Live the American Dream Vacation at the West’s Best Dude Ranches

At the more than 100 dude ranches that make up The Dude Ranchers’ Association, guests are sure to find the All-American Western vacation they have been dreaming of—days spent in the saddle, enjoying stunning scenery and breathing fresh country air, and evenings enjoying tasty down-home cooking and ranch entertainment. Today, as it did over a century ago, the western dude ranch experience offers relief for both the body and spirit of those seeking refuge from the pressures and routine of modern life.

Dude ranch vacations are based on a lifestyle that stretches back more than a century. By the end of the 1800s, most of the American West had been explored and the stories of its natural wonders had spread throughout the Eastern portion of the country as well as Europe. Lured by the promise of awesome beauty, a spirit of romance and adventure, and the honest simplicity of the western way of life, travelers headed west in search of a respite from the crowded, noisy squalor of fast-paced cities.

Most dude ranch guests are looking for that same experience today—a chance to rejuvenate their souls and refresh their spirits. And with the impressive array of activities found at these dude ranches, everyone—Mom, Dad, kids, grandparents, couples or singles—can find something that interests them.

Dude ranches are ideal places for kids and families to re-discover each other. Without the typical distractions of TV, phones, computers and electronic games, families spend time together, riding, hiking, playing games or simply talking. And while dude ranches are a popular destination for families, couples, singles and groups of all types love this unique traveling option as well. Most ranches offer a wide variety of activities such as horseback riding, fly fishing, river rafting, swimming pools, children’s programs, cattle drives, cookouts, line dancing and plain relaxing on the porch swing, so everyone in a group is sure to find something that appeals to them. And since the cooking, cleaning and planning is all taken care of, everyone enjoys a true vacation.

Since 1926 The Dude Ranchers' Association has been helping folks find quality ranch vacations by establishing and enforcing high standards for its members. Dude ranches applying for membership go through a rigorous two-year inspection and approval process, including a close review of their application, a review of references from former guests, an appearance before the board of directors and on-site inspections during actual dude ranch operations. Typically, only 70% of the ranches that apply meet the high standards of the Association. When guests book a vacation at a Dude Ranchers' Association member ranch, they can be assured that it is actually a ranch and not just a hotel with horses.

The Dude Ranchers’ Association's original membership of 35 ranches from the Yellowstone area has now grown to 100-plus member ranches in 13 western states and 2 Canadian provinces. In spite of this growth, the Association today remains dedicated to preserving the beauty, natural resources, and the original western ranch experiences that attracted the first visitors.

Now is the time to take advantage of shoulder-season discounts. For more information about the unique experience of a dude ranch vacation or to request a brochure, call 1-866-399-2339 or visit www.duderanch.org.

Guest Testimonial of the Week

Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch
We've just returned from the trip of a lifetime at Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch in New Mexico. The horses, meals, trail rides and after dinner activities were more wonderful than we could have imagined. The Esterly family are warm, wonderful people who have worked very hard to make you not want to leave. This is not a dude ranch - it's a "trip back in time" to wonderful rides over breathtaking scenery all day and delicious meals and fun around the campfire at night. You won't find any better ranch to visit. 5 Stars to Geronimo Trail. Bill & Barb Jordan - Westerville,OH

Escape to the Southwest This Winter!

The Farmers Almanac predicts this winter will be “especially harsh” in the Northern climes. That forecast, along with expectations of a continuing economic recovery make it advisable to firm up travel plans now. Reserve a spot to escape the coming freeze, somewhere perhaps like the sun drenched deserts of Arizona or the warm, enchanting lands of New Mexico.

The American Southwest is one of the sunniest spots in the country. It’s also the locale of numerous Western dude ranches, 12 of them proud members of The Dude Ranchers’ Association. The organization has kept the standards for the industry high since its inception in 1926. A reservation at a ”DRA” member ranch comes with the guarantee of an authentic, quality, experience. Keeping travelers’ budget, preferred activities, and desired level of service in mind, DRA staffers steer vacationers to ranches best suited for them.

