What makes our Dude Ranch different?
We Are Ridin' Into the Future With Roots From a Solid Past!
Just like Montana dude ranches, we have beautiful scenery. Just like Colorado dude ranches, we have well-trained horses. Just like Wyoming dude ranches, we have excellent accomodations. But there is something different that separates Western Pleasure Guest Ranch from the Wyoming, Colorado and Montana dude ranches: our history and heritage. "
For more than sixty years and four generations, the Woods have called Western Pleasure home. We are always ready to share the rich history and beauty of this land with our guests. Just as Grandpa Riley Wood fell in love with this land in 1940, we're sure you will, too. We want you to feel like when you visit the Ranch, you are visiting our home. It will not take you long to discover that, to us and the staff, this is truly more than just a job: it's a way of life, and we love it.
Whether you are visiting with Melissa (Janice's niece), Brad (who lives and works on the ranch), Danielle or Isaac (Roley and Janice's children), you will quickly come to the conclusion that we enjoy sharing this piece of heaven with you. Many of our guests tell us they feel like one of the family after their stay. One of our guests recently put it this way: The first time we came here, it was fabulous. The second time, it was like coming home.
Our ranch is more than just a place to go: it is a life experience, where memories that last a lifetime are formed.
A Brief History of Dude Ranching
As the 19th century drew to a close, the Western United States - almost completely explored - had developed a kind of mythic status among those living on the Eastern seaboard and those living abroad in Europe. The adventure, beauty, and the simple way of life popularized by writers of the era brought hundreds of thousands of people westward to experience all the west had to offer. With the advent of the transcontinental railroad and convenient rail travel, still more people went out west. But because of the solitude and open spaces of the west, there were few places available for accommodation.
This is where dude ranches started to become more and more popular. Safe, comfortable accommodations were needed to house the tourists and adventure-seekers as they experienced the majesty of the West. Originally, dude ranches of the late 19th and early 20th centuries were run by the families of former cattle and horse ranchers. They met the needs of early travelers to the west by providing food, accommodations, adventure, and entertainment. The dude ranchers would open their homes and offer hospitality to anyone who asked, and allowed people to stay for days, weeks, and months. As the trade began to evolve, dude ranches began to take on unique personalities and traits. Those that came once often returned year after year as friendships were developed amid the picturesque beauty and warmth of life in the wide-open spaces.
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