Bill and Barbara Murray were hoping to pay for their vacation as they panned for gold. For Phyllis and Daniel Cole, the goal was to improve their kitchen skills so they could take turns preparing meals at home. Friends Betty Price and Martha Taylor had a more relaxing experience in mind. They enjoyed soaking in a hot tub after which they spent time in a soothing sauna.
These disparate experiences shared one common—and in ways surprising—factor: Rather than taking place at a luxury hotel or resort destination, these folks were enjoying a stay at a dude ranch.
When used with “ranch,” the word “dude” has nothing to do with people today who refer to each other that way. In the 19th century, many Westerners used “dude” to describe well-to-do Easterners who wanted to experience life on the frontier without facing the hard work real cowboys do.
While the main focus at dude ranches continues to be on horses, including riding, grooming, learning about, and loving them, some locations also offer a surprising variety of other activities and attractions. For that reason, some today are referred to as guest ranches.
For example, the Diamond D Ranch in Idaho, where the Murrays were hoping to strike it rich, is much more than that name conjures up. From archery to arts and crafts, swimming to stand-up paddleboarding, the list of choices is long and diverse. The Coles were getting lessons at the Tennessee International Dude and Guest Ranch in Dunlap about the way cooking was done in the 1800s. That included rolling oats and grinding grains. Their children loved collecting eggs from the chickens for the morning breakfast.
Price and Taylor were being rejuvenated at the Majestic Dude Ranch in Colorado. They wanted some R&R after a day of challenging mountain biking and playing spirited games of laser tag and paintball. The complete list of possible entertainments is much longer and more wide-ranging.
Given their rural locations, activities such as hiking and birdwatching are to be expected. Observing our feathered friends can be spectacular at some locations, like the Elkhorn Ranch in Tucson, Arizona. High-flyers that winter in the area are numerous and colorful. A number of ranches offer facilities and activities that make up an alphabet-long list of choices. They range from archery and biking to steering utility and all-terrain vehicles over challenging off-road tracks.
Fishing is a favorite pastime, lake and pool swimming are popular, and whitewater rafting offers thrills at ranches. Some are near bodies of water that range from ponds to large lakes offer canoeing, kayaking, and sailing. Given their history and locations, shooting is an alternative at several ranches. At the Circle Bar Guest Ranch in Hobson, Montana, that means aiming at clay pigeons and targets. At the Rancho de los Caballeros in Wickenburg, Arizona, guests can try their hand at trap and skeet shooting.
Surprises abound. Tennis, anyone? That’s possible for those staying at Averill’s Flathead Lake Ranch in Bigfork, Montana. Yearning for yoga? Check out Allen’s Diamond 4 Ranch in the Wind River Mountain Range of Wyoming and Rancho de los Caballeros. Hooked on history? The original homestead house at the Kay El Bar Ranch in Arizona was built in 1914, and the large adobe lodge was erected 12 years later. The ranch is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
For those so inclined, Allen’s Diamond 4 Ranch offers opportunities to learn and hone backcountry and wilderness survival skills. The Horseshoe Canyon Ranch in Jasper, Arkansas, is home to the “Iron Horse,” the highest, longest, and fastest zip-line in Arkansas. Those brave enough to try it drop nearly a half-mile at speeds over 50 miles per hour.
Much less strenuous but equally enjoyable in a different way are demonstrations of falconry at the Kay L Bar and Circle Bar Guest Ranches. Licensed falconer Kyle Hodges offers falcon training and flight demonstrations for those interested in watching those magnificent birds go through their paces.
Off-site possibilities are also close to a number of ranches. Guests at the Rancho de la Osa can explore nearby ruins left by Native Americans who lived long ago in what became Arizona and get a look at the U.S.–Mexico border. Not far away is the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, a sanctuary for threatened and endangered species that some 325 kinds of birds also find to their liking. Golfers staying at Averill’s Flathead Lake Ranch can play at a nearby course, and sightseeing flights are available to those who wish to view the Montana landscape from above.
