The Dude Ranchers’ Association's original membership of 35 ranches from the Yellowstone area has now grown to 100-plus member ranches in 12 western states and 2 Canadian provinces.
Click here to search for ranches by state or province.
In spite of this growth, the Association remains dedicated to preserving the beauty, natural resources, and the original western ranch experiences that attracted the first visitors. Within this context, the Association has produced industry standards, a common means for promoting dude ranch vacations, and a single source for the exchange of ideas and information.
True to its roots, The Dude Ranchers' Association is still a diverse group, composed of cattle ranches who accept paying guests and mountain-top lodges that offer a ranch atmosphere. All preserve the open warmth and hospitality of the first ranches and allow for an authentic ranch experience by requiring a stay of at least three nights.
The formation of lasting bonds and memories still brings families back to ranches generation after generation. This is truly a living testimony to the timelessness of the values and standards of the original dude ranchers. 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.
Check out guest testimonials on the DRA’s blog, “Just DUDE It”.
The most important activity on a dude ranch is horseback riding. First time riders, intermediate riders and those who have ridden all their life will find a variety of riding activities to choose from. Anyone with an interest in horses and riding will fit right in, so don’t be concerned about your riding experience.
If you’re a beginner:
·All DRA ranches offer riding instruction
·Riders are matched to the appropriate horse
·Guests will be given all the necessary instructions for riding
Dude ranches want to make riding is safe, comfortable and fun.
Often, the ranch location dictates the type of riding activities offered; overnight pack trips, hunting trips, all-day rides, breakfast or lunch rides cattle drives, team penning, cutting, guest rodeos, gymkhanas, nature rides, mountain rides, as well as a variety of daily trail rides.
Click here to search the ranches for specific riding programs.
Fun for the Buckaroos
Many ranches offer a structured children’s program staffed by counselors. Other ranches offer unsupervised activities that children can do with friends, parents or siblings. Consider the appropriate level of supervision to make the most of your vacation.
Other Activities
There is an activity for everyone at dude ranches. For those not riding, the range of activities may include; hiking, nature walks, bird watching, petting zoos, mountain biking, river rafting, swimming pools, hot tubs, exercise rooms, massage services, pool tables, card games, indoor recreation rooms, hay rides, western dancing, campfires, cookouts, tennis, volleyball, basketball, softball, fishing (there are Orvis approved programs), canoeing, rock climbing, skeet shooting, archery, art classes, cooking classes, and many have nearby golf, historic sites and national parks.
The Art of Relaxation
Another activity that is paramount to the dude ranch experience is the “art of relaxation.” When you find yourself surrounded by natural beauty, slow down, breathe deeply and appreciate it. Dude ranches are located in the most pristine wilderness areas in America. Watch a sunset, wait for the cattle to come to water, go bird-watching, take a walk through the wildflowers, nap in a hammock, listen to the livestock, read a good book or just sit quietly and let your mind wander. Blue skies, clean, fresh air, starry nights and the sounds of silence are all included in your dude ranch vacation. In fact, many of the dude ranches are located near a National Park. Click here to see which ranches are closest to America’s preserved land.
The Dude Ranchers' Association has been preserving western ranch vacations by establishing and maintaining strict standards, while protecting the land and wildlife for over 80 years.When you book your vacation at a member ranch, you can be assured of genuine, western hospitality combined with the lodging industry’s latest standards.
The Dude Rancher’s Association is the governing body of the West’s Dude Ranch industry. Created in 1926, the DRA provides an organized structure for members to exchange ideas and experiences in an effort to uphold the highest quality of services within the industry. The Association promotes the western ranch vacation, while continuing to build a strong working relationship with Federal and State land agencies in order to preserve and protect parks, forests and wildlife.
Membership in the Association is not automatic. Dude ranches applying for membership go through a rigorous two year inspection and approval process. It includes:
·An application fee
·A detailed written application
·References from former guests
·An appearance before the board of directors
·On-site inspections during operations. (These inspections focus on safety, livestock management and hospitality industry standards for all aspects of the ranch.)
Only about 50% of the ranches that apply meet the high standards of the association and go on to become members. Once accepted, ranches go through a year of probationary membership during which they undergo a second on-site inspection. Only after a satisfactory second inspection are they admitted to full membership.
Dude ranches are ideal places for kids and families to re-discover each other. On the ranch, folks are cut off from their usual distractions of TV, phones, computers and electronic games. Consequently, they end up doing such novel things as taking an evening walk together, talking to each other, or playing old-time children’s games on the lawn in front of the lodge. These are the times that build family bonds and a sense of togetherness that helps families weather the more difficult times in life.
Dude ranches are a popular destination vacation for families, but couples, singles and groups of all types love this unique traveling option as well. All seem to fit in nicely with the easygoing ranch atmosphere. In addition to traditional families, Association members are noting increased visits by significant numbers of nontraditional groups such as grandparents with grandchildren, single parents who only have the children for a limited time, honeymooners and multi-generational family reunions. Since most ranches offer a wide variety of activities such as horseback riding, fishing, river rafting, swimming pools, children’s programs, cattle drives, cookouts, line dancing and plain relaxing on the porch swing, everyone 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 as well.
In the post Civil War cattle boom of the 1880’s, Howard Eaton started the Custer Trail Ranch in the Dakota Badlands. He was soon joined by his brothers Alden and Willis and a friend from Pennsylvania, A.C. Huidekoper. Thrilled with their new lifestyle and potential success, the Eatons wrote enthusiastic letters to friends back East.
One such letter, published in a New York newspaper, caught the attention of Teddy Roosevelt. Roosevelt quickly made his way out to the Badlands and spent his time hunting, fishing and riding. He bought the Maltese Cross Ranch near the Custer Trail Ranch and struck up a friendship with the Eatons. Stories of ranch life and exceptional hunting spread like wildfire, and soon the Eatons found themselves hosting Eastern visitors.
It wasn’t long before their generosity and hospitality lead to overwhelming costs. Many visitors recognized the financial burden they were creating and offered to pay for room and board. While the concept flew directly in the face of western hospitality, the Eatons had to consider the opportunity. The first recorded paying guest was Bert Rumsey, of Buffalo, NY and with the purchase of a guest book; the ranch officially began accepting “dudes.”
Ranches quickly became a “home away from home” as returning guests became lifelong friends with the staff and guests. The remote location often lead to creative socializing; costume parties, games, romances, contests and practical jokes. This social interaction became just as important as the riding. It’s a quality that exists today, as ranch vacations continue to provide that special brand of western hospitality that nourishes body and soul.
The Dude Rancher's Association is the governing body of the West's Dude Ranch industry. The Association was created to provide an organized structure for its members, in which they are able to exchange ideas and experiences in an effort to uphold the highest quality of services within the industry. The Association promotes the western ranch vacation, while continuing to build a stronger working relationship with Federal and State land agencies in order to preserve and protect parks, forests and wildlife. The Association makes every effort to assure the successful continuation of the traditional Western Dude Ranch experience.
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