Majestic Dude Ranch
Majestic Dude Ranch
5
About
A family-owned and oriented guest ranch nestled high in the pristine wilderness of the San Juan Mountains and just 35 minutes from Durango, CO. Since 1956, Lake Mancos Ranch (now re-named the Majestic Dude Ranch) has been offering our guests a home away from home in the Colorado mountains 35 miles west of Durango. A week-long, all-inclusive dude ranch vacation provides families with a lifetime of memories, whether that means long rides on a mountain trail, guided mountain bike tours, hikes in the neighboring national forest, catching a rainbow trout along the banks of a cool stream, lake or river, or just relaxing by the fire with friends.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
121 reviews
Excellent
114
Very good
4
Average
1
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Tami P
8 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
Truly the best family vacation in our lives! The activities, the owner Robert and his amazing staff, the food (breakfast, lunch and dinner!), and location were fantastic. We WILL be back with friends and family. From horseback riding, family baseball game, mountain biking, river rafting, human foosball, hikes, ATVs and FAMILY photo session and IT WAS ALL INCLUDED in the per person price! They even went to town to the pharmacy and paid for our so’s asthma puffer that was forgotten at home. While glove service all around and we have the amazing memories to reprove it. We had a total of 11 in our ground from Nana to parents and grandchildren (13 to 19 in age). Not a TV to be seen and they were off their phones the whole time as they were having so much fun.
Written July 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
msaleem123
2 contributions
Jun 2021
The most wonderful family experience. Robert the owner surrounds you with staff who care and remain always positive and upbeat. His own positivity is evident throughout all aspects of the stay. You are well taken care of at Majestic. We plan on returning soon.
Written June 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
flagirl
Grand Rapids, Michigan44 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
Incredible week at this family dude ranch with our multi generational family of 17. Ages 5-72. Something for everyone, every day. Too many activities to list. Archery, skeet shooting, hiking, fishing, baseball, horseback riding, laser tag and more.
The food is delicious and they cater to every dietary need. Counselors for the younger kids were amazing and the Wranglers were top notch. Can’t say enough about the staff.
The word “no” is not in their vocabulary. And the owners are on site constantly, cooking, checking on guests, etc. if you want a fabulous family vacation that you’ll remember forever, this is the place for you!
The food is delicious and they cater to every dietary need. Counselors for the younger kids were amazing and the Wranglers were top notch. Can’t say enough about the staff.
The word “no” is not in their vocabulary. And the owners are on site constantly, cooking, checking on guests, etc. if you want a fabulous family vacation that you’ll remember forever, this is the place for you!
Written July 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CAROL A
2 contributions
Jun 2021
5 stars is not enough for our family's experience this past week. From Robert, to the people who work there (and go above and beyond to make sure you have the best experience possible), to the many activities available (never a dull moment if you choose), to the amazing meals provided by the chefs, kitchen staff and dining servers, you will not be disappointed. Never been to another dude ranch, but can't imagine one any better than Majestic Dude Ranch in Mancos, CO. We were a family of 11, grandparents, daughters and spouses, grandchildren ages 23-7 and stayed from Saturday to Friday. No one left with anything but great memories. Well worth every penny and didn't have to buy or pay for a thing while there unless we wanted something extra (souvenirs).
Written June 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeremy F
Parkland, FL20 contributions
Jul 2021 • Couples
I cannot say enough positive things about majestic dude ranch. My wife and I just stayed there for one week and it was the most magical experience we could have ever hoped for. Between the horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, white water rafting and all of the communal meals and late night activities, majestic dude ranch is absolutely amazing. All of their staff including the owners Robert and Jamie are so personable and hands-on. It was by far the best vacation we have ever taken and I cannot recommend enough that everyone experience a week at Majestic dude ranch. We certainly will be going back many times in the future.
Written August 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Erin P
44 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
We were guests at Majestic Dude Ranch last week and I am still dreaming of being there. I went with my husband, our two elementary-school-aged kids, my brother, and my 73 y/o parents to celebrate their fiftieth anniversary. We all agree it was the best vacation ever! There was something for everyone, every single day. Be active , relax, or both. It was easy to do stuff as a group or break off into smaller groups. The kids were never bored and were well taken care of by the staff so we got plenty of adult time. The staff was so accommodating and the food was fresh, hearty yet healthy and delicious… farm to table… the owner, Robert smokes the meat right there on the ranch. They made a surprise custom cake for my parents for their anniversary. There are so many fun activities throughout the week, but our family favorites were the trail rides on the horses, riding ATVs to the top of a nearby mountain, and human foosball! Just book it and enjoy an unforgettable week for every age!
