Ever wanted to live the life of a cowboy? The cool, fresh mountain air, the open spaces, the feel of a steady horse beneath you as you top the next rise...
Resort-style dude ranches in the USA specialise in offering entertaining holidays for ‘city slickers’ or ‘dudes’, including a variety of riding activities, cattle drives, rodeos, hiking, mountain biking, cowboy picnics, river rafting, evening western dancing – and a hot spa as the sun goes down.
With riding clearly the most important activity on a dude ranch, novice riders need not worry as only an interest in horses is important to fit in. Riding instruction is offered and guests are matched to a horse appropriate to their riding ability in order to make the riding experience safe and fun.
Dude ranches began as a response to the romanticisation of the American West that began to occur in the late 19th century. Nostalgia for bygone days led ‘greenhorn’ westerners to seek out a frontier experience for a short period of time without needing to risk life and limb.
Luxury dude ranches offer rustic elegance with private log cabins, picturesque scenery, activities, wildlife and contemporary cuisine. Rates include accommodation, services, meals and all ranch activities and generally range from US140 – 400 per night.
Print Page