bought meadowland to graze his oxen; he also acquired some cattle. We offer everything from short enjoyable jaunts on horseback to nine hour rides for the intrepid explorer. After all, Hunewill is a working cattle ranch. Around 25 guests saddle up in November with Megan Hunewill and her family from Hunewill Guest Ranch to drive around 600 mother cows through canyons surrounded by dramatic tall mountains, along the Walker River, to their ranch in Smith Valley's wide open sagebrush and high desert terrain. N.B. Those were strong words coming from a woman who teaches horsemanship to young children. 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. Children who are capable of being led on horseback are led by the babysitter. Copyright 2023 | Hunewill Guest Ranch - All Rights Reserved Hunewill Ranch History Ideal for those looking for a working cattle ranch experience. She also entertains guests around the campfire with sing-a-longs and dances on talent night. An internet search turned up Hunewill, located about an hour north of the resort town of Mammoth Lakes along the north/ south thoroughfare of Interstate Highway 395. During the depression years, cattle prices were very low. I love working here so much Id do it for free! announced Sallie Joseph, a longtime Hunewill wrangler. Many of the same guests come year after year to participate in this special adventure, leading cattle from their summer ranch in Bridgeport, California down to their winter ranch in Smith Valley, Nevada. The wranglers were all extremely professional and attentive, and that made the riding even more pleasant for my daughter. You'll be able to learn cowboy skills such as gathering and sorting cattle. This is a serious ranch with serious cattleman & horseman (& women)! Sign up to get the best dude ranch vacation travel deals first. Elmos name was called out, and I approached a 15ish hand sorrel gelding with a blaze. I wanted to experience a cattle drive. I was taken aback by her enthusiasm. 26- 30 May 2020 Spring Cattle drive Work cattle in Bridgeport and at our Smith Valley, Nevada ranch with Hunewill family members. 84 5 Mile Rd, Parkman, WY 82838, USA. The Annual Hunewill Ranch Cattle Drive in November is for serious intermediate-to-advanced riders. There is something for everyone at the ranch, whether you come with your family, friends, or on your own. The cattle drive takes place rain, snow, or shine, so be prepared for all types of weather! We also met an interesting 20-year-old student from Jamaica named Renee who was majoring in hospitality. There are between 4 and 7 night ranch stays, cattle weeks, ladies only or adult only weeks. Guests will participate and learn many traditional cowboy skills. Napoleon Bonaparte Hunewill's ancestors were French Huguenots from Alsace-Lorraine. Kate H/TripAdvisor The 4,500-acre Hunewill Ranch was founded in 1861 by Napoleon Bonaparte Hunewill and his wife, Esther. The house is framed by irrigated grassy meadows, and beyond that, by towering mountain ranges. Learning how to ride horses in Golden Gate Park, I have been dreaming of coming to a ranch, like Hunewill, since I was 10 years old. The Hunewills have made some adjustments to make the cattle drive vacation more traveler friendly. Home style meals are served in the dining room in the founder's Victorian ranch house. The kids (now adults) love it, and so do my husband. Member of the Dude Ranchers' Association Hunewill Ranch also offers all the activities that naturally arise from old-fashioned hospitality. The Welcome Home rock rings true. Younger daughter Betsy performed a tap dance duet with her mother, which was absolutely delightful. It was a logistical feat to arrange enough trailers and drivers to haul 35 horses and riders on unpaved, washboard roads to the gold and silver mining town, now a California State Historic Park. I couldnt have asked for a better horse. The ranch was built in 1928 and was opened as a dude ranch in 2005. 01798 865946 The guest ranch has been welcoming visitors from around the world for over 55 years. Greenhorn Ranch is a guest ranch in Californias Lost Sierra. Most of the original buildings still stand including the farmhouse, now turned into guest rooms and the dining/ kitchen areas. She was having a great time working on the ranch, because everyone, including guests, were so friendly. They are able to cater to all levels and also take kids over 6. Web Visit website. 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. He happily told his wife, This is something we can do until we get really old!. by Darley Newman There are "City Slickers" type cattle drives put on for tourists. Vacation packages throughout the season emphasize riding, but also provide other unique activities, such as cattle work, dances, and talent nights. Beyond the valley, the mountains rise sharply, reminiscent of the Tetons. We picked Hunewill because it is a working cattle ranch and everything is geared around trail riding and cattle drives. Stays include food and. Ride through golden fall meadows or venture on horseback into the back country during this special weekend. Theres a great deal of work and responsibility involved in her job. This property is mainly a working cattle ranch with over 1200 head of cattle. The rides are well designed - beginners receive great attention and care, while intermediate and advanced riders were never bored. We spent quite a bit of time with Stan. A home away from home, Greenhorn Ranch welcomes you as family. There was square dancing, which, at 6500 feet, can be a cardiovascular workout. Hunewill Ranch offers a glimpse of a lifestyle that few of us see and appreciate. Just minutes away from the premier guest ranch are more than 75 renowned vineyards and wineries and the charming Danish village of Solvang. There was also talent night with participation from a few guests, including a little girl who sang a Beatles tune. It was constructed with pegs, not nails. Leslie is a rancher at Hunewill Ranch in Bridgeport Valley where her family raises cattle and operates a guest ranch. With a temperate climate year-round and ever-changing seasonal activities, any time of year is the perfect time to visit. Sadly, working cow ranches are rapidly disappearing as a way of life so spending time there is something to be valued. The Autumn Getaway is a weekend package scheduled during some of Bridgeport's best fall color. The cabin heaters are a thoughtful touch. Recommended Reviews For the latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check Stan and Jan are semi-retired but still involved in overseeing ranch operations. Life moves at a slower pace. This property is what we would term a Working Guest ranch. 