Written August 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Barbara M
1 contribution
Aug 2021
I give them 100 out of 5 stars. Just came home from Majestic Dude Ranch. What a blast ! Could not be happier with my experience ! You will not find a more accommodating place! Ready to satisfy your every desire. More food than you can wish for. Delish, all you can eat lemon cookies !! Activities for every second if you want them. Hands on owner, Robert which I cannot say enough good about him. Did I say he cooks the best omelets ? His staff run a close second to Robert. They are like one big family. They are friendly and always helpful with anything and everything. Great horses that are VERY WELL taken care of. Wranglers are the best ! All of them are there to help you. You don't like something, they will fix it. Views awesome ! Stars and Milky way are so brilliant at night. Robert is also very kind when your abilities are zero on the bull riding. Thank you Robert and Staff for such a satisfying and perfect vacation!
Written August 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jim Ed
Hart, MI122 contributions
Sep 2019 • Friends
Spent a Sept Adult only week with good friends who had been to majestic before. I trusted their recommendation and they were spot on. We are horse owners and ride a lot, and everything about the horse program was great, topped off by some incredible Colorado scenery. Our fellow guests were all a hoot, and the accommodations are great. Meals were worth the trip alone! And owner Robert is a knucklehead!
Written February 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BrenkJ
Dallas, TX9 contributions
Aug 2011
We visited the Majestic Dude Ranch for a week in late July - early August 2011. We had a blast and would definitely go back. Here are our thoughts on the ranch.
The cabins are comfortable but not swanky. If you're looking for Ritz-type accommodations (marble counters, 5 million thread-count sheets, etc.), this may not be the place for you. They're plenty spacious (2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms) and we found our cabin to be just fine.
The food is basic, but very good - and there's lots of it. Breakfast is phenomenal each morning. We really liked the community seating; it helps you get to know other families.
The activities are just the right combination of scheduled, but not too rigid. There is always something to do (usually several things), but you can also just hang out if you'd like. They will also try to honor special requests for other activities if you ask.
The horse program was really great. We're not big horse people, so we didn't plan on riding a whole lot, but the high quality of the horses, and the jaw-dropping beauty of the trails, made it a really special experience. We wound up riding every day of the trip, for between 3 and 6 hours a day, and loved it.
The staff was really, really great. The one reviewer who complained about the staff is way off-base. From the moment we got there, everyone on the staff treated us like family. They were great during all the official ranch activities, like trail rides, river rafting, etc., but they were also "on" 24 hours a day. I walked into the main house at 8:30 one morning and saw a ranch hand teaching one of the visiting kids a song on the piano. A couple days later, at 9:00 at night, another ranch hand was playing Monopoly with some other visiting kids. I honestly don't know how they managed to keep in such good spirits all the time. They really made the trip special.
Bottom line: A trip to the Majestic Dude Ranch is like a week-long visit to your favorite uncle's really awesome ranch. Nothing real fancy, but lots of fun and very welcoming. On departure day, most of the families tend to leave around the same time. No one wanted to leave and there were even some tears from some of the younger visitors (and a couple of the adults too). It's hard to think of a better endorsement of a place than the fact that no one wanted to leave it.
The cabins are comfortable but not swanky. If you're looking for Ritz-type accommodations (marble counters, 5 million thread-count sheets, etc.), this may not be the place for you. They're plenty spacious (2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms) and we found our cabin to be just fine.
The food is basic, but very good - and there's lots of it. Breakfast is phenomenal each morning. We really liked the community seating; it helps you get to know other families.
The activities are just the right combination of scheduled, but not too rigid. There is always something to do (usually several things), but you can also just hang out if you'd like. They will also try to honor special requests for other activities if you ask.
The horse program was really great. We're not big horse people, so we didn't plan on riding a whole lot, but the high quality of the horses, and the jaw-dropping beauty of the trails, made it a really special experience. We wound up riding every day of the trip, for between 3 and 6 hours a day, and loved it.
