Whether its a romantic weekend getaway for two, a family reunion, or a corporate retreat, come discover the magic of Alisal. Hunewill Ranch also offers all the activities that naturally arise from old-fashioned hospitality. On the whiteboard, horses are matched to guests names. On our hay-wagon ride, the sky was black velvet and studded with diamonds. They sit at an elevation of 6500 feet just east of Yosemite Park in the Bridgeport Valley of California. Heading back to ranch after cow herding at Hunewill. As our guest, you can participate in the timeless traditional ranch life of the American West. The Hardy Quarter Horses of Namibia Breed Profile, Where to Ride in 2019: Droolworthy Riding Vacations, Horse Lovers Vacation at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Hunewill Ranch Vacation & Cattle Drives in California. I am absolutely in love with my horse, Ben. Some of the jobs youll do include moving cows, parting cows from the herd, and preparing cattle for shipping to summer pastures. At night, the cattle stay in corrals at neighboring ranches along the route. Horseback riding is the main attraction at Hunewill Ranch. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. by Darley Newman There are "City Slickers" type cattle drives put on for tourists. Speaking of Dwayne I hear that he and wrangler, Sallie Joseph, are . The California Ranch Two weekend cattle drive adventures per year. Photo credit: Dwayne Leonard. But after taking lessons at the ranch, he now loves it. The 4,500-acre Hunewill Ranch was founded in 1861 by Napoleon Bonaparte Hunewill and his wife, Esther. The Hunewill Ranch is a family-owned and operated outfit where great horseback riding is the featured attraction. Ranch activities will vary depending on the dates you visit. In 1880, N.B. The Guest Ranch has been around since 1931 and is even more popular than it was when it first opened. (All without television or video games!) Other activities are riverside barbecues, square dancing, talent night, campfire sing-a-longs and smores, roping, and horseback games. Vacation packages throughout the season emphasize riding, but also provide other unique activities, such as cattle work, dances, and talent nights. Vacation Ranches and Guest Ranches offer many outdoor adventures such as horseback riding, fly-fishing, hiking, mountain climbing, swimming, mountain biking, cattle drives, horse . Box 368 Bridgeport, CA 93517 Phone: (760) 932-7710 Mountain biking is also popular. by Dorina Lindberg Bridgeport Valley lies below the slope of the highway like a green carpet, a contrast against the dun-colored rock hills and sagebrush. 20.8 miles from Hunewill Ranch Free parking Restaurant West Walker Motel View Hotel 60 reviews 23.2 miles from Hunewill Ranch Free Wifi Free parking View more hotels in Bridgeport Value Location Sleep Quality Rooms Cleanliness Service Trip type: Traveled with friends Value Sleep Quality Rooms Cleanliness Trip type: Traveled solo Value Location Copyright 2013-2023 American Roundup. The Bridgeport Valley where the ranch is located is an unspoiled recreational paradise and even borders Yosemite National Park. The tour continued on into the surrounding hills, past mining sites now encircled by barbed wire to keep out the unwary and curious. Breakfast was hearty, lunch was always hot and the coffee was great. Alice and Frank had four children, one of whom died in infancy. Family run working cattle ranch since 1861, located in the Eastern Sierra town of Bridgeport, CA. The 4,500-acre Hunewill Ranch was founded in 1861 by Napoleon Bonaparte Hunewill and his wife, Esther. 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. Wonderful riding, incredible hospitality from the same family that had run the ranch for more than 100 years. Participate in a hands-on cowboy experience which includes sorting, moving, parting and doctoring cattle. Marble Mountain Ranch (Somes Bar, California). What is a ranch vacation without herding cattle? At the Double Rafter Ranch, visitors aren't pampered or coddled in any way, and they are given the chance to participate in a cattle drive just as it would have been conducted back in the 1880s. The children played with goats and dogs, practiced roping, helped with simple chores: they were a vital part of ranch life. An added bonus is the beautiful fall lighting and the glow of autumn colors. Bonaparte's father was in the War of 1812, and his grandfather served under George Washington in the Revolutionary War. Stays include food and. 