Dude Ranch vacations... what to do at night? Any recommendations on where to go?

[Papa Deuce]

They are wonderful. It's family owned. It's a very nice place. Even though it's expensive, you have to keep in mind that it's pretty much all-inclusive. That makes a difference.

My one question is how quality are the lodgings? I have read numberous tripadvisor.com reports on dude ranches in general, and it seems that the #1 complaint is that the lodgings are nowhere near the expected quality.....

http://www.tanqueverderanch.com/

 

[Kirby]

Well, wherever you end up going, please do a trip report for us. I've always wanted to go to a dude ranch and never have. My kids are grown so one day maybe with the grandkids but hopefully not in the near future.

 

[padams]

We've been to Lane Guest Ranch in Estes Park, Colorado twice. It is near Rocky Mountain National Park. We had a lot of fun at LGR.

To search for ranch vacations, go to ranchweb.com. It has a search feature where you can look for specific features or locations.

 

[Dodie]

My one question is how quality are the lodgings? I have read numberous tripadvisor.com reports on dude ranches in general, and it seems that the #1 complaint is that the lodgings are nowhere near the expected quality.....

http://www.tanqueverderanch.com/

When we stayed there 4 or 5 years ago the lodgings were fine. It is a dude ranch, not a five star hotel. The point is that it's a little rustic. It was clean and comfortable. I believe they've been through a major renovation since then (they send newsletters to past guests that outline what's going on at the ranch), so I would assume they are a little bit updated. There are several different classes of rooms from which to choose too. All of the buildings are scattered around up and down the edge of a hill and the entire ranch borders a park where there is no development, just lots and lots of cacti and rocky mountains. It's beautiful.

 

[5lilfish]

It's interesting that some many girl scout troops go to Dude Ranches. I just booked Rocking Horse Ranch Resort in NY for my troop for MLK weekend. There are around-the-clock activities including scavenger hunts, magic shows, indoor pool, air hockey tournaments, bombfires, etc. every night. They also have adult -only entertainment after 9 pm. We picked here because we couldn't find a "warm-weather" date that everyone could go and this place has snow-making for a bunny hill and for tubing and snowshoeing... hope its worth the $$, my troop has been saving for three years for this four-day weekend.

We went to Rocking Horse Ranch with our kids over Columbus day Weekend. We had a blast. I would not say there were around-the-clock activities. There was so much to do during the day. The evening entertainment wasn't as plentiful (pool, pay-to-do crafts, fun house, and a very low key show/dance). BUT...I have to say, we're late night people and we were exhausted by 9-10pm. We had been so busy all day (riding, shooting bow and arrow, shooting bbguns, gem mining, the fun house, etc). Plus, the skiing/tubing will probably wear you all out even more.

Like I said, we had a blast. My 11 yr old (the only one of my kids I wasn't sure would love it) has asked us, repeatedly, if when we can go back.

Jess