After several cups of coffee, breakfast and a dose of ibuprofen, the aches dissipated. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. This stay is geared towards intermediate to advanced riders. You'll love riding your horse through 26,000 acres of alpine meadows and fragrant sage bordered by timbered peaks. Experience the Cowboy Side of California on this 20,000 acre cattle ranch. Their season runs from late May to mid November. Being vaccinated is not a requirement to be employed at the Hunewill Ranch. Rankin Ranch has been a working cattle ranch since 1863. Warm and breezy, the sun felt intense at 8300 feet. Enjoy discounts on riding holidays and bargains on cattle drives and riding vacations. Whether you are looking to escape to wine country or cowboy country, the Dude Ranchers Association has 6 great dude ranch options to choose from in California! Private horse corrals are provided for those who prefer to bring their own horse. The V6 Ranch sits just down the road from the tiny town of Parkfield, population 18, and is conveniently located just a four-hour drive from Los Angeles and San Francisco. Box 368 Bridgeport, CA 93517. Horses and riding groups are available for every riding ability. Photo credit: Dwayne Leonard. We've partnered with dude ranch vets Bob & Karen Foster, and anointed them our dude ranch concierge consultants to help dissect and pinpoint a perfect ranch vacation for you. A family whose roots are anchored deep in the grassy meadows; a family whose values are exemplified by treating everyone the way theyd like to be treated. The Hunewill Ranch is a family-owned and operated outfit where great horseback riding is the featured attraction. Hunewill Ranch Cattle Drive Enjoy the ultimate old-west experience on Hunewill Ranch's 114th cattle drive! So, when you pull up alongside the old Victorian house and see Welcome Home written on the big rock, youre home. Being with Stan and Jan Hunewill is like being in a real-life Bonanza setting on the Ponderosa with Ben Cartwright and his three sons. The Hunewills are one of the region's longest-established ranching families. The living room is a mini-museum of Hunewill history containing original furnishings and photographs. This time of year an added bonus is seeing the cows with their baby calves. Every year when we head home the family can't wait until next year. As always, the Hunewill family and staff broke their necks making our stay the very best. Marble Mountain dude ranch vacations meet the diverse interests and needs of your entire family or group. Fall at the ranch is a time filled with essential cattle work. Due to the altitude, the folk at the ranch recommend that you bring a hat, sunscreen, rain jacket or poncho and a warm jacket for cool evenings. In 1883, N.B. The ranch has been family owned and operated since 1861. Its a shared fun, experience. The ranch is surrounded by the majestic Montana wilderness and located 30 miles west of Augusta, MT. Terri Geissinger, an interpreter and Bodie historian, rode along with us. The ranch has become intertwined with many guests family history. While the rest of the group waited for their mounts, Elmo and I got acquainted by walking small circles. Bridgeport Valley lies below the slope of the highway like a green carpet, a contrast against the dun-colored rock hills and sagebrush. The main activities are parting and moving cattle and may also include branding and doctoring. Hunewill is a working cattle and guest ranch with 1,200 head of cattle, 190 horses, and an assortment of goats, llamas, and sheep. The cattle drive puts you back in the Old West, driving cows over stock trails that have been in use since the 1860's. You are going to see breath taking scenery and vistas that allow you to see for many miles. For the latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check During your stay you will be able to enjoy their tasty Rankin Ranch beef. dude ranch vacations meet the diverse interests and needs of your entire family or group. This will generally be in large and open pastures that are bordered by the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains. The Autumn Cattle Gather in November is highly recommended for those who enjoy long days in the saddle.Safe to say, the main attraction is the horseback riding. Ride with the Hunewill family for five days, covering sixty miles from Bridgeport, California to Smith Valley, Nevada herding 600 cows as they are driven to their winter range. Whether you are a beginner or have ridden for years, this will be one of the best riding vacations you've ever had. The first day was limited to walking and trotting only, ensuring all riders felt comfortable with their horses, but this was not nose-to-tail riding. Napoleon Bonaparte Hunewill's ancestors were French Huguenots from Alsace-Lorraine. Copyright 2023 | Hunewill Guest Ranch - All Rights Reserved Stan Hunewill met his wife, Jan, 50 years ago when he was working on the ranch and she was a guest. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Copyright 2013-2023 American Roundup. 2,590 were here. Cattle have been worked on horseback for almost 150 years at the Hunewill Ranch and we are proud to share this traditional western heritage with our guests. envelops 20,000 acres of the most diverse and alluring country in the heart of California. We end our autumn packages with the Columbus Day Weekend Stay. Horseback riding is the main attraction at Hunewill Ranch. Laura Deck spends a week on a rural California cattle drive that's been an annual tradition for more than a century. The Hardy Quarter Horses of Namibia Breed Profile, Where to Ride in 2019: Droolworthy Riding Vacations, Horse Lovers Vacation at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Hunewill Ranch Vacation & Cattle Drives in California. Twelve-year-old Ronnie Wyman has been coming to the Hunewill Ranch for seven years. All rights reserved. At night, the cattle stay in corrals at neighboring ranches along the route. in 1880. Photo credit: Dwayne Leonard. The valley is surrounded with vibrant fall colors framed by a backdrop of the mighty Sierra Nevada. They have a busy calendar of events for every week of their opening season, stays are of different lengths - 3, 4 5 and 7 nights depending on when you choose to stay. These drives sell out quickly, please ask us for dates in the August before. The cabin heaters are a thoughtful touch. Ideal for those looking for a working cattle ranch experience. Daughter Megan and her husband, Justin, are head wranglers. Hunewill Ranch is a working cattle ranch and there is always cattle work to be done. Horses and riding groups (Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced) are available to suit anyone's level of skill and ambition. The highlight of our stay was the morning cattle drive where we moved 50 cattle over three miles back to the barn. ventured west to seek his fortune by mining for gold. Stan and Jan Hunewill manage the ranch along with their grown children, Betsy, Jeff and Megan. The Hunewill Ranch offers four- to seven-day vacations ranging from family gatherings to ladies or adults only, for a maximum of 60 guests in 24 comfortable cabins. Purchase insurance here. Most rooms have a queen and a twin bed or two twin beds. Betsy manages the office with smiles and efficiency. The Hunewills mean it. I eased my middle-aged body out of bed. Hunewill Guest Ranch is located north of Yosemite National Park in the green, mountainous Bridgeport Valley of California. Cattle have been worked on horseback for almost 150 years at the Hunewill Ranch and we are proud to share this traditional western heritage with our guests. It's not uncommon for you to be able to help cowboys gather and bring in the herd to the corrals for vaccinating or branding. His hearts desire is to become a Hunewill wrangler. Learn more about Hunewill Ranch. A secluded jewel tucked into Californias famed Santa Ynez Valley; this 10,000-acre ranch melds the spirit of the Old West with the seductive charms of todays most relaxing resorts. I got all of that and more. I touched Elmo lightly and clucked. Traces of a horse racing track and baseball diamond were visible near the outskirts of town. News Politics Science Education Housing Immigration Criminal Justice Silicon Valley Forum The California Report. After a breakfast of eggs Benedict and potatoes, it was saddle-up time. Web Visit website. There, N.B. I got all of that and more. Work cattle in Bridgeport and at our Smith Valley, Nevada ranch with Hunewill family members. When his mother Lenore died in her early 90s, Stan found official land-grant papers in a box under her bed. Hunewill Guest Ranch Cattle Drive, California For over 102 years, generations of the Hunewill family have had their annual fall cattle drive. Hunewill Ranch Cattle Drive 2009. Land grants were issued to the Hunewills from Presidents Ulysses S. Grant, Benjamin Harris, and Grover Cleveland. from Buckeye Canyon and was delivered by an oxen-drawn lumber wagon. For the best deals on travel insurance, be sure to use the DRAs preferred provider! Hunewill Ranch is a working cattle ranch and guests get to move cattle throughout our season. Remnants of the past intermingle with present times. As part of her studies, she had to work