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. Most of the other ranches have traded horsepower for vehicles. The morning air felt like the beginning of winter. Kate H/TripAdvisor Lake Tahoe, one of the worlds most scenic high mountain lakes, is two hours north of Bridgeport. 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. Photo credit: Dwayne Leonard. We discovered later that guests, wearing huge grins, return to this ranch year after year. Youll find myriad opportunities for safe riding. 01798 865946 1065 County Road 306 Elk Creek, CA 95939 . His hearts desire is to become a Hunewill wrangler. Horseback riding is the driving focus at Hunewill Guest Ranch. When you drive through our gate you feel like you've stepped back in time. She said that other ranches once did this same drive to the lower valleys in Nevada to get their livestock out of the snow, but now, they are the last ranch in the area that still uses horses to drive their cows out. During your stay you will be able to enjoy their tasty Rankin Ranch beef. We get really close with these people were riding with for 10 to 12 hours a day. I touched Elmo lightly and clucked. Our historic ranch is a working cattle and guest ranch. You must have intermediate to advanced riding skills to participate in this experience. Photo byDwayne Leonard. This is far more than just a dude ranch. You'll stay in comfortable cottages near the horse pasture; allowing you to watch the horses come thundering in early each morning. Hunewill Guest Ranch is located in Bridgeport, California on the eastern slope of the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains bordering Yosemite National Park. Their horses are as close to push button as you can get in a horse. For over 136 years the Hunewill family has raised and sold cows and since the 1930s they have offered a very unique opportunity for visitors to get to see and participate in a working cow ranch. As we gazed around the dim interior, we noticed a family of owls sheltered in the cool recesses of shadowy beams. The Hunewills dont see skin color, they just take you for who you are, said Renee. Stan and Jan are described by both guests and employees as the greatest people on earth!. Mammoth Lakes is located an hour south of Bridgeport. She was having a great time working on the ranch, because everyone, including guests, were so friendly. Open; Max Guests; Nearest Airport; Jun-Sep; 8 ; 90 miles Theres more than riding at the ranch. One guest, Sue Hovey, told us her husband was reluctant to ride, because he had no experience. After a satisfying day with the herd you will return each night to the ranch for a hot meal and a warm bed. Bob & Karen have worked, managed, owned and consulted on over 25 guest ranches since 1960, and have personally visited over 80 ranches in total out West - so you're in very good hands! Rates listed do not include meal tax, room tax, or gratuity. Most of the buildings are in a state of arrested decay, preserving the look as they existed when the residents lived there. Ron and Jeanette Tingley feel the ranch is a spiritual place, where guests feel total acceptance. Younger daughter Betsy performed a tap dance duet with her mother, which was absolutely delightful. Sally always lived life "flat out." She and Jan knew the meaning of travel and emphatically shared the outdoors with guests. Episode 304: Western Lander, Wyoming; Montana's . This work will be geared towards riders with intermediate to advanced riding abilities. Let us put your perfect ranch holiday together - give us call on 01798 865 946 or send us an email from the below link -, Have a question about this ranch? A Wild West weekend at the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale; Plus - the Mojave Desert Wagon Train. It was easy to be transported back to 1879. Dewayne Leonard, a retired policeman, works every other week as a wrangler. Find the perfect nevada ranch horse stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. The ranch has become intertwined with many guests family history. The Hunewill (pronounced "Honeywell") Circle H Ranch, located near the town of Bridgeport, is nestled into a cleft of the Eastern Sierra Nevada where the Bridgeport Valley meets the range.The snow-clad peaks of the Sierra reach over 12,000 feet, towering over the ranch, which is at 6,500 feet. took his family east over the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the mining town of Aurora. Privacy Policy. Some of the jobs you'll do include moving cows, parting cows from the herd, and preparing cattle for shipping to summer pastures. We continually update the Equitrekking Travel Deals page and blast it out first in Equitrekking's free monthly e-newsletter. Getting them to go through an open gate was another. Description: Our Guest Ranch has been in the family for 50+ years. Every year when we head home the family can't wait until next year. My wife and I booked the fall color ride and spent four wonderful days at the ranch seeing fall begin in the Eastern Sierras. 