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Rob
Simpsonville, Kentucky

Great Family Vacation

5.0 of 5 bubblesReviewed Aug 8, 2020via mobile
If you are looking for a great rustic outdoor family vacation, Covered Wagon Ranch is it. Owners Kurt and Mylissa exceeded our expectations. We wanted a trip where we did not have to drive everywhere, or worry about what we were going to do for dinner everyday. CWR was the perfect fit and allowed us to get the most adventure out of every day. Our kids are 20, 15, and 15 and all said this was their favorite vacation. The ranch is really focused on customer service and making everyone feel like family, with horseback riding being the main focus. The horseback riding was phenomenal. Sarah, G, and Shelby did a great job, they took us out every morning on trail rides thru the scenic Gallatin mountains and Yellowstone. The trail rides were rugged and scenic but geared towards any riders experience level. Food was great, and so was the service, with every meal meeting in the lodge and visiting with other families sharing the days Trail riding stories. When we were not riding we did some nice hikes including Lava Lake which was well worth the uphill pain it took to get there. Great fishing on the ranch in Taylor Fork and the Gallatin River. We caught nice Brown and Rainbow trout. Swimming, tubing, or hanging out in the rec room. My kids are still talking about Kurt teaching them how to Lasso. My youngest boy says he is better than Kurt now. Pretty sure he is not. We went to Yellowstone one day to give our Butts a rest and mix things up. They made sure they had dinner for us when we returned to the ranch late. Accommodations are rustic cabins from early 1900s, that were plenty comfortable, and made for great sleeping after long active days. All the staff went above and beyond providing service and making sure our stay was top notch. Kurt and Mylissa were always accessible and constantly were checking to make sure we were enjoying our stay. Thanks again for an Overall great vacation experience, and we plan on returning next summer!
Date of stay: July 2020
Trip type: Traveled with family
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    Reviewed August 7, 2020

    We can not say enough about our week at Covered Wagon Ranch. From the minute we were greeted we felt at ease. We chose this particular ranch because of Melissa's patience and knowledge over the phone, and once we arrived we knew without a doubt we'd chosen the right guest ranch for our family. The ranch is tucked in beside the mountain and right on the Gallatin river. There is freedom to do whatever you choose; it is not a canned experience with a set schedule. The vibe is calm and peaceful, and we all felt so well taken care of. The guest to staff ratio is incredible. Ranch owners Kurt and Melissa and their entire staff are extremely accomodating and went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. My husband and I have 3 children (ages 7, 9 and 11), and none of us have spent much time horse back riding. Running late the first morning we missed the riding orientation, but no one batted an eye. Amy, our assigned wrangler, spent the time we needed to get to know our horses and feel comfortable. Over the course of the week we got to know Amy, Kurt and Melissa and their sweet boys and all of the staff better. They were all cheerful, they served us amazing food, and they allowed our kids to wander and explore and ask lots of questions. Every day, every trail was a new and magical experience. We were all ready to move in by the end of the week. Thank you!!!

    Date of stay: August 2020
      • Value
      • Cleanliness
      • Service
    Thank patrickbZ6929LD
    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.
    Reviewed August 2, 2020 via mobile

    Words cannot express what an amazing experience our family had at the Covered Wagon Ranch.
    When we were looking for a Montana ranch there were a lot of options. The kindness and helpfulness of owner Melissa via e-mail and phone is what was our deciding factor. The kindness did not end there however. I cannot say enough good words about owners Kurt and Melissa and all of their staff.
    We arrived on a Monday and had no horse riding experience. We went for our first ride that afternoon and I felt completely confident with our wrangler as he taught us how to ride and took us out into the wilderness. Our family of four, two boys ages 9 and 12, rode a different trail every day and each ride was more beautiful than the last. We really enjoyed the ability to get out and explore the land versus riding around a pasture. We saw a lot of wildlife and stunning views. We spent one afternoon eating lunch atop a grassy peak, taking in the views and lounging with our horses. A special shout out to our wrangler Dan who really connected with our two boys and taught them a lot through the week.
    In addition to the riding, the food was phenomenal! The chefs out did themselves each meal. Everything was homemade, fresh and delicious, even down to the ranch dressing.
    Our cabin was perfect for our family and had plenty of room. It was nice and cozy each night going to sleep to the crackling fire in our wood burning stove.
    There was plenty to keep the kids entertained all week when we weren’t riding. There was all yard games imagineable, two playgrounds, and a rec hall with piano, pool table, foosball and board games. Our kids spent a lot of time in the trampoline.
    We also took advantage of the closeness of Yellowstone National Park and spent an afternoon there. Our family also went fly fishing, took in the local rodeo and went rock hunting at the local fishing hole.

    Aside from everything I have mentioned the best part was the closeness amongst staff and guests. We truly felt like family. Kurt talked with us each morning to see what we wanted to do for the day and he truly wanted to make sure we had a great experience. Our kids played with their kids as well as other kid guests.

    It was a truly authentic Montana experience and if there weren’t so many amazing places to see in the world I would go back every year!

    Date of stay: July 2020
    Trip type: Traveled with family
    Thank fruitcke13
    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.
    Reviewed July 26, 2020

    This is our 3rd visit in 4 years to Covered Wagon Ranch and another magical stay. We researched heavily which ranch to choose before our first stay and am so glad we did. Melissa and Kurt are an extremely talented couple who build an amazing team each year that make us feel like extended family each time we visit. We always have a diverse level of interests (and skill levels) in the group and am continually amazed at the lengths the team goes through to tailor our experience daily to exceed every need and expectation. We add a complexity to the equation with a member of the family with celiac and am blown away at the effort and talents Roy and the kitchen staff demonstrate to give her the same 5-star experience the rest of us have come to expect. This year we were able to plan in a three-day pack trip into the itinerary and consider this the highlight of the last three visits. We were thrilled at the accommodations and the level of effort to make it a perfect level of rustic and comfortable including the most amazing food I have ever experienced over a fire. We can’t wait to head back next year!

    Date of stay: July 2020
      • Value
      • Sleep Quality
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    Thank J2167GYmatthewc
    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.
    Reviewed July 18, 2020 via mobile

    Great time. Owners and staff focused on a safe and enjoyable experience for all skill levels. Food great. Horses very good. Views on trails spectacular, lots of wild life, and lots of things to do in the area( Yellowstone , fishing, hiking, etc). Give them a try.

    Date of stay: July 2020
    Trip type: Traveled as a couple
    Thank KevinK24
    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.
    Reviewed July 12, 2020

    Family spent a week at CWR over the July 4th weekend. This was our third visit over the last 5 years and we think Kurt and Melissa have the best crew yet this year. The kitchen staff was friendly and the food was amazing. CWR has done a good job making the necessary changes to comply with Covid limitations without losing the homey feeling. The biggest change was replacing family style dinner with a buffet style served by the staff. The food quality was excellent and we never left hungry or disappointed. Breakfast and lunch were menu style and the new back porch offered plenty of room to spread out and socially distance. All our rides were amazing and the wranglers did an awesome job keeping us safe in the backcountry. A 3 grizzly ride was the highlight of the trip. If you like to fish, you can walk to the Gallatin or the Taylor fork and catch some nice trout. There is nothing negative to say about CWR. It is truly an amazing operation with great staff, nestled in one of the most amazing places in the world. During this crazy time we are in, I can’t think of a better way to disconnect from the chaos then a trip to CWR. Can’t wait for our next visit!

    Date of stay: July 2020
      • Location
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    Thank GFogg146
    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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