Plenty of Southwest dude ranches offer the same resort-like amenities and services of other popular “snowbird” destinations. What guests won’t find are added charges or daily resort fees. Instead, dude Ranches operate on the American plan. Lodging, activities and delicious, hearty meals are included in one “no-hassle” rate, a guarantee touted by Arizona’s Grapevine Canyon Ranch for their 2010 rates. It’s an upfront, straightforward policy, packaging accommodations, riding, all meals, even taxes and gratuities in one rate. Rates vary by season, with some of the lowest rates in January and February. The no-hassle rate starts at just $178 per person per day. Once the land of Dragoons and Apaches, there are still remnants of primitive Indian villages on ranch property and wild grapevines still flourish in the canyon. Located between Tucson and Tombstone, the working ranch provides ultimate immersion into the Cowboy life of the Old West with the exception of lodging and meals. No bunkhouses and beans for “Grapevine guests. Instead, guests retreat to cool, private casitas and feast on homemade meals made from “scratch.

In Southwest New Mexico’s pristine Gila National Forest, guests of Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch escape the cold and the frantic pace of modern society. Eighty-five miles from the nearest stoplight, solitude is the ranch mantra. The ranch accommodates only 15 guests at a time. Riding the trails, visitors may glimpse elk, wild turkey, even a mountain lion but rarely other people. Not a resort type guest ranch, visitors may add a spa experience at the Sierra Grande Lodge and Spa in nearby Truth or Consequences. Here, ranch guests are offered a 10% discount off all services. And many do choose to soak for a day or two in the spa’s geothermal, natural springs.

Ranches more like resorts are found near Tucson. Both the White Stallion Ranch and Tanque Verde Ranch, come with luxurious pools, spas, and tennis courts. The White Stallion offers a full calendar of special events -horse and riding seminars, cowgirl camps, and packages co-sponsored by Elderhostel. At the Tanque Verde there are special pack trips through December and a mountain bike adventure for serious pedalers.

Can’t get much further south in Arizona than DRA dude ranch resort, The Circle Z Ranch, straddling the border, minutes from Mexico. The ranch is recognized worldwide as a prime destination for “birders.” In the nearby Patagonia-Sonoita Nature Reserve, riders often glimpse vermillion fly catchers and other rare birds. First class amenities include an all-weather tennis court and heated pool. Colorful adobe cottages and meals served on the lodge patio entertain guests with panoramic views of the mountains and desert.

Covered Wagon Ranch

Guest Testimonial of the Week

My family has been coming to the Flying A since 1997...in all, we've spent at least 14 weeks with Deb and Keith (more than once we've visited two weeks in one year!) They have a fantastic herd of horses and they always pick the perfect horse for every guest. The remote location is part of the charm as we like to get away from the world and enjoy the fresh air and camaraderie that develops as a result of the small number of guests. The wranglers, led by Marcus, are very knowledgeable and safety-conscious and will take you on trails during the week that will take your breath away. You won't see the same trail twice (unless, like us, you have favorite trails and request a repeat visit!) Moose, elk, mule deer, sandhill cranes, antelope, bald eagles and more await you and your camera. Sunsets, rainbows and more stars than you can imagine await you! The weather is perfect for riding...cool at night and pleasant during the day. If you go in June, you'll see the babies as they are born and in September, the changing colors of the leaves on the aspens are amazing. The terrain varies and you can see open vistas, mountains, lakes with the reflection of the clouds and the grazing horses and wooded areas...it just depends on where you go. There are all-day rides with a picnic lunch or half-day rides with amazing luncheons in the lodge. If you don't ride, then the hiking and fly fishing should keep you busy. After dinner, there are activities like horseshoes, poker, darts, movies, games or...since you've had a busy day and tomorrow brings more of the same...a comfortable bed and a good book. Or, you could spend a few minutes and download the photos that you took during the day and share them with your friends and family!! Overall, this is a most relaxing vacation and we can't recommend it more highly...adventure during the day and luxury in the evening....a perfect combination. Montclair, NJ

12th Annual Home Ranch Canadian Sport Horse Sale

12th Annual Home Ranch Canadian Sport Horse Sale will be held September 19, 2009 at the Home Ranch in Clark, Colorado. There will be 30 Weanlings At Auction!