The staff was really, really great. The one reviewer who complained about the staff is way off-base. From the moment we got there, everyone on the staff treated us like family. They were great during all the official ranch activities, like trail rides, river rafting, etc., but they were also "on" 24 hours a day. I walked into the main house at 8:30 one morning and saw a ranch hand teaching one of the visiting kids a song on the piano. A couple days later, at 9:00 at night, another ranch hand was playing Monopoly with some other visiting kids. I honestly don't know how they managed to keep in such good spirits all the time. They really made the trip special.
Bottom line: A trip to the Majestic Dude Ranch is like a week-long visit to your favorite uncle's really awesome ranch. Nothing real fancy, but lots of fun and very welcoming. On departure day, most of the families tend to leave around the same time. No one wanted to leave and there were even some tears from some of the younger visitors (and a couple of the adults too). It's hard to think of a better endorsement of a place than the fact that no one wanted to leave it.
Written September 2, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sue H
The Villages, FL47 contributions
Aug 2011 • Couples
There was never a dull or unoccupied minute on this wonderful vacation, except when I chose to be idle. The activities were plentiful and varied, but the atmosphere of the Ranch was relaxed, and focused on accommodating the client.
Robert was like an old family friend, making sure his guests were having a good time. Friendly and supportive, he went out of his way to accommodate every reasonable wish and ensuring that everyone was enjoying himself--even getting up a the crack of dawn so a guest could have a final ride before flying out a 7 AM or giving private riding lessons to those that were horse wary. He even brought me a blanket when he noticed I was cold at the outdoor movie. His staff follows his lead; they were all just wonderful and attentive to detail.
The cabins and rooms are extremely nice, each with a Tempur-Pedic bed and a stocked refrigerator (which was included in the price). There is wi-fi, but no tv....but why would you want to stay in your cabin and watch the tube with so much to do and in such beautiful country!
The lodge is open 24/7 with free homemade cookies, milk and coffee at anytime...and I confess, I did have some midnight snacks... The food was delicious and plentiful;everything is made from scratch. No processed or prepackaged food here. It is fortunate that I stayed so active or I would have surely gained weight.
If you ever wanted to do a dude ranch, this is the place to come. As I said, the multitude of activities beyond horseback riding was astonishing, and yet there was no pressure to do anything. If you want to chill, then just sit back on the porch in your rocker and chill. But if you want to pen cattle, gallop through the pines, fish or mountain bike, your wish is but a request away. And, BTW, there is a professional mountain biker on staff to lead rides at the nearby famous Phil's World and support those that want to mountain bike. (The bikes are higher end bikes--this is serious biking, just not clunkers to pedal around on. Don't be intimidated, though, this is the perfect place to learn to ride or perfect your technique. Nick was very knowledgeable and supportive)
After a fun-filled, busy day, I slept like a baby and felt like a kid again. I haven't been this carefree in a long time.
(BTW--the horses were excellent--no nags here)
Robert was like an old family friend, making sure his guests were having a good time. Friendly and supportive, he went out of his way to accommodate every reasonable wish and ensuring that everyone was enjoying himself--even getting up a the crack of dawn so a guest could have a final ride before flying out a 7 AM or giving private riding lessons to those that were horse wary. He even brought me a blanket when he noticed I was cold at the outdoor movie. His staff follows his lead; they were all just wonderful and attentive to detail.
The cabins and rooms are extremely nice, each with a Tempur-Pedic bed and a stocked refrigerator (which was included in the price). There is wi-fi, but no tv....but why would you want to stay in your cabin and watch the tube with so much to do and in such beautiful country!
The lodge is open 24/7 with free homemade cookies, milk and coffee at anytime...and I confess, I did have some midnight snacks... The food was delicious and plentiful;everything is made from scratch. No processed or prepackaged food here. It is fortunate that I stayed so active or I would have surely gained weight.
If you ever wanted to do a dude ranch, this is the place to come. As I said, the multitude of activities beyond horseback riding was astonishing, and yet there was no pressure to do anything. If you want to chill, then just sit back on the porch in your rocker and chill. But if you want to pen cattle, gallop through the pines, fish or mountain bike, your wish is but a request away. And, BTW, there is a professional mountain biker on staff to lead rides at the nearby famous Phil's World and support those that want to mountain bike. (The bikes are higher end bikes--this is serious biking, just not clunkers to pedal around on. Don't be intimidated, though, this is the perfect place to learn to ride or perfect your technique. Nick was very knowledgeable and supportive)
After a fun-filled, busy day, I slept like a baby and felt like a kid again. I haven't been this carefree in a long time.
(BTW--the horses were excellent--no nags here)
Written September 20, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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