Colorado Creek Luxury Stay, USA
Overview
Horses
Type of horses:
Mainly quarter horses but also draft and paints.
Nature of horses:
Forward going for more experienced riders, quieter horses for the inexperienced. All are easy going and well behaved.
Number of horses:
95 - 100
Height of horses:
13 hh - 17.2hh
Weight limit:
Those weighing over 215 pounds may be limited to walking rides.
Tack type:
Western
Ride Description
Based on a 600 acre Colorado Dude Ranch,nestled in its own private mountain valley,this is a Western holiday package second to none, offering a schedule of enjoyable activities for all ages with an emphasis on service and quality. At an elevation of over 8,000 feet, the days are warm and filled with sunshine and the nights are cool which makes sleeping under a blanket comfortable. Horseback riding, meals and entertainment are the three major scheduled activities plus warm, Western hospitality amidst unforgettable mountain scenery. Your hosts will share with you the lifestyle of a bygone era that is as traditional as it is unique.
There are activities to suit all ages, riders and non-riders alike, or opportunities to relax and refresh. Nestled in a forested valley one and a half miles from the nearest paved road, yet just 6 miles from town, everything at the ranch is within walking distance. Barns, corrals, stables, swimming pool, children's playground, games area and fishing pond are a stone's throw from the cabins.
The Main Lodge is the daily gathering place for parents and youngsters alike. The door is always open and the coffee pot is always filled and fresh - a warm and friendly spot to relax, enjoy playing cards, browse in the library or just visit new friends. The atmoshere is always warm, friendly and informal and jeans, boots and casual clothes are the daily dress.
Riding programmes cater from the beginner to the most experienced and the herd of over 95 quality horses, bred raised and trained on the ranch to match the capabilities of all riders, will provide you with a suitable mount. Proper instruction, along with a variety of terrain for the guided fast and slow rides, provides an enjoyable riding experience for all. Daily instruction, both in the arena and on the trail, help to improve everyone's proficiency. Advanced riders have many opportunities to explore and blaze trails while handling their horses from leisurely walks to smooth lopes and gallops.
Daily rides are scheduled by age group and riding ability. As you ride on trails often travelled by deer and elk, each turn is different. You will wind through dense forests of pine and aspen, lope over rolling hills of sage brush and cactus, and meander through meadows ablaze with wildflowers. All the while you will be surrounded by endless vistas of the majestic and simply spectacular Colorado Rockies.
Children's programmes, activities and horseback riding are planned for every age group - 5 years and under, 6-13 years old and for teenagers. Supervised programmes even include infants. Riding instruction, nature hikes, cook-outs, story telling, fishing, crafts and the heated swimming pool are just some of the favourite activities available for youngsters. Children have huge amounts of fun and are taught proper horsemanship.
The summer guest season extends from early June through to mid September. The Autumn season is reserved for adults only.
See Programmes.
Food & Accommodation
Accommodation is in the Main Lodge guest room or in cabins which have recently been refurnished and decorated in typical Western style. The rooms are snug and comfortable and are carefully cleaned every day. There is a variety of one, two, three and four bedrooms - several are ideal for larger families and friends wanting to be near one another.
All rooms have a private bath, coffee making facilities are available in each room and some have refrigerators. You can relax on your own porch - some are covered, others wide open, or the Lodge's living room is the perfect place to gather to meet other guests and make new friends.
In the olden days, ranches were known for the quality of their fixin's or "chuck". It was customary that meals were provided by the rancher to his guests, and that is what happens on your holiday ranch. You can have all you care to eat - and nothing but the best! Your hosts take great pride in their food which is lovingly prepared from recipes handed down for generations - sometimes gourmet and sometimes hearty western, but always delicious.
Most meals are served family style in the dining room, but outdoor meals are highlights : breakfast on a mountain top, open hearth barbecue, chuckwagon lunches, and, sometimes, right out of your saddlebag. Everyday is delightfully different.
Your hosts aim to please - even the breads and pastries are made from scratch. However, not everyone can eat like a cowboy and if you have a special diet, or you have other special requirements, the staff will aim to meet your needs.
Activities
For those not wishing to partake of the horseriding programme, there are many other opportunites for mini-adventures that complement the ranch vacation experience. Guests can do as much or as little as they like from relaxing, refreshing and un-stressing to taking part in swimming, horseshoes, steak fries, trout fishing, western dancing, jeep trips, song fests, campfires, hayrides, carnival, pack trips, staff entertainment, raft trips, watching gymkhana rodeos, nearby golf and much more.
The ranch staff make their own evening entertainment such as campfire sing-a-longs, country dancing, old fashioned melodramas, carnival night and more.
Apart from the ranch based activities, other attractions in the area include the Rocky Mountain National Park (25 miles away), four local golf courses, a Winter Park Ski area(with an Alpine slide, miniature golf and mountain bike trails), local Saturday night rodeos, a narrow gauge railroad, hiking and mountain climbing, and, of course, shopping in the nearby stores.There are boutiques and outlet malls for western wear, antiques, souvenirs and more.
Further Details
Languages: English
Health requirements: Basically fit and healthy.
Age limit: No limit
Tuition: Yes
Included: Accommodation, daily maid service, all meals, children's supervised programmes, fishing, use of heated pool and hot tub and all ranch based activities.
Not included: Transfers, golf fees, tips and gratuities.
Travel Information
Fly from the the Uk to Denver, Colorado. All major rental car companies are available in Denver, or a "Home James" van service will transfer you to and from the airport. The AMTRAC railway service also stops in nearby Granby (6 miles away).
Airport: Denver International Airport
Programme
Weekly Programmes
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The Ranch has programmes of activities and horseback riding for all: for adults and for children from infants to teenagers, with plenty of fun and enjoyment for parents and grandparents, singles and couples alike. The Horse Programme is outstanding, being recognised as one of the exceptional riding programmes in Dude ranching and is geared to every riding ability and age group. Guests may participate in as much or as little as they like. A suitable horse is provided according to each rider's skills and abilities and proper daily instruction, both in the arena and on the trail, along with a variety of terrain for the guided fast and slow rides provides an enjoyable riding experience for all. Professional wrangler-led rides meet your every expectation against the spectacular backdrop of the Colorado Rockies. The Rangerider programme for the 6 to 13 year olds is built around an instruction based horseback riding programme where they practise skills in the arena before setting out to the backcountry on their morning and afternoon trail rides. These young riders work up to loping and all day rides as their abilities improve. Before and after the rides the counsellors have other group activities planned, such as an obstacle course, horse brushing, swimming, hiking, lassoing a steer head, and other group activities. The Buckaroo programme is for the little children aged 5 and under and is the perfect way for parents to be able to enjoy their holiday. These young children are taken care of by the counsellors while their parents are taking part in the ranch activities. Their activities include horseback rides around the ranch, games, crafts, and picnic hikes. The counsellors can take care of any individual needs like naps, baby feeding, etc. Since the ranch is heavily family orientated, families eat meals together, parents can partake in any of the children's programmes and riding, and the evening entertainment is also family orientated. Counsellors and programme supervisors are college students selected for their experience, attentiveness and interests in child development and recreation. All staff are personally selected for their friendliness, enthusiasm, personality, talent and a sincere desire to please. They participate in all activities and create much of the entertainment. |
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| Minimum group size: | 1 |
| Maximum group size: | 8 |
| Ability description: | From beginner to advanced. |
| Type of ride: | Instruction and trail |
| Total riding time: | As per personal itinerary. |
| Departure dates: | 2008 Season - Sunday arrival, Saturday departure from June to September 13th. Weeks after August 23rd are for adults only. |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |