 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
Colorado Dude Ranch Vacation
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
At a Glance
|
| HIGHLIGHTS | |
|---|---|
| Famous For: | Spectacular historic lodge, Colorado alpine scenery, proximity to Santa Fe, superb riding, on-ranch fishing on blue-ribbon Conejos River, fun kids programs. |
| Capacity: | 60 |
| Open: | June 1- September 21, 2008 |
| Altitude: | 9000 ft |
| Location: | Nestled at 9000' in the scenic Conejos River Valley, 23 miles up into the mountains west of small Antonito, CO; 2 1/2 hours north of Santa Fe, NM. |
| Reservations: | (800) 633-3397, (719) 376-2440 |
| Rates: |
Adults: June 1-29: $1800 per adult (12 & up), double occupancy. June 29-August 31: $1900 per adult (12 & up), double occupancy. Single occupancy rates: June: $2000, July/Aug: $2100. August 31-September 21: $230 per person per night, 3 night minimum; fisherman's rate (no riding): $200. Rates do not include 3% Colorado Sales Tax, optional gratuity, or off-ranch extras you may choose to add such as the rafting and train trip. Rates include all meals, accommodations, riding, fishing, kids programs and on-ranch activities. No children’s programs or rodeo August 31-Sept 21, whitewater rafting limited, evening activities curtailed. Adults only from August 31-September 21--no rodeo, overnight ride or whitewater rafting—evening activities curtailed.
Children: June 1-June 29: $1600 per child 6-11yrs;$1400 per child 3-5 yrs; $200 per child under 3. June 29-August 31: $1700 per child 6-11; $1500 per child 3-5; $200 per child under 3. |
| Minimum Stay: | Sunday to Sunday stay required June 8-August 24. Minimum 3-night, pro-rated stays available June1-8 and August 24-31. August 31-September 21, minimum 3-night stays. |
| Deposit: | $300 per person 3 & older required. Deposit refunded minus 10% handling fee 60 days in advance; less than 60 days, deposit refunded minus 10% provided we can rebook space. Groups of 10+ full payment due 60 days prior to arrival--trip ins. recommended. |
| Payment: | Personal checks, traveler's checks, cash. No credit cards accepted. |
| Closest Airports: | Alamosa, CO (1 hr); Albuquerque, NM ( 3 1/2 hrs); Colorado Springs, CO (4 hrs), Denver (5 hrs) |
| Transportation: | Airport pickup available from Alamosa, CO for $125 round trip up to 6 people. Advance notice required. |
| Travel Agents: | YES |
| Guest Reviews: | Read reviews from travelers who have visited this ranch. |
| FEATURED AMENITIES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|||
 Adults OrientedAdult Weeks Big/Heavy Riders200-250 lbs. Children's ProgramsExtensive Counselor Program - All Day or Camplike Program Nannies Encouraged Children's Trail Riding6 yrs old 7 yrs old and over Corporate Groups, MeetingsSmall (under 50) CuisineRanch/Western Vegetarian Culinary Trained Chefs |
Dude/Guest RanchesFishing Fly Fishing Equipment Available Fish on Your Own Kids Fly Fishing Program Professional Guides & Instruction Stream Fishing on Property Type of Fish Trout Spin Fishing Equipment Available Instruction Available River Fishing on Property HikingGuided On Your Own Horseback RidingHorsemanshipHorsesAppaloosa Draft Paint Quarter Thoroughbred Languages SpokenEnglish Portuguese |
Laundry ServiceLiquor Bring Your Own Pack TripsRanch Activity RaftingSaddle Your Own HorseShort Stays (1-4 days)Off Season Only Sporting Clays |
Swimming Pool Heated Wagon TripsWhite-Water RaftingNearby (within 30 miles) Class I Class II Class III |
|
|||
| LODGING |
|---|
|
| Accommodations in individual log cabins of varying sizes. Our smaller cabins consist of two bedrooms and a bathroom and can sleep up to four. Most have livingroom/fireplace areas. Our larger cabins vary and can sleep up to 6,7,& 8 and each has two bathrooms and a livingroom/fireplace area. All our cabins are very comfortable and quaintly decorated with a western theme, and all have nice porches with lovely views. |
|
| RECREATION |
|---|
|
| Each day offers many options for you to choose from... Exceptional riding includes varied trail rides, all-day rides, overnight trip (12 & older only), team-penning and a ranch rodeo. Folks are matched with a horse for the week according to their ability level, and we do everything from beginning to advanced riding with plenty in between. Horses are superb and wranglers will instruct as needed. Scenery is breathtaking. In addition, excellent fly-fishing on the mile and a half of privately owned blue-ribbon Conejos River which runs right through the ranch. Full time fly-fishing guide on staff for group and private lessons and guidance on the ranch. Fly-fishing equipment available for a nominal fee, other fishing equipment freely available. Additional excellent fishing in general vicinity as well as local professional guides. Cooks are happy to prepare your fish for any meal; also consider having it mounted--a great way to remember your time at the ranch. We have trapshooting, hiking, swimming, fantastic scenery, whitewater rafting out of Taos, NM and America's longest and highest narrow gauge railroad nearby. Or perhaps you would rather just enjoy the serenity of the Colorado Rockies beside the heated outdoor pool, or in the hot tub... Evening activities range from horse drawn hayrides, dancing, western musical entertainment and a singalong/ribbon award on Saturday night. |
|
| FOR CHILDREN |
|---|
|
| We have the "Buckaroos" (3-5 yrs old), the "Cowpokes" (6-11 yrs old) and a teen program (12 to 17). The Buckaroo and Cowpoke programs are more structured, each with their own counselor(s) and featuring riding, fishing, western crafts, a stick horse rodeo, swimming, pb&j lunch ride, treasure hunts, hikes, picnics and much, much more. Buckaroos do most activities with Cowpokes, except they cannot ride unattended and instead are led around the ranch on one of our special kid's horses. Cowpokes get their own horse for the week and they go on trail rides with the counselor and/or wranglers, practice for the rodeo and have instruction and learning games during the mornings. In the afternoons the programs do other activities than ride, and if Cowpokes want to ride again, they can do so with parents or guardians. Family rides for everyone 6 and older are available any afternoon, and most mornings. The teen program is less structured although just as fun. Teens meet with their counselor on Sunday night and plan the week. Activities can include anything from riding, hiking, day trips, the overnight trip and more. All programs are optional, but they are such fun your kids will definitely want to be a part of them. |
|
| FOOD/LIQUOR |
|---|
|
| Rainbow Trout cuisine excels with delicious baked-from-scratch-daily breads, meat entrees ranging from turkey, pork, chicken and steak, great side dishes, salads, and of course, desserts that make a perfect meal even better. While we do not cater individually to vegetarians, there is plenty to choose from without eating the entrees, and several meals include vegetarian options such as soups, vegetarian lasagna and veggie burgers. Fresh fruit and snacks are always available in the main lodge along with coffee, hot chocolate and iced water. Meals are served family style in the lodge and we also have several poolside and riverside cookouts during the week. Folks have said that Doug's grilling is worth missing the Friday all-day ride for! By the way, if parents are away, counselors will stay with children, but generally everyone has meals together. We have a BYOB policy here at Rainbow Trout. You can either bring your own alcohol, or ask us to pick it up for you on our Monday town run. We have a guest refrigerator in the main lodge, along with glasses and wine glasses. You are welcome to enjoy alcohol with your meal or in your cabin--lots of folks like to sit on their porches after a ride and enjoy something cool. |
|
| BUSINESS/MEETINGS |
|---|
|
| We have limited capability for conferences/meetings although there are various options we can explore in this regard. What a great place to mix business with pleasure! |
|
| MEMBERSHIPS |
|---|
|
| Dude Ranchers Association, Colorado Dude & Guest Ranch Association |
|
| REGION/CUSTOMS |
|---|
|
