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DawnM598
Gray TN

Best week ever! Old west charm!

5.0 of 5 bubblesReviewed Sep 26, 2020via mobile
I found this place by reading reviews on line and taking a chance and wound up finding a place that just restores my soul. Montana is beautiful and on arrival here we were in awe of the scenery. Then we drove to the ranch and from Bozeman and it is a beautiful drive. Arriving at the ranch, the horses are grazing about, we had one in front of our cabin several days. There is Nelly the pig, friendly cats, dogs, horses, all just roaming around and always up for a pet. The cabins are like stepping back in time, you can even get a wood stove for warmth (or a gas stove if you prefer). You can wander around the property, pet the horses, pig, dog, etc. we saw mule deer near the barn our last day! Everything is taken care of for you while you are there. You just show up at meal times (or to go if your exhausted) and Kurt and Melissa and their awesome crew take care of the rest. The food is delicious, the crew are so friendly I hugged as many as I could when I left. They get your horse ready, will take you on whatever ride you like or pick one for you if you want. The packed lunches were delicious, the horses are in amazing shape and not just nose to tail trail nags. Amy was our wrangler most days and she was so laid back I could just sit and chat with her for hours. I’ll miss her and hope to see her again. The rides were as easy or difficult as you like and offer spectacular views no matter what you do. My family said my pictures look like paintings. I fell very much in love with Montana on this, my first visit and this was in no small part due to the ranch, the crew and my experience there. I have already booked our next trip there and look forward to being yearly guests. Please go visit Kurt and Melissa on their beautiful ranch.
Date of stay: September 2020
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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Reviewed August 27, 2020

We had always talked about wanting to go to a 'dude ranch' to experience the West but never did anything about it. We chose the Covered Wagon Ranch based upon numerous positive reviews, watching the video many times and reading all about CWR. This was the best decision we made and best vacation we have ever had! We didn't know what to expect, but we were very impressed. Upon our arrival, we were given a tour of the ranch. The meals were expertly prepared, presented and seasoned. We sat around the campfire at night and listened to music. Sawyer, the owners' 3 year old son, even played his guitar and sang!
There were graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate in individual bags so we could make s'mores, but we never did because we were too full from the evening meal! The entire staff made us feel very welcome. The mattress was very, very comfortable. We were in cabin #9 - the Sunken Forest cabin, which had a claw foot tub. The scenery was absolutely beautiful; the mares and foals had just returned from summer pasture and were roaming around the ranch. Several grazed in front of our cabin. We went on 4 rides--2 morning and 2 afternoon rides. The wranglers were very helpful and knowledgeable. We hiked on a trail behind the corral. The farriers were at the ranch re-shoeing the horses and mules, so we enjoyed watching them work. We shopped in their gift shop and bought a cute horsehair bracelet and a book. The rodeo at West Yellowstone was fun to watch. There is an album on the coffee table in the Lodge with a picture of each horse and a description of that horse. That was fun to look at again and again. We loved seeing the cats, dogs and pig roam around the ranch. We definitely plan to return to the CWR...that's how special a time we had there. Don't pass up an opportunity to stay there and experience their hospitality. Thanks for such wonderful memories! Steve and Carol McPike (South Carolina)

Date of stay: August 2020
Thank STEVENM853
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 25, 2020

Staying at the Covered Wagon Ranch exceeded all of our expectations and was one of the best family vacations we've ever had. The CWR is a truly personalized experience where they treat you like family. Each morning Kurt (the owner) visits with you at breakfast in the dining room and asks what kind of ride you would like to do that day (e.g., mountains, river, lake, Yellowstone) and how long you would like to be out (i.e., should they pack a lunch for you). A wrangler then takes you and your family/friends out, meaning a wrangler then took me, my husband and son out each day, not as part of a group, just us. We explored mountains, elk trails, roamed off trail, rode through steams and visited lakes. (My daughter (4 yo) stayed behind with Kurt and Melissa's wonderful nanny and had so much fun hiking, jumping on the trampoline, and playing with their boys that she was sad to see us return each day.)

The food: the food was Amazing, every meal was so tasty from breakfast burritos to French toast, drunken chicken, homemade wood-fired pizza, blueberry tart, molasses cookies and on and on. I think I gained weight despite all the activity, the food was that good.

The cabins were cozy and it was fun to light the iron stove a few times in the evening. Sitting on our cabin porch, we had visits from the resident friendly pot-bellied pig, Nelly, foals and mares who were roaming the ranch who had recently returned from summer pasture, ranch dogs and cats. My son especially loved it, and I loved it too.

The stars were beautiful and you could actually see the milky way, and the nightly campfire was lovely where some guests brought their guitars and sang and played musician on a few of the nights.

If you are looking for a big commercial place with many guests and hoedowns and organized sing alongs each night, this may not be right ranch for you, but if you are looking for a real ranch with sincere, fun people (the ranch staff and wranglers were great too), amazing riding where you can shape your experience, personal attention, and a great time , this is the place for you!

My whole family is already planning a return visit. Thanks CWR!

Date of stay: August 2020
    • Value
    • Sleep Quality
    • Service
Thank Kara_Mercedes
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 14, 2020 via mobile

The covered wagon ranch is a hidden gem located near the entrance to the West entrance to Yellowstone national Park. Everything about our stay was magnificent! Kurt and Melissa are outstanding hosts. From the cozy cabins, to the delicious meals, and the outstanding service, We cannot say enough good about this place. What sets covered wagon ranch apart from others is the quality of their horses, their stable management and the way they run their riding program. Each morning, Kurt meets with every family to find out what plans they had for the day. After that, Kurt went about making it happen! Each family is assigned a wrangler to take them out on their own so your family is guaranteed a small group, personalized ride. The horses are well bred and Melissa can tell you the personal history of each and every one of them. I noticed that they were high end bits and saddle pads used on every horse. They take great care to rotate the horses used in their string from week to week so no horse gets overworked. If you want to go fishing, no problem! Kurt will help you locate fishing equipment or an outfitter. The staff at covered wagon was extremely helpful in helping us select other activities besides riding. We did choose to ride every single day and we were taken to a different place each day. It meant a lot to us to ride in Yellowstone national Park and covered wagon selected the perfect ride for us. The service at meal times was warm and attentive. One night at dinner my husband commented on how delicious the cheesecake was and when we arrived back to our cabin after dinner, the staff had left a surprise of another slice of that marvelous cheesecake! We felt more like treasured friends and family then guests at this ranch. If you want five star service, fantastic riding, excellent food and a rustic western experience, look no farther than the covered wagon ranch! Mark and Martha, Scottsville Kentucky.

Date of stay: August 2020
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Thank Trail1998
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 8, 2020 via 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
1  Thank robsherm1420
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 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
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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.
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