cherokee park ranch

We recently returned from our second annual family vacation at the Cherokee Park Ranch. It is hard to even put into words how much we enjoyed the vacation. 1) Every single staff member (wranglers, kitchen staff, maintenance) was absolutely amazing! You feel like family by the end of the first day and by the end of the week it is so hard to say goodbye.2) The cabins are very comfortable. Each family gets their own cabin. Every cabin has a porch swing to relax in the shade after your daily ride.3) The scenery on your daily rides is breathtaking. Every day your ride takes you on a different adventure. You don't see the same thing twice. Beautiful! We loved taking the full day rides and eating our lunch on top of a mountain enjoying the scenery.4) We love the size of the ranch. It really allows you to feel like your experience is personalized for you.5) Don't plan on dieting while you are there. The food was amazing. My daughter can be a picky eater and there wasn't meal that she didn't love.6) This vacation is perfectly suited for every age!Our daughter is already begging to go back again next year! I wouldn't change a thing.

My wife and two daughters (10 and 11) were there there the third week of June 2014. We did not know how to ride horses on day 1. The staff selected appropriate horses for us and and we were loping in no time. A ton of great things to say about the place, but most importantly was the owners and staff. They are just great people. They ensured that we were having a good time. My typical day started at 7:15 when someone would deliver coffee to my cabin. I would then fish for 1/2 hour at the pond and catch a few trout. I'd head to breakfast with the family at 8am and have a full breakfast (sausage, eggs, fresh fruit, etc). My kids wanted to go to the kids program after breakfast where they would do various activies before their morning ride at 10. They wanted to go w/ the other kids. My wife and I would go on a morning ride (fantastic scenary). We would all hook up at noon for lunch (BBQ, Beef Stroganoff one day). In the afternoon, we opted for rides most of the time. Sometimes we did other activities that were all fun (fly fishing lesson, learning how to throw a rope, and team penning (you are in a corral w/ cows and have to get one in a pen using your horse to direct traffic)...That was a blast...I also did some skeet shooting one day). Pre-dinner, I would grab a beer from the guest frig (you have to bring your own beer) and sit on the porch w/ the other guests recapping the day. 6:30 was dinner (fantastic!!).. Fancy night was Trout and Lamb. They would always have an activity at night (Square Dancing, Hayride, art class)...We did all. I wasn't sure about square dancing, but the staff gets into it and it's a blast. We also did the white water rafting trip. Had a lot of fun on that. When you are done with at ride, a wrangler grabs your horse, helps you off a that is it. It is full service. You definitely get to know the other guests and staff while you are there. We did a few hikes while we were there. They have a massuese come on Thursday. She is great and was a good call after 5 days of riding. Best vacation my family has ever had. We ended the week w/ a family ride. The wrangler just took out our family. Very accomodating.

It’s been several weeks since our stay at Cherokee Park Ranch and we’re still talking about it. Here are three points we can’t get over. 1) The scenery: Our rides were incredible and diverse, from steep, rocky trails barely wide enough for horse and rider to wide open pastures that had us humming the theme from “Bonanza” as we raced across the grassy landscape. 2) The operation: CPR is run with superlative precision and good ol’ Southern hospitality, thanks to owners Dickey & Christine Prince. They made sure we were satisfied with everything from our horses to food to accommodations. 3) The staff: There were some two-dozen collegians taking care of the 40 guests. Love the ratio. All were courteous, attentive, fun and love to ride as much as we do (that’s a whole lot). 4) The horses: The herd of 120 is outstanding, with one to fit the particular needs of any rider, old, young, experienced, tenderfoot.We’re good riders, have spent some time at guest ranches and done a lot of research on the subject, and CPR gets an “A” in our book. Sure, it’s not a cheap vacation and the cabins or rooms in the lodge would not pass the “spa” test. But that isn’t what we were seeking. The riding was excellent, that is what we care about. Yes, our son was disappointed that he could not go on the all-day treks that were most challenging—despite the fact that it was acknowledged that he’s a very component rider—just because the ranch has a policy stating you must be over 13 for that privilege. There is a children’s program that looked outstanding, for those with young kids and/or novice riders. For the most part, wranglers take out the adults on two rides a day at any speed desired or one longer ride. Kids typically go with their own wranglers on separate rides. In particular, we loved the Prairie Divide ride, where we even got cozy with some cattle after stopping for lunch. Bring your camera because the sights are Christmas card-quality.I should add there’s always something going on, even if it’s just sitting on the porch of your cabin reading a book and resting your saddle-sore body. Evening entertainment included a hayride, cookout, visit to a neighboring artist’s home, an adult’s dinner, a square dance and staff show. The pond by the lodge is stocked with rainbow trout. My son caught the biggest one of the week and it was cooked for him for dinner. The three meals a day were varied; the desserts were memorable. There’s a pool, hot tub (adults only) and bikes. We loved hanging out at the corrals where there were some nine newborns frolicking every day with their moms.We loved that there was no cell service as it felt liberating to let our iPhones sit on the dresser all week. CPR is BYOB, so if you lean in that direction, stop in Fort Collins on the way to load up. There is self-laundry on the ranch, which comes in handy because riding done right is dirty business. Make sure you bring suitable smooth-soled boots and a cowboy hat. Cherokee Park Ranch is a treasure, one that we will surely visit once again—just as 86 percent of previous guests have.

We went to Cherokee Park Ranch its a dude ranch It was an awesome week we took our 11yr old grandaughter she didn't want to leave The staff was great as was the food There were families there with toddlers and young children and teens. They have a wonderful program for the kids as well as the adults. We are going back next year it was so much fun the ranch has been in business for 17 yrs they have very skilled wranglers the horses were beautiful a great family vacation