You never know what you will see in a dude ranch
Horseback riding and nature are the main attraction of a dude ranch.
Did you know
Dude ranches have been around since the late 1800’s and have been a popular vacation destination for over a 100 years . Also known as guest ranches these locations offer incredibly beautiful nature scenery with unparalleled horseback riding experiences. For the horse lover there is no better vacation then a dude ranch. So, what is a dude ranch and how did they start? The romanticization of the American Wild West started to occur in the late 19th century when historian Frederick Jackson Turner stated that the American frontier was demographically “closed”. People started to have feelings of nostalgia for the bygone days of the true western frontier. The horse pulled trail wagons, stagecoaches traveling across the desert were all becoming things of the past. Fortunately the ranches that occupied many of these pristine and sparsely populated locations still survived. Many started opening their ranches to friends and family for quiet holiday stays which eventually changed to charging a fee for room and board of short term stays. While guest ranches were around in the 1800’s it was not until 1917 that the first official dude ranch was opened near Denver Colorado named Never Summer Ranch. Owned by German immigrants Sophia and John Holzwarth, they had to close their saloon in Denver due to the Prohibition and began opening their ranch to friends and eventually paying guests from the city at their “Holzwarth Trout Lodge”. Guests started frequenting this isolated and peaceful location to get away from the hustle and bustle of Denver. The true western experience however lied in the frontier lands known as the badlands that comprised many of the western states such as Wyoming and Arizona. Now that the risks of the true frontier were gone people felt they could explore this part of the country in relative safety. Back in the day of the lawless Wild West visitors from the east where often referred to as “tenderfoot” and “greenhorn” by the local westerners. These greenhorn’s now felt they could finally venture out on to these forbidden lands as more and more ranches began to offer family friendly accommodations for a small fee. Eventually the ranchers started calling these visitors from the east “dudes” and the term “dude ranch” was coined and has remained ever since. While the term "dudes" may connote a male clientele it is actually quite the opposite, more then 55% of dude ranch visitors are women. Do they come to see the handsome wranglers in their stunning hats and rugged chaps? Possibly, but more likely they come to experience the peacefulness of the unspoiled landscape and the unparalleled horseback riding opportunities that these ranches provide. These sprawling locations often have hundreds of acres of land to ride on and usually border thousands of acres of Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This symbiotic relationship between the ranchers and the federal government has provided for thousands of acres of pristine land that are explored in the most natural fashion possible by the ranch guests. We can thank famous figures like Theodore Roosevelt for the rise in popularity of dude ranches as he often vacationed on these ranches showing off his eccentric exploits and adventures that were so well documented for all to see. The popularity of Western movies helped increase this popular interest in the west and dude ranches began to flourish. In 1926 the Dude Ranchers' Association was founded in Cody, Wyoming to represent the needs of this rapidly growing industry. To be classified as an authentic dude ranch it must be located west of the Mississippi River. Anything East of the river is not officially a dude ranch although these eastern locations will often use the term loosely, they are not however recognized by the Dude Ranchers' association.I did not know
What da ya know
Type of dude ranch guest lodging
A Tenderfoot, a Greenhorn.
That a dude ranch and a guest ranch are synonymous with one another
Dude ranches are now a premier family vacation destination offering wholesome fun for kids and adults alike. The true dude ranch experience centers around horseback riding where people from all skill levels can enjoy this primary mode of transportation of the Old West. Most visitors to an authentic dude ranches will notice that TV’s are sparse, the internet is remote at best and connections to the outside world are limited. The resulting effect is the reemergence of family bonds as they engage in grassroots fun for all to partake in. If you are a fan of the old westerns then dude ranches in Arizona offer the most authentic cowboy experience. The cactus riddled landscape, limitless desert views and hot summer days reminisce of an old western movie full of cowboys and Indians. Ranches like Stagecoach Trails Guest Ranch and Rancho de la Osa offer some of the more authentic Arizona dude ranch experiences. These ranches are set up like small Western towns right in the middle of the Mohave and Sonoran desert. They offer unlimited cactus views and true wild west riding experiences. Stagecoach Trails Guest Ranch is located right in on the Stagecoach Trails at Santa Fe historic stagecoach route. This route served the gold mining town of Signal just west of the ranch and was often the scene of many a stagecoach hold up in true western tradition . Stagecoach Trails Ranch even has a real stagecoach and many reminisce of the old Stagecoach robberies of the wild west as one looks over the beautiful sunsets behind the Mohave mountains. Rancho De La Osa Guest Ranch is located at the southern tip of Arizona bordering Mexico. This beautiful ranch is one of the great Spanish Haciendas still standing today. Its history has been preserved in the beautiful Mexican style buildings in the middle of the Sonoran desert. Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt once vacationed at this ranch and one truly feels like they have been sent back in time when visiting this ranch.
Over 55% of dude ranch visitors are women.
The vacation of a lifetime
Of course Arizona is not the only place west of the Mississippi where one can enjoy a dude ranch. States like Colorado and Wyoming offer dense forested landscape scenery for guests riding enjoyment. Elk Mountain Ranch is a prime example of a mountain ranch located in the heart of the Rockies and San Isabel National Forest. Two hours from Denver Colorado this ranch offers nice horseback riding in the majestic pine forests of the Elk Mountains. One may not feel like being back in the bygone days of the Old West but one will surely stand in awe at the majestic mountains that surround this beautiful ranch.