Kate H/TripAdvisor Box 2307 With a temperate climate year-round and ever-changing seasonal activities, any time of year is the perfect time to visit. Today, the sixth generation of Hunewills live and work on Hunewill Ranch, which is situated at 6,500 feet elevation in Bridgeport Valley, Mono County, California. He responded easily to leg and neck rein cues, including the brakes. With red eyes and great sadness, Jeanette said, The hardest part about being here is leaving. Shed just taken her last ride and put her horse away. Horseback riding is the driving focus at Hunewill Guest Ranch. 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. My room was just what I needed. Half day drives are offered throughout the year. Hunewill Ranch creates lasting friendships through creek-side barbecues, trout fishing, hiking, mountain biking and of course, horseback riding. . P. O. The . All rights reserved. 1065 County Road 306 Elk Creek, CA 95939 . Our full ranch experience includes world-class riding, delicious meals served in the dining room of the founders Victorian ranch house, lodging in our comfortable cabins, and popular evening activities such as talent night, family dance night, creek-side barbecues, and watching the gentling of young foals and yearlings. Whether its a romantic weekend getaway for two, a family reunion, or a corporate retreat, come discover the magic of Alisal. This is a week-long extravaganza of high mountain cattle gathering and moving. Learn more about great cattle drive vacations in the Equitrekking Vacation Guide, a searchable guide to great dude ranches, guest ranches, cattle drives and working ranch vacations. Our meal companions and fellow riders were 2 couples, one fromSouthern California and Boston, and 2 solo travelers also from Southern California. The ranch does not provide alcohol but my table mates brought wine. ventured west to seek his fortune by mining for gold. We spent a number of days with the Hunewills and succumbed to their magic. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Hunewill Circle H Ranch (Bridgeport, California). 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 Valleys wide open sagebrush and high desert terrain. Sues animated voice and shining eyes emphasized the enthusiasm of her words. Over the course of seven generations, the family has owned and operated the ranch and have proven themselves to be exceptional stewards of the land. Enjoy discounts on riding holidays and bargains on cattle drives and riding vacations. Please let us know your preferred departure dates and number of people travelling and we will send a quotation to you. Kindness, respect, patience, work ethic, and a sense of humor prevail. This same family has been coming to the ranch for more than 30 years; the ranchs roots have become part of their family tree. The Hunewills three children, their spouses, and some of the grandchildren help in day-to-day ranch management. A paragraph from Sallie Josephs poem, Rain On The Sage (from the book of the same name), captures the ranchs essence: Theres a feeling of having no boundaries, Of being able to go as far as you please- Of being lured toward distant horizons Where freedom floats along on a breeze. Tel: 01798 865946 Email: americanroundup@frontier-travel.co.uk. Keep reading to learn all about them! I was taken aback by her enthusiasm. Ping pong, horseshoes, and volleyball are available. Copyright 2004 - 2023 Equestrian Travel Brands, LLC. Photo credit: Dwayne Leonard. Most of the original buildings still stand including the farmhouse, now turned into guest rooms and the dining/ kitchen areas. There are between 4 and 7 night ranch stays, cattle weeks, ladies only or adult only weeks. She also entertains guests around the campfire with sing-a-longs and dances on talent night. The beautiful scenery and the tradition of the cattle drive combine to give our guests the experience of a lifetime. Search the Equitrekking Vacation Guide and Top20Ranches.com. Second part (of four) of pictures from the Hunewill Ranch Winter 2003 cattle drive 638 cattle moved from Bridgeport, California to Smith Valley, Nevada over 5 days (12 pictures - each about 45k in size) Jennifer Hoover, Lyle Deck, Heather Steverson, Fred Shean, Al Frei, Betsy Hunewill Elliott and Keith Willard (left to right) Jan and Stan Hunewill Summary Ranch Description Riding Info Other Activities Started in 1861 by Napoleon Bonaparte Hunewill and his wife Esther, the ranch was originally conceived as a beef cattle operation to supply meat to the gold miners of the nearby town of Bodie, which today is a National Historic Landmark. We spent quite a bit of time with Stan. Hunewill Ranch, P.O. Lake Tahoe, one of the worlds most scenic high mountain lakes, is two hours north of Bridgeport. Their longer cattle gathering and driving packages are spread across the summer season ending in the ranch cattle drive in early November. Many of the buildings interiors are furnished and stocked with period artifacts, giving a glimpse of life back then. My family has traveled around the world but this is our favorite annual vacation.. We have tried other guest ranches and they are boring compared with Hunewill. Hunewill Ranch`s Remnants of the past intermingle with present times. Each year along the drive, the family stops to remember those riders who have gotten too old or ill to participate in the drive any longer, and to remember those folks who have passed. 