#guest ranch

[johnnyslittleanimalblog]

Dusty Gallop by Spirithills

[deadmotelsusa]

Shomen’s Guest-Ranch in Tuscon, Arizona only operated from 1955 to 1957 before closing. A guest ranch is similar to a motel but instead, is a lodging site “where you get to enjoy several activities, regardless of whether they have anything to do with ranching or not. This means that guests ranches may also have other facilities that allow fun activities such as pools and tennis courts.” In 1976, a Master's student at the University of Arizona named Frank Norris wrote his entire 310 thesis on Guest Ranches in Arizona, if you're interested. 

I’m not sure what happened to this property over the next 60+ years but it’s the current home to the Miraflores Apartments.

[fieldandforest]

A SEASON AT THE SUNDANCE RANCH

By Tegan Arnold

Back when I was in New Zealand and unhappy in my job I used to spend a lot of time on the website ‘Workaway’ dreaming about all of the things I could be doing in other parts of the world. It was on one of these nights of endless scrolling through work exchange hosts that I came across a posting for a guest ranch in BC. I made up my mind to move to Canada.

The sprawling Sundance Ranch is located in the hills of Ashcroft BC and home to over 100 horses and can accommodate around 50 guests at a time. The landscape is referred to as the Canadian desert, and almost reminds me of Central Otago, but on a huge scale. There’s an extensive network of trails to explore, and the sweeping vistas of the Thompson River valley from aptly named trails such as Skyride, Top of the World and Twin Pine have kept guests returning to Sundance for 40 years now.

The riding was second to none and the horses were amazing. I was a little nervous on my first ride, but after a few gallops the western saddle felt like home. Nothing can compare to the feeling of cantering through the grass on the top of Deadhorse run, or winding through the trees of Extended Pagewire, or drinking in the view from Twin Pine as your horse rests. One of the most memorable (and freezing cold) rides was through an early season snowstorm. 

For someone who has been on the road for almost 5 months, I was surprised to see how quickly Sundance has become home for me. When you’re living like a hermit its so easy to become attached to places that you stay in for longer for 5 minutes. The people, the animals, and the ranch have quickly become my home, and as I trundle down that dusty road for the last time I know it’s going to be like leaving New Zealand all over again.

_____

Tegan is a lover of adventure, dog enthusiast, and tree hugger from little old New Zealand. When she’s not adventuring through the rugged beaches and alpine of her homeland, she’s exploring the mountains of British Columbia with camera in hand. You can find her over at commongroundnz.com or on instagram @commongroundnz

[gkar56]

Black Bear at Echo Valley Ranch by Echo Valley Ranch Via Flickr: Black "Cinnamon" bears are one of the inhabitants around Echo Valley, a luxury guest ranch. Visit us at www.evranch.com

[4x4girl]

Work. I now understand why the natives used them as sweat lodges. Making beds in these in 90+degree heat sucks ass. You literally POUR sweat. But they're still incredibly cool. And I've contemplated following @buckaroogirl s foot steps and living out of one. Except in the winter... I couldn't handle -29 plus 6 feet of snow in a tipi. Lol

[fieldandforest]

ECHO VALLEY RANCH

Nestled in a picturesque valley miles from anywhere, Echo Valley Ranch is a one-of-a-kind getaway. A unique take on guest ranching, they've woven together a blend of Eastern and Western influences — you can head out and explore the BC backcountry on horseback or relax poolside with a traditional Thai massage, then end your day with a fireside barbecue one night and a spread of authentic home-cooked curries the next. It's a fascinating juxtaposition, and somehow it just feels right.

We were invited out for a little getaway last month, and we were immediately enchanted. Read more about our trip on the blog: Field & Forest

[fieldandforest]

A DAY AT FLYING U RANCH

The Cariboo is a wild, wide open country. Bounded by rugged mountains to the east and the rushing Fraser River to the west, it is a landscape brimming with lush forests, desert canyons, and vast rolling grasslands. It's the kind of country that just seems custom-built for a horse — and sure enough, we can think of no better way to experience the Cariboo than by visiting one of its many guest ranches and heading out on horseback.

On our journey down the Gold Rush Trail we stopped in at the Flying U Ranch and were instantly smitten. Even with the rich and varied history of ranching culture in the Cariboo, the Flying U stands distinct both as the oldest guest ranch in Canada, and its unique free-to-roam unguided riding on a web of trails across 60,000 acres of aspen-lined meadows.

Read the full post on Field & Forest

[4x4girl]

Got a new horse today and everyone was very eager to meet her 👍🏻😆🐎