Brush Creek Ranch’s Magee Homestead offers the ideal secluded hideaway for intimate dude ranch vacations for discerning individuals and families, as well as corporate, wedding and leisure groups.

Looking for complete privacy on your dude ranch vacation? Then enjoy the secluded and exclusive Magee Homestead at The Lodge and Spa at Brush Creek – the Wyoming guest ranch’s ultra-private “Ranch within a Ranch”. Located just five miles from the main lodge at Brush Creek Ranch, Magee Homestead features a private lodge and a collection of seven historically-restored cabins in a tranquil, creek-side setting, tucked amidst rolling meadowlands and natural rock outcroppings in the heart of Wyoming cattle and ranching country. With its immaculate private lodge and dedicated staff, Magee Homestead offers the ideal secluded hideaway for intimate dude ranch vacations for the most discerning individuals and families, and is also ideal for corporate retreats, weddings and leisure groups.

Says Bruce White, owner of the luxury Wyoming guest ranch: “The Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch is located in such a pristine and remote location that we felt compelled to create a place that offers true privacy and exclusivity for a select few. There very few places left in this world that provide complete privacy and luxury while still being understated and down-to-earth, and we believe Magee Homestead is the best of them.”

Much like the rest of Brush Creek Ranch, Magee Homestead has its own fascinating history. The property on which Magee Homestead sits was a cow camp and hay-producing ranch back in the early 1900s. The smaller cabins on the property, which have been renovated and turned into individual lodging cabins, were once used as housing for cowpokes. The names of each individual cabin – TZ, Elk Hollow, Burgess, Wood, Pierce, Downie and Wiant – come from the original property title work, which likely reflects the names of the original homesteaders before the Wyoming ranch was combined into one larger property.

The crowning jewel of dude ranch vacations at the Magee Homestead is the luxurious lodge. Its large, open club room offers a comfortable living area as well as a game room featuring an elegant bar with antique rifle collection. With a Steinway seven-foot grand piano, hand-carved billiards table, poker tables and two indoor fireplaces, dude ranch vacations at this secluded location are more than luxurious. There’s even a fully staffed private kitchen and dining room, serving up gourmet meals and premium beers, wine and spirits. Or why not dine outside, on the spacious outdoor dining and entertainment patio which features an outdoor fireplace and expansive views over the Wyoming guest ranch’s sweeping countryside.

Retire to luxury accommodations within seven historically-restored cabins, totalling nine bedrooms that sleeps up to 25 guests. There are sure to be fights over the three-bedroom TZ Cabin Residence, which includes a full kitchen, dining room and living area. Rest assured, however, that the other cabins are just as luxurious, all with en-suite bathrooms, plush interiors and complimentary Antica Farmistica® toiletries.

Go horseback riding direct from the Homestead

Take your dude ranch vacation at the Magee Homestead and enjoy the privacy of your own manicured lawns and a pergola with spacious outdoor hot tub. The Wyoming guest ranch even provides a private concierge to handle your every need, including scheduling activities such as horseback riding, ranger tours, float trips and more. And it’s all available direct from the Homestead – fly fishing and floating on the restored Elk Hollow Creek, a private tee pee for spa treatments, hiking and biking trails that connect to the Ranch’s 50 miles of maintained trails… Even its own private stable so you can ride out on the ranch horses without having to leave the Homestead. Dude ranch vacations at Magee also include access to the main Lodge and Spa, whether for morning yoga on Falcon Peak Overlook, or poker night at the Saloon.

Magee Homestead is available to book now, as a total package starting at $10,000 per night, with a minimum stay of four nights in peak periods and three nights in off-peak periods.

Discover more about Brush Creek Ranch at Top50Ranches.com

Canada dude ranch Clayoquot Wilderness Resort was recently chosen as one of the world's Top50 Ranches, one of six British Columbia dude ranches to make it into Top50's discerning collection of luxury dude ranch vacations. Clayoquot’s breathtaking coastal location on Vancouver Island, its luxury tented safari camp and its diverse range of land and sea adventure activities are just some of the reasons this luxury Canada dude ranch stands out from the rest.

Clayoquot Wilderness Resort is Top50’s only luxury tented safari camp, where guests can enjoy the magical, unique experience of sleeping under the stars in canvassed accommodations more luxurious than your average 5-star hotel. Whether you're looking for breathtaking horseback riding, luxury pampering, adventure - or all three, Clayoquot Wilderness Resort won't disappoint.

Horseback riding at this luxury Canada dude ranch is suitable for all ages and abilities, and guests are given opportunity to learn about all aspects of horse care from the experienced team of wranglers. Non-riders, novices and advanced riders alike will love Clayoquot’s personalized approach to their riding program, guaranteeing you get the most out of your horseback riding holiday. Whether you ride through the temperate rainforest, river valley or spectacular mountain trails, all rides are highly personalized and tailored to your specific requests.