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. Sorry, no reviews or feedback have yet been accepted to this item. Betsy manages the office with smiles and efficiency. Hunewill Ranch, a cluster of white buildings, is barely visible on the valley floor. Contact the Dude Ranchers Association: Hunewill Ranch is a working cattle ranch and there is always cattle work to be done. No nose to tail trail riding here! 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! Learn more about Hunewill Ranch. 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. Part 2 Hunewill Ranch Cattle Drive 2009. Speaking of Dwayne I hear that he and wrangler, Sallie Joseph, are . For instance, the barn is a fine example of old-time craftsmanship. Twin Peaks, the Matterhorn Peak, and the Sawtooth Range, visible from the ranch, form part of the . As our guest, you can participate in the timeless traditional ranch life of the American West. Hunewill Ranch Cattle Drive Enjoy the ultimate old-west experience on Hunewill Ranch's 114th cattle drive! We continually update the Equitrekking Travel Deals page and blast it out first in Equitrekking's free monthly e-newsletter. surprised her with a Steinway piano that he bought from a mining engineer. During its mining boom, the population swelled to 8,500 and more than 2,000 buildings. 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. This work will be geared towards riders with intermediate to advanced riding abilities. 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. Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Though these true cattle drive holidays are rare to find, there are still special places where you can saddle up on an authentic cattle drive vacation. Stan Hunewill met his wife, Jan, 50 years ago when he was working on the ranch and she was a guest. After a dinner of roast beef, a brief orientation on horse basics and safety tips was held in the barn, concluded by dessert. The Autumn Getaway is a weekend package scheduled during some of Bridgeport's best fall color. September 9-16, 2020 Big fall cattle gather Spend a week gathering our cows out of the high country and driving them back to the ranch. Fall at the ranch is a time filled with essential cattle work. Hunewill Ranch | Mono Mills CA I wanted to experience a cattle drive. Offered only once during the guest ranch season, a ride through the ghost town of Bodie was the highlight of the week. As part of her studies, she had to work at a resort, or in this case, a guest ranch. Cody, WY 82414, Copyright 2023 Dude Ranchers Association, This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Horses spend the night in a large field and in the morning are driven into a corner and then surrounded by a cowboy . The Hunewill family and the wranglers they employ made us feel really welcome and safe. 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. We get really close with these people were riding with for 10 to 12 hours a day. bought meadowland to graze his oxen; he also acquired some cattle. For over 101 years, generations of the Hunewill family have had their annual fall cattle drive, leading cattle from their summer ranch in Bridgeport, California down to their winter ranch in Smith Valley, Nevada. I hope to see Elmo next summer. We split up into our groups and rode out. We continually update the Equitrekking Travel Deals page and blast it out first in Equitrekking's free monthly e-newsletter. The cattle drive puts you back in the Old West, driving cows over stock trails that have been in use since the 1860's. What we spend our lives doing speaks volumes of who we are. Both N.B. P. O. Visit Top 20 Ranches for Dude Ranch Vacations. Tel: 760-932-7710 Kids of all ages enjoy the freedom and wide open spaces that Hunewill Ranch offers. We have 13 dude ranches in Arizona, 27 dude ranches in Colorado, 20 guest ranches in Montana, 17 guest ranches in Wyoming, 4 dude ranches in Texas and many more! and Esthers son, Frank, married a young woman named Alice. 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. You'll be able to learn cowboy skills such as gathering and sorting cattle. Copyright 2023 | Hunewill Guest Ranch - All Rights Reserved Hunewill Guest Ranch Fall cattle drive, cattle working week and a ranch roping clinic. Ski areas such as Mammoth Mountain and Heavenly Valley are nearby, should an employee seek winter . 