Big Thompson River Ranch

Introduction
Colorado USA
This historic 3,200 acres ranch has been in operation since the 1920’s. It is little piece of Heaven tucked on the quiet side of Eagle Ridge, on the banks of the Big Thompson River.
There are many activities for all ages: head up Sulzer Gulch shaded by cottonwoods; explore the old wagon trails on Alexander Mountain; climb the rocky slopes of Eagle Ridge; ride across the meadows on Green Ridge; or catch the breathtaking view from the Rim Ride.

Accomodation


Accommodations
This is a stationary ride, so all nights are spent at the same location.

Description
Each lodging unit is decorated in the spirit of the Old West and furnished with antique accents. Our guest rooms are television- and telephone-free, allowing for the opportunity afforded to enjoy evening walks and/or fireside chats.
The ranch is smoke-free to preserve a healthful environment.
Some of our lodging units accommodate wheelchairs.

Amenities include our Game Courts with tennis, pickle ball, shuffleboard, foursquare, and basketball. In addition, we have a Game Room equipped with table tennis, foosball, and billiards. You can also enjoy a refreshing dip in our outdoor heated pool (seasonal).

Complimentary wireless Internet is available throughout the main ranch grounds, including lodging rooms.
Cell phone service is patchy. Verizon has a strong signal in the Heritage; other providers are a little trickier. However, our house phone in the lobby is available 24/7 with complimentary international or domestic long distance along with local calls.

If needed, pick-up laundry service is available mid-week.


Room options (all included in your package - attributed on a first come, first served basis)



Side by Side Cabins - max 4 pax
Clustered in the main yard amid flowers, giant cottonwoods and towering blue spruce, our cabins all come furnished with claw-foot bathtubs/showers, refrigerator, coffee pot, air conditioning and sitting rooms with optional adjoining doors. Beds are queen size with an additional single bed in some rooms. Adjoining outside porches provide a great place to kick back and relax.



Sweetheart Cabins - max 2 pax
Located by the river, each secluded cabin includes a living room with fireplace, comfortable furniture, refrigerator, microwave, coffee pot, and a separate bedroom area with queen-sized bed and private bath. A private deck overlooks the grounds.



Homestead Guesthouse - max 6 pax
This 3 bedroom-guesthouse has a full kitchen, a living room with a fireplace, and a lovely deck that sits outside above the river. Each room is fitted with a Queen bed and there is a Jack & Jill bathroom (one bathtub, two separate toilet/sink rooms). 



Mama J's Guest House - max 10 pax
This lovely four-bedroom home has two-and-a-half baths, a spacious kitchen, screened-in porch, outside deck, and a window-lined living room with an old-fashioned pot-bellied wood-burning stove.



Isabelle Bird Guest House - max 6 pax
This guest house offers a great view of the upper pastures and surrounding foothills. It includes three bedrooms, one full and one ¾ bath, and a comfortable dining and living area with fireplace.



Tommy House - max 4 pax
This quaint 1930-style farm house has two bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen, and a living room with fireplace.

Room Occupancy
Triple occupancy is possible.
No single supplement fee will be charged for a single room.



Meals
All meals are included.

Meals are served buffet style and always include an entrée, a couple of side dishes, a full salad bar and drinks for both lunch and dinner. 
Breakfast offers an entrée (pancakes, French toast, eggs to order, omelet) with a side of potatoes or bacon and sausage, as well as fruits, yogurts, cereals and grains.   
 
Our liquor license does not permit personal beverages in public areas. You are, however, permitted to keep and consume your own alcoholic beverages in your accommodations.

Dietary Restrictions
We can cater to most dietary restrictions if given prior notice. 

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding


Safety
We are certified through the Dude Ranchers’ Association Horse Safety Program. We also belong to the American Quarter Horse Association as well as the Colorado Dude and Guest Ranch Association.
All riding adventures will be accompanied by a Ranch wrangler. Our wranglers are friendly horse professionals who delight in sharing their knowledge with you. They will provide what you need for a safe and enjoyable horseback riding experience, and their knowledge of the history, wildlife, and vegetation will expand your appreciation and enhance your ride.