For true adventure, Clayoquot’s wildlife safaris offer the opportunity of a lifetime - think spotting the likes of black bear, whales, sea lions, harbour seals and sea otters! Adding to the wilderness experience is Clayoquot's extensive range of adventure activities, including deep-sea fishing, whale watching, surfing, kayaking, mountain biking, sailing, climbing and archery. One thing's for sure, you won't get bored at this Canada dude ranch!

If you're looking for a more relaxing dude ranch vacation, head to the dude ranch's secluded beaches, hot springs or luxury tented spa. Indulge in a spot of yoga, a soak in the hot tub, massages, facials and many more spa treatments, for the ultimate relaxation experience.

And the luxury doesn’t stop there – dining at Clayoquot is a truly gourmet experience, Executive Chef Ryan Orr’s ‘modern natural’ cuisine winning critical acclaim. Fresh and whole-food oriented, Chef Ryan's exquisite meals are created using ingredients sourced from local suppliers and there are menu options to suit every dietary requirement – from vegan to fruitarian, and from low-carb to high-protein diets. Foodies can even enjoy foraging excursions and cookery classes with Chef Ryan himself - simply ask and Clayoquot will arrange.

With such attention to detail and bespoke, personalized service in all it does, it’s no wonder Clayoquot Wilderness Resort has made it into Top50’s discerning collection of luxury ranch vacations – this Canada dude ranch really does offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

For more information and to book, visit Clayoquot Wilderness Resort’s ranch profile at Top50Ranches.com.

Relax, me?! Oh, go on then...

I sat at my desk at work the other day - daydreaming away as usual and clicking the heels of my cowboy boots together, whispering 'There's no place like Montana... there's no place like Montana...' - when a work colleague suddenly snapped my attention back to reality. "Mel," se announced, "I think us girls are long overdue a holiday."

I think they call it a ´lightbulb moment´. "I know just the thing!" I replied, a little to enthusiastically. Having been ranching in the US before, I´d been keen to convince both my horsey and non- horsey girlfriends to to join me on a Western adventure. So, what better opportunity than this to introduce these English ladies to American cowboy culture? Turns out, that´s not exactly what they had in mind. Apparently, not everyone´s idea of relaxation is long days in the saddle and camping out under the stars at night - that´ll just be me, then. Massage and meditation appeared further up their list of priorities, it seemed...hmm, this could prove tricky. Not one to be defeated, however, I made it my mission to prove to them that actually, cowboy country can be the place to escape with the girls...

For head-to-toe pampering, it has to be Averill's Flathead Lodge Lake, which offers therapeutic massages from professional masseuses that would tempt even me out of the saddle. The Montana ranch´s Spring Retreat particularly caught my eye, promising a relaxing and enjoyable three-day package for riders and non-riders alike - and all at a very reasonable price. Even I could be persuaded to forego a lie-in favour of a rejuvenating fitness walk along Swan River Nature Trail in the cool of the morning, which are held daily at the ranch. 

Not even the least horsey of my girlfriends could resist The Ranch at Rock Creek´s five-room spa, with its menu of professional massage therapy treatments, facials, and hair and nail treatments. The latter I found particularly attractive; don´t get me wrong, I´m not afraid of a bit of muck here and there, but dirt-ridden nails and straw-entwined hair at dinner really isn´t the best look for a girl. 

Unless your primary motive is to meet a handsome cowboy and ride off into the sunset, Three Bars ranch is the place for an all-girl getaway. Its bespoke women-only weeks offer the perfect opportunity to leave those men behind, whether you choose to take to the trail or retreat to the heated indoor pool. 

On my mission to find a ranch retreat to please several demanding ladies and provide me with my Western fix, I half expected my choice to be limited to dude ranches. So I was pleasantly surprised to find several working and guest ranches offering great relaxation facilities as well as an authentic Western experience. Being able to combine real ranch work and riding, with yoga, massage and soaks in the hot tub is my idea of horse heaven - and an experience offered by Runamuk Guest Ranch would be quite ideal.

OK, so maybe I´m not being entirely selfless here... I´ll grab any opportunity to put my cowboy boots to good use! But I think I´ve proven my point that ranch getaways don´t have to be about riding and horses. What better place to spend quality time with friends and recharge those batteries than in the vast, open spaces of cowboy country? Put is that way and I don´t think the girls will take much convincing... I think I can safely call this mission accomplished. 

´Til next time!

Mel, Horse & Rider; PONY magazines, UK

Mel Rutherford worked as News Editor for Horse &  Rider Magazine in the UK before more recently taking on the role of Website Editor for Horse & Rider and PONY Magazines.