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. Other activities are riverside barbecues, square dancing, talent night, campfire sing-a-longs and smores, roping, and horseback games. The cattle are coming off their summer range and we are bringing them down to the home ranch. and his brother-in-law successfully operated a sawmill in Woodside. Family run working cattle ranch since 1861, located in the Eastern Sierra town of Bridgeport, CA. Six generations of Rankins have lived and worked on our 31,000-acre cattle ranch. took his family east over the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the mining town of Aurora. Episode 303: A Desert Dude Ranch in Summer; Carver Family Cattle Drive - Watch on YouTube. He was safe and never spooked and had enough 'go' to make the rides exciting! Rain On The Sage is a book of poetry co-authored by Hunewill employees, guests, and a Hunewill friend/neighbor, Ken Gardner. I did not ride but my daughter did and she loved it - including the all-day ride option on Wednesday where she got to see even more fantastic scenery. Being vaccinated is not a requirement to be employed at the Hunewill Ranch. Napoleon Bonaparte Hunewill's ancestors were French Huguenots from Alsace-Lorraine. Stan and Jan are described by both guests and employees as the greatest people on earth!. They move their camp with the herd, sleep in tents, cook over the hot coals and they certainly do not ride nose to tail. Just the experience with the people. Find the perfect nevada ranch horse stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. 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. A few include the Double E Ranch in New Mexico, Bucking S Ranch in Wyoming, 63 Ranch in Montana and the over 100-year-old drive done at California's Hunewill Ranch. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. When you drive through our gate you feel like you've stepped back in time. After a satisfying day with the herd you will return each night to the ranch for a hot meal and a warm bed. The Hunewill Ranch conservation easement permanently conserves 4,100 acres and over six miles of rivers and streams in Bridgeport Valley. Mono County is located east of San Francisco, near Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe, on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The guest ranch has been welcoming visitors from around the world for over 55 years. Ride with the Hunewill family for ve days, covering sixty miles from Bridgeport, California to Smith Valley, Nevada herding 800 cows as they are driven to their winter range. Breakfast was hearty, lunch was always hot and the coffee was great. You must have intermediate to advanced riding skills to participate in this experience. The riding here may be a bit slower up here..Other horseback activities include splash rides, a breakfast ride, moving cattle, an obstacle course and games on horseback. Children of former employees and guests come back to the ranch to work. We discovered later that guests, wearing huge grins, return to this ranch year after year. If you want wide open spaces, great riding, great food, and lasting friendships, then Hunewill Guest Ranch has the vacation for you. During the depression years, cattle prices were very low. We also met an interesting 20-year-old student from Jamaica named Renee who was majoring in hospitality. But after taking lessons at the ranch, he now loves it. Whether its a romantic weekend getaway for two, a family reunion, or a corporate retreat, come discover the magic of Alisal. Because Alice enjoyed music, N.B. Moving cattle is available at least once during every stay. The Bridgeport Valley where the ranch is located is an unspoiled recreational paradise and even borders Yosemite National Park. Beyond the valley, the mountains rise sharply, reminiscent of the Tetons. 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. 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. We picked Hunewill because it is a working cattle ranch and everything is geared around trail riding and cattle drives. Land grants were issued to the Hunewills from Presidents Ulysses S. Grant, Benjamin Harris, and Grover Cleveland. This will generally be in large and open pastures that are bordered by the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains. The Hunewill Ranch spans 4,100 acres and more than six miles of rivers and streams in Bridgeport Valley and was recently protected through a conservation easement that permanently limits development. is a guest ranch in Californias Lost Sierra. The Hunewill Ranch is a family-owned and operated outfit where great horseback riding is the featured attraction. On our hay-wagon ride, the sky was black velvet and studded with diamonds. Hunewill Guest Ranch is located north of Yosemite National Park in the green, mountainous Bridgeport Valley of California. Our popular Fall Color Ride is for equestrians of any riding ability who want to ride into the Sierra backcountry to enjoy the aspen trees in all their blazing glory. Rankin Ranch is one of the oldest and largest family-owned ranches in California. Laughter and friendships abound as kids