| Area interests include the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Narrow Gauge Railroad, the National Sand Dunes Monument (an exceptionally interesting and fun National Park about 1 1/2 hours drive), Platoro (America's highest reservoir), ghost towns Jasper & Stunner, local rodeos around the end of July, and of course Taos and Santa Fe, NM. The culture, cuisine and architecture of these historic towns is definitely worth a trip. Some folks like to take an extra day or two before their stay at the ranch to take advantage of all that New Mexico has to offer. And to the north, we have Canon City with the world's highest suspension bridge and of course Colorado Springs with myriad interesting options. Then there is the Durango area a couple of hours beautiful drive to the west, with all it has to offer including Mesa Verde. There is plenty to do right here at the ranch but whichever way you choose to go, the Colorado and New Mexico scenery is amazing. |
|
| HISTORY/HOSTS |
|---|
|
| The Van Berkum family, Doug & Linda, their son David and his wife Jane, have operated the Rainbow Trout Ranch since the summer of 1993 when they took it over from the Texas based Hamilton family who owned it since the 1920's. The incredible lodge is based on a Bavarian hunting lodge and remains one of the largest log buildings in the southwest. For many years it was the largest. Known for the exceptional fishing, Rainbow Trout offered riding on a limited basis plus spectacular scenery, and catered largely to folks who could make the drive easily from Texas. Now it has become a wonderful family run ranch, catering to families who are looking for an action vacation with enough to offer for a variety of interests and ages, and plenty of porch space for relaxing. May and September offer more adult-orientated stays, but anytime is a good time to come. David & Jane and their three children live at the ranch year round in a house that is attached to an indoor arena so they can ride and rope all year. Doug & Linda have a winter home in Iowa but are at the ranch from April to November. All of us are dedicated to continuing the western lifestyle and tradition and to sharing them with our guests and friends. |
|
| ITINERARY |
|---|
|
| Basic Main Summer Weekly Itinerary: Sunday--Orientation to meet staff and other guests and get an idea of the ranch and activities. *Teen program meets. Monday--Family orientation rides in the morning for everyone 6 & older, Buckaroo (3-5yrs) program, more riding after lunch. Fly-fishing lesson in the late afternoon. Dinner by the river and a horse drawn hayride to follow. Tuesday--Instructional rides at every level, kids program riding lessons. More riding offered by ability level and/or destination after lunch by the pool. Two steppin' / line dancing in the lodge after dinner. Wednesday--Many folks choose to go rafting on the Rio Grande out of Taos, NM as a day trip. Rides are offered twice as always, and divided by ability level and/or destination. Kids programs. Live western music in the lodge or on the porch after dinner. Thursday--All-day rides. Overnight trip leaves. Half day rides offered morning and afternoon. Kids programs. Team penning available. Square dancing in the lodge after dinner. Friday--more all-day rides. Overnight trip returns before noon. Half day rides offered morning and afternoon as well as team penning. Kids programs. Poolside lunch. Trap shooting offered. Candlelight dinner in the lodge for adults, teens have the option of dinner with the adults or a separate teen meal and activities, kids hotdog/s'more cookout by the river then a long hayride to learn songs and make up verses for the singalong on Saturday. Saturday--morning rides. Kids programs, morning only. RODEO in the afternoon--everyone can participate. Dinner by the river and then the singalong/ribbon awards in the lodge. Sunday--time to say goodbye and to sign up for next summer! *Teens arrange their own activities with their counselor on a daily basis. Of course this is just the basic schedule. There is lots more to enjoy at the ranch and we'd love to share it with you. September offers excellent riding and fishing but no children's programs. The fall colors during September are fantastic and it is a wonderful time for couples and singles to escape to the mountains. Please visit our main site at: www.rainbowtroutranch.com and also call us for a brochure package--our brochure is extensive with great photos. And we'd just enjoy chatting with you and telling you more about this unique ranch. Come share it with us. |
|
|
|||||
|
|||||
| Please let us know you found us on Ranchweb. | |||||
|
Copyright © 1996 - 2008, Ranchweb |
|||||
Read Guest Reviews
Map Ranch Location
Request Brochure
Email Ranch
Visit Ranch Website
E-mail questions and comments to