If you’ve exhausted the usual travel circuit of tropical islands, amusement parks and big cities, consider spending your next vacation on a dude ranch. Also called guest ranches, dude ranches offer visitors wide-open spaces, plenty of outdoor activities and a taste of life in the Old West. But spending time on a dude ranch
doesn’t have to mean roughing it. Many ranches offer luxury accommodations and all of the comforts of home (and then some). Following are three of our favorite places to saddle up.
For those who want their Western adventure served with a heavy dose of pampering, Echo Valley Guest Ranch & Spa is the place. Located in Clinton, British Columbia, about a seven-hour drive from Bellevue, Echo Valley has two world-class spas on its
premises and a unique east-west atmosphere. The ranch is owned by Englishman Norman Dove and Nanthawon Dove from Thailand, and the “dovetailing” of their two cultures is apparent throughout—from the lodging options (guests can stay in a Baan Thai complex, the only one in North America, or more traditional cabins) to the spa services (they include a full range of classic, Thai and European treatments). Meals include both spa-style dishes and heartier fare, prepared with fresh, local ingredients by Executive Master Chef Kim Madsen, recipient of the Médaille Cordon Bleu from France.
In addition to decadent spa treatments, exotic environs and gourmet meals, Echo Valley offers all of the outdoor activities you would expect on a ranch, including hiking, river rafting, fly-fishing and horseback riding for all levels. The ranch’s 30-plus mounts are Tennessee Walking Horses, a breed known for its smooth, easy rides. Located on 160 acres in an area known as “the guest ranch capital of North America,” Echo Valley has a long history as a working cattle ranch. When the Doves bought the ranch from Bill McCormick on their first trip
to the Cariboo region in 1989, they thought it would make a perfect weekend getaway property but had no intention of getting into the guest-ranch business. With help from McCormick and a few local cowboys, they managed to keep the ranch’s 180-head cattle business running. In the 1990s, the Doves moved to the ranch full-time, built the spas and guest facilities and hung out a shingle for Echo Valley Guest Ranch & Spa.
Echo Valley is open until Oct. 31, 2007, and will also be open from Dec. 21, 2007 through Jan. 6, 2008. A variety of three-, five- and seven-day packages are available, including the Classic Package, the Riding Package, the Lifestyle Wellness Package, the Spa Package and the Honeymoon Bliss Package. Guests can also create their own packages focusing on activities ranging from birding to cooking. For more information, visit www.evranch.com.
Set against a backdrop of towering pine trees and majestic mountains, 320 Guest Ranch near Yellowstone National Park in Montana provides the warm, friendly atmosphere of a classic Western dude ranch. Guests spend their days riding horses, hiking in the woods and fishing in the Gallatin River and their nights tucking into “wild game” dinners at the Ranch Steak House & Saloon before relaxing around a bonfire. Accommodations run the gamut from sleeping rooms inside modern log buildings to a luxurious, private mountain chalet. 320 Guest Ranch’s long and interesting history dates back to 1898, when Sam Wilson homesteaded 160 acres along the Gallatin River. Two years later, Sam’s father, Clinton, claimed an adjoining 160 acres and they combined the two properties, naming the parcel Buffalo Horn Resort. In 1936, Caroline McGill, Montana’s first female doctor, purchased the ranch from the Wilson family as a retreat for her patients and friends. In 1938, she trucked in a Cadillac engine to generate power, bringing
the ranch electricity 10 years before power lines arrived in the Gallatin Valley. When McGill died in 1959, her friends the Goodrich family purchased the ranch. The Goodrichs managed the ranch until 1987, when they sold it to Dave Brask, the current owner. In the two decades since Brask bought the ranch, he has expanded its capacity from 20 guests to more than 200. The 320 Guest Ranch is a four-seasons vacation destination. Winter is one of the most popular times to visit, partly for the classic sleigh rides on a two-horse open sleigh. Visitors can also ski at nearby Big Sky Resort. For more information, visit www.320ranch.com.
For the riding enthusiast who wants to stay close to home, Rock Springs Dude Ranch in Bend offers what its experienced staff of cowboys calls a “truly unplugged vacation.” The ranch offers a wide variety of leisure activities, including tennis, fly-fishing and yoga. A focus is the acclaimed riding program, which pairs guests with a mount, a wrangler and a small group of fellow riders of a similar skill level. At night, guests get their shut-eye in knotty pine cabins decorated in a warm Western motif. The owners of Rock Springs, the Gill family, have been welcoming guests to their homestead since Donna Gill bought the property in 1969. A former teacher, Gill owned and operated two other ranch properties in Oregon (a girl’s camp on the Santiam Pass and a guest ranch in Sisters) prior to Rock Springs. Since her death in 1983, the ranch has been run by John Gill, Donna’s nephew, who serves as the
president of the national Dude Ranchers’ Association. Guests clearly appreciate Rock Springs’ friendly family atmosphere, as more than half the guests are repeat visitors. Rock Springs operates as a dude ranch in the summer and during Thanksgiving weekend, when guests gather to feast, ride and relax. The ranch is rented as a retreat and conference center during the winter, spring and fall. A great time to visit this summer is during the newly established “Bend Bounty” weeks, when local growers, cheese makers, brewers and wineries come together to create a varied culinary experience. In 2007, Bend Bounty weeks are scheduled for June 30-July 7, July 21-28 and Aug. 18-25. For more information, visit www.rocksprings.com.
When selecting a dude ranch vacation, consider whether you want luxury accommodations, spa services, a particular activity (besides horseback riding), technological access to the outside world, a children’s program, meeting space and so on. Here are some resources to help narrow your choices: The Dude Ranchers’ Association (DRA) comprises 108 ranches west of the Mississippi. The association, which celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, says it is very selective about membership: Only 30 to 60 percent of the ranches that file an application meet its standards. Each member ranch is required to complete a three-year DRA Horse Safety Certification program. DRA will help consumers select a ranch that’s right for them. Contact www.duderanch.org or 866-399-2339.
Some states have their own dude ranch association Web sites, including www.arizonaranches.com, www.coloradoranch.com, www.montanadra.com and www.wyomingdra.com. British Columbia has one too: www.bcguestranches.com.
Deluxe-tour company Abercrombie & Kent has a 55-page brochure on North American Wilderness Vacations. The
company added guest ranches to its portfolio a few years ago to “reflect the kinds of trips our clients are asking for,” says a spokesperson. A&K features ranches in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana and British Columbia. Its trips are all-inclusive (no extra charge for certain activities). Contact www.abercrombiekent.com or 800-554-7016, or call your travel agent. Online adventure travel specialist www.gorp.com also sells dude ranch vacations. Gene Kilgore is a recognized authority on dude ranches and was one of the first lifetime members of the Dude Ranchers’ Association. His Web site at www.ranchweb.com lists all types of ranches, as well as fly-fishing lodges and hunting lodges. He also writes and sells the guidebook “Gene Kilgore’s Ranch Vacations.”