Please contact Johnny Fisher for more information! Visit www.homeranch.com or call 970-879-1780

Top 5 Kid Friendly US Destinations

Just found this article posted on the Southern California Travel Blog and thought I would share it with you!

Top 5 Kid Friendly US Destinations

Guest Testimonial of the Week

Folks email the DRA office daily looking for their next dude ranch vacation...and occasionally they write back to "thank us" for a great experience.

Thank you very much for your directory and help in assisting me with selecting a great dude ranch for August 2009. We returned this past Sunday from the Vee Bar Guest Ranch near Laramie, WY and had a wonderful time! It was my first dude ranch experience and found Wyoming to be a beautiful state. I have passed along your website to numerous employees and friends letting them know how easy it was to narrow down our search with your directory and how helpful you were. Thank you again and I hope to return to the Vee Bar next year. The Cole family and staff made my sister and I feel very welcomed and comfortable. Elaine from PA!

The 84th Annual Dude Ranchers' Convention

The Dude Ranchers' Association 84th Annual Convention will be held at the Crowne Plaza in Billings, Montana February 2nd - 6th, 2010.

Convention Highlights!

Largest attended DRA Event of the Year. This year registration is on Tuesday, with the event ending Saturday morning, leaving all attendees time to travel home for Super Bowl Sunday!!! This 3 day event will include the following activities:

Build lasting relationships with all DRA Members!
Casino Night
Seminars & Round-Table Discussions
Marketing Tips & Trends
State of the Association Address
Horse Safety Courses
The BS Show & More Entertainment
20+ Vendors
Food, Family, Friends & FUN!
Annual Educational Trust Banquet & Auction
Call the DRA Office at (866) 399-2339 For Registration and for more Information

The 63 Ranch Video

New Release of "The Bar BC Chronicle"

“Conversations in building a real western experience”

An oral history of the Bar BC Ranch Jackson Hole Wyoming

By Renee Howard Smelker

To Purchase a copy please contact Casey Morton  (307) 733-0466 or email
amorton@bresnan.net

Here is the Book's Forward...

Against the stunning backdrop of the Teton Range, the story of dude ranching in Jackson Hole unfolds. Dudes came from outside the West and sought to hire accommodations, horses, and guiding and hunting services from local ranchers. Early visitors were often attracted to this remote country through Hollywood westerns, dime novels, and advertisements by railroads that fostered a sense of romance about this part of America. They visited the West seeking adventure, their notion of the Wild West, and a glimpse of that romantic American hero, the cowboy.

In Jackson Hole, dude ranching began in early years of the twentieth century. One of the most famous and beloved dude ranches was the Bar BC. It was founded in 1912 by Struthers Burt and Dr. Horace Carncross, both easterners and pioneers in the dude business. The location of the Bar BC was ideal. It was near the Snake River which provided water and excellent fishing. It was nestled below a bench beneath the Grand Teton which provided privacy for the ranch but rewarded its dudes with spectacular views of the Teton Range. Untouched lands and wild animals surrounded the ranch.

Burt and Carncross ran a successful and popular dude ranch. The Bar BC offered its guests an informal lifestyle and a family atmosphere. Dress was casual. Dudes favored horseback-riding, pack trips, hunting, and fishing. They enjoyed dances and dude rodeos. By the late 1920s, the heyday of dude ranching, the Bar BC was the best known dude ranch in Jackson Hole.

