Experience the Wild West by Staying at a Dude Ranch
The Ranch at Rock Creek – Philipsburg, MT
If you’d like to experience a taste of the quintessential American West without giving up any of your creature comforts, check out The Ranch at Rock Creek. It offers an all-inclusive, luxury dude ranch experience tucked away at the base of the John Long Mountains. One of the poshest ranches on our list, this ranch is the first Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star ranch in the world, and is also a member of the National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World collection.
Historically, the ranch was a working ranch, but today it is purely a high-end vacation destination. The ranch truly offers a one-of-a-kind experience with luxury accommodations, a long list of amenities, gourmet cuisine and more than 20 guided activities spread over the ranch’s 6,600 acres. Rooms range from one-room suites all the way up to a spacious five-bedroom log home perfect for getting the whole family together in style.
The ranch is open year-round with Western activities available throughout every season. If you are looking for fishing, you’ll be in awe of the namesake Rock Creek that winds through the ranch; it’s one of just a few Blue Ribbon-designated fisheries in the world. If you are traveling with kids, they won’t be left out of the fun. The Little Grizzlies Kids Club provides a whole host of special activities for kids ages 4 to 12.
Dixie Dude Ranch – Bandera, Texas
Dixie Dude Ranch has been a favorite vacation destination for Texas families and visitors from around the world for more than 75 years. The ranch offers an opportunity to step away from everyday life and experience authentic daily life on an old-time working stock ranch.
The ranch raises longhorn cattle, pigs and Spanish goats, and visitors will get a chance to get their hands dirty and participate in daily ranch operations. You won’t have a chance to be bored during your Dixie Dude Ranch vacation with a selection of planned activities available such as horseback riding, fishing, swimming, hiking, campfires, dancing and other Western fun. The ranch grounds also have sports and game courts.
If you need some downtime, the resort also has licensed massage therapists on staff ready to help you relax and recover from a day of working on the ranch. All of these unique experiences are set against the backdrop of the beautiful Texas Hill Country: scenery you’ll not soon forget.
Regardless of whether you are going out for the afternoon or multiple days, there are certain pieces of hiking gear you need to keep in your pack.
Cibolo Creek Ranch – Cibolo, Texas
Cibolo Creek Ranch is billed as one of the oldest ranches in Texas where you’ll find a melding of history, art and Western experience. Whether you want to visit for a weekend getaway in Texas or longer, you can pick the length of time that works best for you.
Each day you’ll spend time exploring the ranch’s 30,000 acres. The property offers a long list of activities led by their highly trained ranch hands such as touring the grounds on foot or by ATV, viewing Native American rock art, and exploring the property’s three historic forts. You can also brush up on your shooting skills and then take a hunting excursion nearby.
Come together at the end of the day for a meal that is usually served at a long table in the ranch’s dining room. It’s perfect for encouraging a sense of togetherness during your vacation. This isn’t the sort of ranch that offers the chance to work, but if you simply want to get out and enjoy the beautiful outdoors with your family or partner and make memories together, then this could be the right fit for you.