Riding Groups
We try to keep our riding groups small with usually 6 or 7 riders max per group. One wrangler can take up to 7 riders at a time.
The breakfast ride and overnight pack trips can sometime have larger groups with some extra wranglers.

Horses
Unlike most recreational riding facilities, the majority of our horses (mainly Quarter horses with a few Paints) are born, raised, and trained on-Ranch. We’ve had registered horses with the American Quarter Horse Association every year for over 50 years. We have about 35-40 guest horses and every spring we welcome new foals into the herd. They learn the ropes under the gentle hand of our professional horse trainer.

Itinerary


We offer group lessons each morning, followed by trail riding in the afternoon. Your package also includes cattle sorting activities for ages 12 and up.  

Overnight Pack Trip (ages 12 and older)    
Sometimes, we can arrange an overnight pack trip to the back country. Ride up to a higher elevation, where you’ll be greeted at Cow Camp by the smell of our delectable Beef Steaks cooking over the grill. Spend the night under the stars after singing around a campfire with s’mores. A perfect way to get back to nature!

Kid's Program (3-12 years old)
Our daily youth program gives ages 3-12 a real bonding experience with their horse: ranch chores, horse care, trail riding, horsemanship lessons. Safety requires that children must be 7 years and older to go out on the trail. Children 6 and under will enjoy lead-around-rides in the arena and a variety of outside adventures.
Experiential learning activities in the afternoon can be enjoyed as a family or under the guidance of a qualified youth counselor.
Childcare is available for the younger crowd upon request (inquire for rate).



2025 Special Weeks:
June 1-6: Cowgirl Week (Female only - no kids under 13 during this week)
June 29-July 5: Cattle Drive
July 6-11: Cowgirl Week (Female only - no kids under 13 during this week)
July 13-19: Native American Week
August 3-9: Rodeo Cowboy Week
August 10-15: Grownup Week (no kids under 21 during this week)
August 31- September 5: Cowgirl Week (Female only - no kids under 13 during this week)
September 7-12: Grownup Week (no kids under 21 during this week)
September 25-30: Cowgirl Week (Female only - no kids under 13 during this week)

Annual Cattle Drive
Immerse yourself in ranch history and culture as you help move the cattle herd to summer pastures!  You can choose from either a day drive or an overnight drive for your cattle moving experience. You’ll start the week out by meeting your horse, getting comfortable in the saddle, and learning how to move cows on horseback before heading out for a drive later in the week.  The day drive to Wager’s Meadow takes about 6-7 hours, but you will return back to your cozy cabin that same day. The next day, another drive takes about 7-8 hours as well, moving the cows from Wager’s Meadow towards Cedar Park before returning back to the main ranch. Both cattle drives are limited to 12 riders, ages 13 and up only.  You do not need prior experience to participate!

Native American Week
Join us that week for a chance to immerse yourself in Native American history and culture as Gray Wolf and his fellow historians bring ancient traditions to life. Your whole family will enjoy this unforgettable week in Colorado with opportunities for learning Native American crafts, skills, and traditions all in a beautiful riverside setting. This is a perfect intergenerational vacation, with fun and engaging activities for all ages.



Non-Riding Activities
For non-riding guests or riders wanting to get off the saddle for a while during their stay, we also offer a selection of non-riding activities (included in your package). At the ranch, you can decide to explore the surrounding on one of our guided nature walk, give a try to trap shooting or go bass fishing.

We also have some non-riding activities available at extra cost (inquire for rates):
- White water rafting
- Guided fly fishing excursion
- Private riding instruction
- Massage

Rates and Dates for Big Thompson River Ranch

Dates Note: Shorter stays can sometime be arranged - please inquire

Other Info
Meeting: Loveland, CO
Airport: Denver International Airport (DIA)
Transfer: --

Climate:
                                                Loveland area