Life on the Homestead: Ranchlands Zapata Ranch
If you’d like to ride horseback amongst 2,000 bison or through stunning scenery in Great Sand Dunes National Park, hike in wild mountains, or try your hand at working on a real ranch—all while enjoying creature comforts and gourmet meals—venture to Ranchlands Zapata Ranch.
Photo credit: Ranchlands
Something we love when we travel is finding once-in-a-lifetime authentic experiences, and we didn’t have to go too far to find this one. Located in southern Colorado, Ranchlands Zapata Ranch is a 103,000-acre working bison and cattle ranch owned by The Nature Conservancy and managed by Ranchlands.
From early March to late October each year, you can travel to Zapata and settle in to life as a rancher, while also exploring the abundance of natural beauty just waiting to be uncovered all around you.
The Lodge at Zapata Ranch
The lodge at the ranch features 15 bedrooms, each of which is furnished with either a spacious king bed or two queens and a private en-suite bath (one room also features three queens). The lodge is built on the original Zapata homestead with extensive grounds surrounding it. The homestead itself dates back to the late 1800’s, but all facilities have been brought into modern times by way of recent renovations, meaning you won’t sacrifice any of those ever-so-important creature comforts.
Live Like a Rancher
The ranch specializes in true working ranch experiences by integrating guest experiences into daily ranch life as much as possible during their stays. You can ride with the 2,000-head bison herd through preserved meadows and grasslands. Together with your hosts, you can dive into the day-to-day running of the ranch by partaking in activities such as moving livestock, general ranch work, and learning about the holistic management practices used at Zapata Ranch.
All levels of horseback riders are welcome, even beginners, and you will get to enjoy plenty of riding freedom while improving your horsemanship skills in this true working ranch environment. You’ll never read nose-to-tail or follow trails except when required in the national park, and your guides will know all the best spots for you and your equine companion to stretch your legs.
When You’re Off Duty
When you’re not out experiencing your new life as a rancher, you will have plenty of time to take part in the other incredible activities on offer at Zapata Ranch. While we definitely recommend spending some of your time experiencing life on a working ranch, there are so many other fantastic things to do that we wouldn’t want you to miss out on. Some of these activities include:
Participating in a variety of workshops and special weeks including branding calves, western literature workshops, and painting/photography workshops (if you have a special interest, let us know, and we will let you know which dates these special weeks/workshops are on)
Riding through and exploring the Great Sand Dunes National Park, home of the tallest inland dunes in North America
Participating in a photo safari that puts you up close to wildlife including elk, coyotes, and birds, and the Sand Dunes or the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and gives you incredible mementos to take home and share with all your loved ones
Spending an afternoon learning new cooking techniques with Zapata’s skilled dining staff
Enjoying leather working or learning to rope with the Zapata crew
Birdwatching in one of Colorado’s most important migratory pathways
Hiking up to a high mountain lake
Enjoying relaxing massages*
Soaking in a natural hot spring*
Taking a full- or half-day fly-fishing trip on the Arkansas River with world-class anglers* (year-round)
Whitewater rafting down the Arkansas River in Salida, CO* (May – Mid-August)
Rock climbing in Penitente Canyon*
*These experiences incur additional costs and some take place off of the ranch.
If you’d like, we can also arrange for a professional photographer to accompany you for part of all of your time at Zapata. The photo safari mentioned above is a fantastic one-day experience, but if you want even more memories captured, we work with several local photographers who can be there as much as you’d like.
Photo credit: Ranchlands
Dining at Zapata Ranch
The dining experience at Zapata Ranch is second-to-none, especially if you love the farm-to-table concept as much as we do. The talented chefs create homestyle menus often featuring bison and beef raised right on the land you’re exploring and working on, as well as locally-grown vegetables and produce, so the focus truly is on connecting the dishes you’re eating with the local farming community in every way. Family style meals are served in either of two dining rooms—the outside dining area on calm evenings, or the indoor dining room with large windows for stunning views of your surroundings and a cozy fireplace if the weather doesn’t allow for al fresco dining.
A stay at Zapata Ranch will leave you feeling fulfilled, reconnected with nature, and accomplished in the work you’ve done at the ranch. This experience is unlike any other and is the perfect example of what we mean when we talk about authentic travel. With plenty of photos of your journey, and even more memories, you aren’t likely to forget this trip anytime soon.
If you would like to go away to Ranchlands Zapata Ranch (or anywhere else in the world), simply contact us, and we will set you on your way.