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. I squeezed the reins as we came up to the rest of the group and he slowed to a walk. There are between 4 and 7 night ranch stays, cattle weeks, ladies only or adult only weeks. This stay is geared towards intermediate to advanced riders. When floods destroyed the mill in 1861, N.B. Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos. He was always mindful of surroundings, looking around, but was never spooked. Hunewill Guest Ranch is located north of Yosemite National Park in the green, mountainous Bridgeport Valley of California. A Full Ranch Experience Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Whether you are a beginner or have ridden for years, this will be one of the best riding vacations you've ever had. We had the opportunity to visit Hunewill Ranch, the oldest working guest ranch in California and one of California's oldest continuously owned family ranches. Summary Ranch Description Riding Info Other Activities P. O. We split up into our groups and rode out. Megan is the fifth generation of her family to lead this cattle drive, and her children, the sixth generation, now help out too. They move their camp with the herd, sleep in tents, cook over the hot coals and they certainly do not ride nose to tail. I wanted to experience a cattle drive. 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. Elmo was mine for the week. Bricks for the two chimneys came from a brick kiln in Bodie, now a famous ghost town. Hunewill Ranch offers a glimpse of a lifestyle that few of us see and appreciate. . Badger Creek Ranch. Box 368, Bridgeport, CA 93517. info@hunewillranch.com 760-932-7710 775-465-2201 - winter hunewillranch.com Rock Creek Pack Station Just four hours north of the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles and an easy three hours south of Reno, Nevada, is Bishop California. The lumber was logged by N.B. It was during this time, at Lenores urging, the couple decided to try guest ranching along with their working cattle business. There is world class trout fishing in the nearby East Walker River and in the many lakes and streams in the adjacent Toiyabe National Forest. We even have a challenging trailer loading competition where guests and their cow savvy horses load cattle into a stock trailer. Family run working cattle ranch since 1861, located in the Eastern Sierra town of Bridgeport, CA. Several species of trout are found in the rivers and lakes in the . and his brother-in-law successfully operated a sawmill in Woodside. Hunewill Ranch is a working cattle ranch and guests get to move cattle throughout our season. Read more California Cattle Drive Hunewill Ranch - California, USA It was constructed with pegs, not nails. 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. Hunewill Guest Ranch The mountains glowed pink as a bareback wrangler herded horses from their pasture into the corral. They offer beginning to advanced riding and special wranglers for beginners who are excellent at teaching how to ride. Guests will participate and learn many traditional cowboy skills. Sorry, no reviews or feedback have yet been accepted to this item. Games with other children, snacks and picnics on the lawn, visits to the ranch bakery, and strolls to see ranch animals are all part of the program for the under six crowd. Rain On The Sage is a book of poetry co-authored by Hunewill employees, guests, and a Hunewill friend/neighbor, Ken Gardner. Double Rafter are a one-of-a-kind cattle drive. Getting them through the pastures wasnt a problem. I did not want to leave. The Hunewill Ranch offers four- to seven-day vacations ranging from family gatherings to ladies or adults only, for a maximum of 60 guests in 24 comfortable cabins. Sues animated voice and shining eyes emphasized the enthusiasm of her words. The highlight of our stay was the morning cattle drive where we moved 50 cattle over three miles back to the barn. I dreamed of having a real cowboy experience. Amy (staff), Megan and Denise Hunewill dressed in 19th century hoop skirts. Schedule a 30 minute phone call with Bob & Karen today! Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort (Solvang, California). Part 2 Hunewill Ranch Cattle Drive 2009. 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