at a resort, or in this case, a guest ranch. This property is mainly a working cattle ranch with over 1200 head of cattle. The Hunewill family will still work the ranch with its commercial cattle operation, and provide continuing western hospitality with its pack trips, cattle drives, and ranch-style accommodations. Son Jeff is involved in holistic ranch management; his wife, Denise, is ranch bookkeeper. Guests are invited to participate in Cattle Drives, Dude Ranch Weekends, Cowboy Academies, and more all in the heart of California. Fishing is the most popular activity at Twin Lakes. then returned to Maine to visit his family. Jan 29, 2013 - Visit our dude ranch & ride any of our well-trained horses through the lush green meadows & scenic mountain trails of California's Sierra Nevada. The level of riding offered by the Hunewill will depend on the week that you visit. South of San Francisco, N.B. Home style meals are served in the dining room in the founder's Victorian ranch house. The Hunewills have been at the Bridgeport ranch for 150 years. The Hunewill family is not shy about displaying their talents as well. They also run herd on three beautiful children! Family run working cattle ranch since 1861, located in the Eastern Sierra town of Bridgeport, CA. The signature all-inclusive saddle and paddle or raft and ride vacation join the superb dining experience and our youth buckaroo program to create the best and most complete family dude ranch vacation. A home away from home, Greenhorn Ranch welcomes you as family. The youngest child, Aspen, was wearing a diaper and didnt say much, but she roped her little heart out as she threw loop after loop at a plastic steer head. Hunewill is a working cattle ranch still run by the Hunewill family. When you drive through our gate you feel like you've stepped back in time. During your stay you will be able to enjoy their tasty Rankin Ranch beef. Children of former employees and guests come back to the ranch to work. Kids of all ages enjoy the freedom and wide open spaces that Hunewill Ranch offers. They are able to cater to all levels and also take kids over 6. Ride through golden fall meadows or venture on horseback into the back country during this special weekend. Read more California Cattle Drive Hunewill Ranch - California, USA 84 5 Mile Rd, Parkman, WY 82838, USA. Its what separates this guest ranch from others. The Hardy Quarter Horses of Namibia Breed Profile, Where to Ride in 2019: Droolworthy Riding Vacations, Horse Lovers Vacation at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Hunewill Guest Ranch Cattle Drive, California. The majority of their horses are very safe for beginners and small children. Mammoth Lakes is located an hour south of Bridgeport. Rates listed do not include meal tax, room tax, or gratuity. As the days unwound, the slow rhythm of ranch life began to reveal itself: the drum of hoof beats at sunrise while the mountains change hue, the clang of the meal bell, cattle mooing across the valley, whinnies of horses let out to pasture at the end of the day, the occasional hoots of an owl, and yipping of distant coyotes. For instance, the barn is a fine example of old-time craftsmanship. Lenore handled the guest-ranch business; Stanley worked the stock. Some of the jobs youll do include moving cows, parting cows from the herd, and preparing cattle for shipping to summer pastures. The lumber business proved to be more successful. The lodging and meals are outstanding. You can herd cattle, ride in the meadows and mountains, splash through water on hot days, ride slowly, ride swiftly, or not ride at all. Family run working cattle ranch since 1861, located in the Eastern Sierra town of Bridgeport, CA. Double Rafter are a one-of-a-kind cattle drive. The Hunewills dont see skin color, they just take you for who you are, said Renee. Drive 30 minutes north of Santa Barbara and youll find The. For the best deals on travel insurance, be sure to use the DRAs preferred provider! the cookies. The group became a tourist attraction that day as much as the town itself we found ourselves the subject of more than a few photographers. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Riding doesnt always take place on the ranch. No boring, nose-to-tail, stay-in-line rides here! This place is a REAL cattle ranch with REAL working horses. bought meadowland to graze his oxen; he also acquired some cattle. ANOTHER GREAT ADVENTURE WITH OUR HUNEWILL FAMILY, Remote and scenic, good food, great experience. It was a successful venture. Horseback riding takes center stage on the ranch. 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