There are not words. How I got so lucky to find that one particular dude ranch??? Mickey Mouse helped. I did lots of research but boy did I get it right. Once I narrowed it down to ten ranches that met what I wanted, I noticed Elk Mountain was in Buena Vista, Colorado. I knew Mickey sent me a sign.
Elk Mountain Ranch taught me what good guest service is all about. I learned a lot. Honestly, if anybody here wants to experience unbelievable scenery, the best horses west of the Mississippi, unbelievable guest service, fantastic food, great white water rafting, shooting, archery, volleyball, picnics (half way through your ride), super cabins and an unbelievable child's program, you MUST book a week at Elk Mountain Dude Ranch in Buena Vista, Colorado. I thought I knew good guest service. They put Disney to shame. The owners, Sue and Tom, are amazing people and the people they hire could all teach Disney guest service! After spending the first evening getting to know you, they match you to the perfect horse. They never missed one out of the 24 people there our week.
The children all cried when they left Sunday. I cried too. The wranglers all cried with relief when Jeanne left. They had their hands full with her. She showed them a thing or two playing volleyball, softball, etc. And she taught them all Texas Hold Em. I decided the white water rafting (which can be pretty wild in May and June) might hurt my back so I decided to stay back and take a nice trail ride with one of the wranglers. Jeanne had a ball. So many firsts. We found out she has quite a talent at shooting, fishing and archery too and square dancing will soon be taught at her school. She had so much fun. But you can sit back and do nothing too if you want.
My only regret was I wished I had done it when I was a tad younger and in better shape.
I strongly suggest anybody that goes need to go talk to their family doctor about two weeks before. Thank goodness for my family doctor. She did a dude ranch a few years ago and saw what that super high altitude can do. She gave me a prescription that I started every day for a week before I went and then every day while there. Jeanne's doctor also gave her the same prescription. And we saw what that high altitude can do first hand. Jeanne and I were the only ones on the prescription and also the only people there that didn't lose at least one day to headaches and stomach problems. The side effects are funny though. Our hands and feel would tingle once in a while and anything you drank that was carbonated tasted very strange. The prescription did not help the fact that walking ten feet make you huff and puff. Kids didn't seem to be bothered but the rest of us were really funny. We'd walk from the cabins to dinner and all be out of breath.
I never in my life thought I'd ever say a place could out do Disney with guest service. Elk Mountain in Colorado (there is one in some other state too so don't get them mixed up) just blew my socks off!
Dee will post more pictures when Jeanne downloads the ones from her camera. The others were from her phone. The pictures won't do the ranch justice or the scenery. I highly recommend this place for anybody, ages 5 and up. There were younger children there our week but I personally would say age 5 and up. And honestly even if you are my age and never been on a horse, do it!!!! The third day a bunch of us didn't want quite as long a trail ride as was planned and told Tom and Sue. No problem, they rearranged the group and made ones of varying lengths of time. They will do anything for you ... obviously as long as it is safe. The terrain is wild. Once in a while they get people who want to gallop up and down mountains that are covered with rock (I don't know how the horses do it walking). You are always with fantastic wranglers and you are always safe!!!
If anybody has any questions about it, please PM me since this isn't Y&B business. Jeanne said as we were leaving, "I don't care if I have to save for this for ten years, I'm bringing Princess Lily here when she's old enough!!!!!" That pretty much says it all. I'd go again in a second!!!!!!
She was 61 years young.... My girls and I are trying to keep Dad company as much as possible and my 9 year old hopes that in the coming years, we can bring him with us to the Beach Club (he's only ever stayed at Ft. Wilderness in the cabins when we were kids...)
to the awesome people who helped convince me this was the right resort and I can't wait to book our next stay!
to the DIS and this thread!