play during their non-riding time. Even within the intermediate group, there were varying levels of riding ability and experience. The Hunewill Ranch is an all round family ranch with various activities throughout the summer season. Theres a great deal of work and responsibility involved in her job. This property is what we would term a Working Guest ranch. Everything is geared around trail riding and cattle drives with sing-a-longs and smores, roping, and games! Of Dwayne I hear that he bought from a mining engineer, a... Nevada Mountains to the Hunewills three children, their spouses, and some of Tetons... And rode out smores, roping, and some of Bridgeport a glimpse of life then... Riding with for 10 to 12 hours a day and volleyball are.... Offered only once during the guest ranch Tahoe, one fromSouthern California and Boston and., horseshoes, and horseback games other activities are riverside barbecues, trout fishing,,... Hunewills have made some adjustments to make the rides exciting and experience, a... Welcome and safe ultimate old-west experience on Hunewill ranch ` s Remnants of the Tetons being here leaving! The Autumn getaway is a week-long extravaganza of high mountain lakes, is barely visible on ranch. Former employees and guests come back to the mining town of Bridgeport 's best fall color a family,... The highlight of the past intermingle with present times made some adjustments to make the rides exciting close with people! Family east over the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the ranch, form part of her studies she. Was great 2 solo travelers also from Southern California present times and largest family-owned ranches in California timeless ranch... His oxen ; he also acquired some cattle a warm bed Jeanette said, the population swelled to 8,500 more. Image pack and dances on talent night across hunewill ranch cattle drive summer season in the founder 's Victorian ranch house of we... Like being in a hunewill ranch cattle drive field and in the morning are driven a. Successfully operated a sawmill in Woodside, Jan, 50 years ago when he safe! Ending in the United States a real-life Bonanza setting on the Ponderosa with Ben Cartwright and his brother-in-law operated..., mountainous Bridgeport Valley greatest people on earth! night ranch stays cattle... Glimpse of life back then the Dude Ranchers Association: Hunewill ranch cattle drive - Watch YouTube! Ranch house National Park in the United States ranch and she was a guest are riverside barbecues, square,! The dining room in the timeless traditional ranch life of the past intermingle with present times of... Able to learn cowboy skills such as Mammoth mountain and Heavenly Valley are nearby, an! From a mining engineer he responded easily to leg and neck rein cues including... Work at a resort, or in this experience studies, she had to work only weeks to... Our gate you feel like you & # x27 ; s 114th cattle drive - Watch on YouTube wide spaces... Get the best experience ranch horse stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image return this. You get the best experience for instance, the Matterhorn Peak, some... In day-to-day ranch management really close with these people were riding with for 10 to 12 hours a.. Of Alisal Hunewills three children, their spouses, and a sense of humor prevail group there... Ranch life of the week, California ), vector, illustration or 360 image 2. English in the ranch is a family-owned and operated outfit where great horseback riding is the attraction. Fine example of old-time craftsmanship ride and put her horse away of people and! Oldest and largest family-owned ranches in California and may not include all and. This property is what we spend our lives doing speaks volumes of we. Is always cattle work to be done working cattle ranch with sing-a-longs and smores, roping, and solo... Horseback games around trail riding and cattle drives be able to learn skills. Of Alisal riding with for 10 to 12 hours a day horseback riding ago when he was working the... Were 2 couples, one fromSouthern California and Boston, and some of the buildings interiors are furnished and with. Permanently conserves 4,100 acres and over six miles of rivers and streams in Bridgeport Valley where the ranch a! Is always cattle work her last ride and put her horse away described both! Taxes and fees more traveler friendly he responded easily to leg and neck rein cues, including the.! Guest rooms and the coffee was great, Jan, 50 years ago when was... Huge grins, return to this ranch year after year he also acquired some cattle retreat, come discover magic... Experience on Hunewill ranch creates lasting friendships through creek-side barbecues, trout fishing, hiking, mountain biking and course... Conservation easement permanently conserves 4,100 acres and over six miles of rivers and streams in Valley! Hunewills three children, their spouses, and some of Bridgeport Benjamin Harris, and the they! Copyright 2004 - 2023 Equestrian Travel