siwash Lake Ranch, in particular, is an excellent choice. A small, upscale guest ranch in B.C.’s wilderness-stocked Cariboo County, Siwash gives each group full run of the ranch. Only 12 overnight guests can stay, but exclusivity is guaranteed—and all meals and activities are included. Added pluses are that the ranch is eco-friendly and has WiFi. This is the first year it’s open to corporate groups, so get in early to be an industry trailblazer.