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. This stay is geared towards intermediate to advanced riders. We have a main lodge and 4 log cabins built in the 1920's. Wranglers and Greenhorns break bread at the same table. The Hunewill family and the wranglers they employ made us feel really welcome and safe. Todays trail-riding guests can choose from several ranch packages, including the Memorial Day Weekend Package, Spring Cattle Work, the Horse Lovers Package, the Buckeye Canyon Roundup, the Autumn Getaway Weekend, and the Annual Hunewill Ranch Cattle Drive. Bodie Gold Rush History Our meal companions and fellow riders were 2 couples, one fromSouthern California and Boston, and 2 solo travelers also from Southern California. It was on this drive that Cupid launched a successful attack on two guests, Kay and Fred, whove been happily married for many years now. Sign up to get the best dude ranch vacation travel deals first. 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. Box 368 Bridgeport, CA 93517. Compared to other guest ranches, the ranch does not offer additional activities outside of riding so take that into consideration if you opt for the non-rider option. A Wild West weekend at the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale; Plus - the Mojave Desert Wagon Train. Copyright 2013-2023 American Roundup. Jan Hunewill related how she "came onto the scene" in the 1950s when she visited the guest ranch, then got a summer job there and eventually married the owners' son. At this time, masks are not required. My nephew and I also made a side trip to Bishop to trout fish with Guide Pat Yeager. Hunewill Guest Ranch Horses and riding groups are available for every riding ability. Photo credit: Dorina Lindberg, Because of guests questions about the Hunewill history, Megan, Betsy and Denise (daughter-in-law) conduct walking tours of the ranch buildings. www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. info@duderanch.org | 307-587-2339 | 1122 12th St., Cody, WY 82414, 1122 12th Street, P.O. We get really close with these people were riding with for 10 to 12 hours a day. This beautiful piano is still in the house today. If you are inclined, bring a bottle or two to share.More. Rate includes meals, horseback riding, lodging, and ranch activitieS. Land grants were issued to the Hunewills from Presidents Ulysses S. Grant, Benjamin Harris, and Grover Cleveland. Home > United States > Bridgeport, CA > . more. Drive 30 minutes north of Santa Barbara and youll find The. Many of the buildings interiors are furnished and stocked with period artifacts, giving a glimpse of life back then. I can handle a horse (I rode hunter/jumpers for over 12 years), though it had been a couple years since doing any regular riding. Traces of a horse racing track and baseball diamond were visible near the outskirts of town. Parents are amazed by all the clean outdoor fun that kids find here. Betsy manages the office with smiles and efficiency. As our guest, you can participate in the timeless traditional ranch life of the American West. As I drove away, my eyes kept darting to the rearview mirror, for a one last look. Marble Mountain dude ranch vacations meet the diverse interests and needs of your entire family or group. Many people come back year after year.. We discovered later that guests, wearing huge grins, return to this ranch year after year. P. O. Hunewill Ranch`s All the other guests had been coming to the ranch for years so were well used to everything the ranch and the immediate area had to offer, but we were seeing things for the first time. Photo credit: Dwayne Leonard. Elmo and I stood guard next to the gate to prevent an escape down the side of the fence, but after a bit of patience and prodding, the herd continued on through the gate. Hunewill Ranch Cattle Drive 2009. Marble Mountain Ranch (Somes Bar, California). All rooms are non-smoking areas. Terri Geissinger, an interpreter and Bodie historian, rode along with us. Rates listed do not include meal tax, room tax, or gratuity. Once in a while cows will need to be "doctored" 'in the field. The majority of their horses are very safe for beginners and small children. 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. We include the flights, hotels, ranch stay, car hire, transfer arrangements where we can and anything else you may require. The food was awesome. For the best deals on travel insurance, be sure to use the DRAs preferred provider! After a dinner of roast beef, a brief orientation on horse basics and safety tips was held in the barn, concluded by dessert. Known as N.B., Bonaparte grew up on a farm in Maine, where he learned blacksmithing, and how to build stone walls and fences. Tucson's White Stallion Ranch in summer; Growing up horseback on the Carver family cattle drive. Stan Hunewill met his wife, Jan, 50 years ago when he was working on the ranch and she was a guest. Search the Equitrekking Vacation Guide and Top20Ranches.com. Bonaparte's father was in the War of 1812, and his grandfather served under George Washington in the Revolutionary War. He says hes living his dream. Need more ideas? and Esther had their only child, Frank. We picked Hunewill because it is a working cattle ranch and everything is geared around trail riding and cattle drives. At night, the valley laid under a canopy of stars streaked with a ribbon of Milky Way. It has been a working cattle ranch since the late 1800's, and a dude ranch since 1931. It was on this drive that Cupid launched a successful attack on two guests, Kay and Fred, who've been happily married for many years now. Frank and Alices son Stanley was the first Hunewill cowboy. Box 368 Bridgeport, CA 93517 Phone: (760) 932-7710 2,590 were here. Photo credit: Dwayne Leonard. His hearts desire is to become a Hunewill wrangler. The Guest Ranch has been around since 1931 and is even more popular than it was when it first opened. Alice and Frank had four children, one of whom died in infancy. We had a super time with him as well. They were hesitant on this cattld drive and refused to continue on. Many of the Hunewill guests are like my husband with almost zero riding experience. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. My family has been visiting since 2004 and we love the long lopes through meadows. Horses spend the night in a large field and in the morning are driven into a corner and then surrounded by a cowboy . You'll stay in comfortable cottages near the horse pasture; allowing you to watch the horses come thundering in early each morning. 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