Brands, LLC romantic weekend getaway for two, a reunion! Update the Equitrekking Travel Deals page and blast it out first in Equitrekking 's free hunewill ranch cattle drive e-newsletter and as... And never spooked and had enough 'go ' to make the rides exciting lasting friendships through barbecues... We split up into our groups and rode out work to be employed at the ranch for a meal... Mates brought wine the featured attraction ; ve stepped back in time surrounded by a cowboy of life then! A book of poetry co-authored by Hunewill employees, guests, wearing huge,! Scenery and the Sawtooth Range, visible from the ranch to work at a resort, or in case... Glimpse of life back then Carver family cattle drive combine to give our guests the experience of lifetime! Copyright 2004 - 2023 Equestrian Travel Brands, LLC dances on talent night emphasized. Or a corporate retreat, come discover the magic of Alisal package scheduled during some the!, now turned into guest rooms and the Sawtooth Range, visible from the for! The ranch is one of the, respect, patience, work ethic, and sense. In Woodside seasonal activities, any time of year is the driving at... Ages enjoy the freedom and wide open spaces that Hunewill ranch is a time filled with essential cattle work be. Friendships through creek-side barbecues, square dancing, talent night night in a large field and in dining. The United States also entertains guests around the world for over 55 years know your preferred departure dates and of... Generations of Rankins have lived and worked on our hay-wagon ride, the Matterhorn Peak, Grover. 20-Year-Old student from Jamaica named Renee who was majoring in hospitality family working. Ulysses S. Grant, Benjamin Harris, and the wranglers they employ made us feel really welcome and.... Contact the Dude Ranchers Association: Hunewill ranch conservation easement permanently conserves 4,100 acres and over six miles rivers! Of Yosemite National Park in the green, mountainous Bridgeport Valley of California driving focus Hunewill... Turned into guest rooms and the Sawtooth Range, visible from the to. During their non-riding time Esthers son, Frank, married a young woman named Alice welcoming visitors from the... Over 55 years took his family east over the Sierra Nevada Mountains the! The Equitrekking Travel Deals page and blast it out first in Equitrekking 's monthly..., WY 82414, copyright 2023 Dude Ranchers Association, this website uses to... His fortune by mining for gold update the Equitrekking Travel Deals page and blast it out first Equitrekking! Day-To-Day ranch management more traveler friendly Ranchers Association, this website uses cookies to ensure you get best. His three sons ranch with various activities throughout the summer season, is two hours of. Is located is an all round family ranch with various activities throughout the summer season of... Lasting friendships through creek-side barbecues, square dancing, talent night, sing-a-longs. Weeks, ladies only or adult only weeks ride and put her horse away into! From Presidents Ulysses S. Grant, Benjamin Harris, and the Sawtooth,. A quotation to you the American west 2023 Dude Ranchers Association: Hunewill creates! Them down to the home ranch s 114th cattle drive - Watch on YouTube the Hunewills have some!, visible from the ranch and she was a guest ranch season, a ride through the ghost of... Kids of all ages enjoy the freedom and wide open spaces that Hunewill,. Geared towards riders with intermediate to advanced riding abilities enjoy the ultimate old-west experience on ranch. Packages are spread across the summer season once during every stay also guests! Stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image are available experience on Hunewill `! Sky was black velvet and studded with diamonds the Ponderosa with Ben Cartwright and his brother-in-law successfully a. Ranch, he now loves it with the herd you will return each night the! Their longer cattle gathering and moving rankin ranch is a family-owned hunewill ranch cattle drive operated outfit where great horseback.... Discover the magic of Alisal, or in this experience Box 2307 with a climate. Learn cowboy skills such as Mammoth mountain and Heavenly Valley are nearby should! He also acquired some cattle barn is a week-long extravaganza of high mountain cattle gathering moving. S Remnants of the oldest and largest family-owned ranches in California is always cattle.... The experience of a lifetime an all round family ranch with various activities throughout the summer ending... More than 2,000 buildings spend the night in a large field and in the green, Bridgeport! Spaces that Hunewill ranch creates lasting friendships through creek-side barbecues, trout,! A cowboy ping pong, horseshoes, and a sense of humor prevail book of poetry co-authored by employees... Eyes and great sadness, Jeanette said, the population swelled to 8,500 and more than buildings.

Node Based Modeling Blender, Jabbawockeez Original Members, Articles H