The later years of the Bar BC were directed by Irving Corse and Bill Howard. In 1937, Burt sold his interest in the Bar BC to then partner Irv Corse in order to devote himself to writing. Corse had come to the ranch as a truck driver in the early 1920s, and eventually became the foreman and then a partner in the ranch. Howard began work as a wrangler at the Bar BC in 1922 and became the foreman seven years later.

Letters between Irving Corse and Bill Howard tell the story of the Bar BC in the years after Burt and Dr. Carncross operated the ranch, spanning the time from 1929, after Carncross’ death, to 1942, when Howard left the ranch. They were compiled by Bill Howard’s daughter, Renee Howard Smelker, who spent most of her youth at the Bar BC Ranch where both of her parents worked for about 20 years. Smelker’s notes, drawn from her memory, supplement the letters and provide local color.

Interestingly the letters provide a glimpse into the operations side of a dude ranch rather than the fun and romance of the dude’s life. Through the years of correspondence chronicled in the book, a picture of the routines and concerns of maintaining a dude ranch, which also ran a cattle operation on the side, becomes clear. A sense of the challenges of work in the isolated and harsh environment of Jackson Hole and in a changing economy emerges, as does a feel for life in the valley and the importance of neighbors and friends. The tale is all the more compelling because it is told by the people who lived it.

The Bar BC Ranch holds a special place in the hearts of many who have lived in or visited Jackson Hole. Because of the work of Struthers Burt, the ranch is one of the most historically significant dude ranches in the valley. Unfortunately it lies in ruins today. Through the correspondence presented in this work, the later history of the ranch is captured in print, providing an engaging story for those wanting a taste of Jackson Hole’s past.

Lokey Lytjen
Executive Director
Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum

Saying Goodbye...

The Dude Ranch Industry has lost two of their “pioneers” this last month, DRA Hall of Famers, Leo Hargrave of Hargrave Land and Cattle Guest Ranch and Nancy Ferguson of Eaton’s Ranch. They truly helped make the industry what it is today. Please take a moment to tip your hat to these two great dude ranchers’ I know they will be missed by all..

Nancy Ferguson
Nancy Eaton Ferguson, 88, of Wolf, passed away at her residence on July 21, 2009. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be at Eatons’ Ranch at a later date. Born Feb. 28, 1921, in Sheridan to William and Patty (Alderson) Eaton, she attended Sheridan schools and was a graduate of Sheridan High School. She married Tommy Ferguson at Eatons’ Ranch on Sept. 5, 1942. She was the Sheridan Rodeo Queen in 1939, served on the Wolf Creek School Board, the Hospital Auxiliary Board, and was a member of the National Society of Colonial Dames of America in Wyoming, the Book Review Club, and was Lady President of the Dude Ranchers’ Association. She was preceded in death by her husband; a brother, Billy Eaton; and a daughter, Judy Ferguson. Survivors include her children, Susan Van Allen, Patty Kaufmann, William Ferguson, and Thomas J. Ferguson, Jr.; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Memorials may benefit the Nancy Eaton Ferguson Sheridan WYO Rodeo Scholarship Fund, c/o First Interstate Bank, PO Box 2007, Sheridan, WY 82801.
The service  will be held on September 19 at the ranch at 4:00 p.m. and we will have a cocktail reception immediately following.

Leo Hargrave:
Charles Leo Hargrave, 87, died Saturday, July 11, 2009, at his home in Laclede, Kansas. Leo was a man of many talents honed from a humble upbringing during the Great Depression and WW II.
Leo married Ellen White of Laclede, KS, June 10, 1978. He built their Charolais operation and surrounding lease lands to the point that he was recognized as a model of sustainable environmental grazing practices. The couple simultaneously built a dude business on the cattle ranch. Guests from around the world joined them for the next 20 years in Living the Legend of a Montana cowboy. Leo spent 6 years helping to guide the Dude Ranchers’ Association as a board member and was honored with induction to the DRA Hall of Fame in 2007.