Dude ranch RV parks?

[ken56]

Anyone ever do a dude ranch RV experience? I would love to do something like this where they provide horse riding and outdoor chuck wagon cooking and was wondering if anyone has a recommendation on where to go. I haven't done a deep look into this as yet to see what is out there if anything. If you did something like this how did you like the experience?

[2112]

I stumbled across Rancho Cortez in Bandera TX that claims to have 2 FHU sites

[dedmiston]

afidel wrote:
Zion Ponderosa right outside the East entrance to Zion national park does the horses as well as ATVs, guided canyon hikes, paintball, fishing, shooting, rock climbing, etc. Not exactly a dude ranch but similar and a great experience. In addition to doing the activities onsite the wife and I took a day and went over to Bryce, hiked around and then did another horse ride with a company near the Bryce Canyon Country Rodeo.
They've got a small full hookup RV park onsite. When we stayed the sites were more expensive but it was all-inclusive, it looks like they've gone to an ala carte system with each activity being a separate fee. To my eyes it's not as good of a value but you can look at their site and make your own judgement.

My wife has a gnarly scar from when she rolled one of their ATVs. She's an expert dirt bike rider, but she'd never ridden an ATV before and it rolled on top of her. It looked like she had transmission fluid on her jeans, but I made our guide turn around and had her drop her pants. Turns out I could see her femur through the wound. Luckily the guide had a radio and was able to get us some help so we could carry her out of there to the ambulance.

It happened on a Sunday and the on-call doctor was at temple in Kanab when he got the page. He asked a few questions and then realized that the victim was a woman, so he declined to respond and went back to church instead.

So much for doing unto others.

The intern who stitched her up was pretty nervous and his sutures were horrible. 15+ years later and her leg looks like a shark bit her.

She's still a badass though. :B

EDIT: I just remembered that we still owe them a wastebasket. Even though she's a badass, she doesn't tolerate pain meds very well and she was still getting sick when we left Ponderosa. I figured we needed the waste basket worse than they did at the moment.

We stayed at Zion River Resort for a few days after that and I had to take her in to a clinic in Hurricane every day to have her drain advanced a little bit.

Memories.

[afidel]

Zion Ponderosa right outside the East entrance to Zion national park does the horses as well as ATVs, guided canyon hikes, paintball, fishing, shooting, rock climbing, etc. Not exactly a dude ranch but similar and a great experience. In addition to doing the activities onsite the wife and I took a day and went over to Bryce, hiked around and then did another horse ride with a company near the Bryce Canyon Country Rodeo.
They've got a small full hookup RV park onsite. When we stayed the sites were more expensive but it was all-inclusive, it looks like they've gone to an ala carte system with each activity being a separate fee. To my eyes it's not as good of a value but you can look at their site and make your own judgement.

[pbeverly]

Shadow57 wrote:
We usually take our horses with us when we can. Most parks & places we go don't rent horses. This is not a Dude Ranch but you can camp and rent horses.

Good horses aren't cheap and cheap horses aren't good.

We have learned that if you "rent" horses to ride it is best not to let the place know you have horses as they tend to stick you on horses that are more difficult. We are paying to have an enjoyable ride, not to help train your horses.

Love the comment "Good horses aren't cheap and cheap horses aren't good."

[Shadow57]

We usually take our horses with us when we can. Most parks & places we go don't rent horses. This is not a Dude Ranch but you can camp and rent horses.

https://www.rattlesnakesaloon.net/ in Alabama.

We did drive the motor home to Bryce Canyon and rent horses. I highly recommend Ruby's Campground (I believe they rent horses) but we used

http://www.mechamoutfitters.com/

None of these are Dude Ranch Experiences but great places to ride. Also whoever said horses are expensive, very true. Much cheaper to trail ride and camp than show. When fussing about the price always remember. Good horses aren't cheap and cheap horses aren't good. Takes a good horse for some of these trails.

I will be following this thread, and we will take our own horses. Thank you.

[donkeydew]

terry bison ranch resort just south of cheyenne,wyoming has what you are looking for or did before covid came along. have not been by there since covid
started

[valhalla360]

ken56 wrote:
The looking I've done brings up exactly what has been said here already. No real RV full hookup type Dude Ranch stays available. .....

Huh? There were 4-5 listed up thread.

The one I listed in Michigan, specifically has an RV park as part of the property.

If you are looking for a $15/n full hookup dude ranch experience, you will be disappointed. We have friends who own horses and it's not a cheap hobby, so that will translate into the price of the dude ranch.

[Horsedoc]

Not a 'dude ranch' but there is an RV park near Custer SD that has stables and livery horses. We have stayed there and found the sites a little to close. It did have FHU and you could bring your own horses. View of the Cathedral Spires there in the Hills was great. I have no idea of the trails or properties available to ride.
Is is Broken Arrow Campground and is off local rd 793 south of hiway 16 on the east side of Custer City.

I should add, I checked this morning and found they have expanded the size of the CG as well sites. Now it has cabins and 'mess hall' and meeting hall.

[Durb]

The closest we stayed to a dude ranch was a resort on the east side of Mount Hood in Oregon. The place was Indian owned and was called Kahneeta. It had a number of full hookup RV sites, but you could stay in teepees or resort lodging. Other than the two hot spring heated massive pools, Kahneeta offered horseback riding, guided kayak trips down the Warm Springs river, their own golf course,, and a small casino on the hill. Our family loved the place and we stayed once a year for 14 years running. So many memories, but not many dudes out there.

Unfortunately, Kahneeta closed due to mismanagement. The news has reported recently that some new money is being injected in an attempt to reopen. I hope so.

[ken56]

The looking I've done brings up exactly what has been said here already. No real RV full hookup type Dude Ranch stays available. They want you to rent their cabins and have facilities to park your RV while there. Most are all inclusive so It kind of goes against their business concept. I personally think that there is a niche there for this type of RVing and activity combined. Unfortunately, they don't.

[NamMedevac_70]

Sounds like a blast. Gas is already 10.00 a gallon in Cal and soon to be over $7.00 in Northern NV come July 1st 2022. Up Up and Away. Have fun.

[valhalla360]

Michigan:

https://doublejj.com/accommodations/camping/

[Old_Days]

My sister went to one up in Loveland Co. she said she had a good time cost was about $1600.00 for the week.

[padredw]

Here are just a few--I could go on. These are in our area of Texas and Arkansas. I only included ones that specifically reference RV camping as part of their identity.

Broken Heart Ranch

Circle J Guest Ranch

Twin Elm Ranch

Saddle Valley Ranch & RV Camp