Top 10 Texas Guest Ranches

Running-R Guest Ranch - Bandera, Texas

Western-style cabins fit their surroundings with handmade furniture, wood floors and Native American rugs. Enjoy Texas on horseback! Daily rides through the Hill Country State Natural Area take you on 40 trails and the highest point in Bandera County. Though you can’t ride all the way to the top, you’ll be able to climb high enough to view all of Hill Country. The ranch will even board your own horse! While horseback riding is the main event, there are plenty of other activities as well. Mountain bikes are available for rent. An abundance of wildlife will earn you a chance to spot whitetail deer, jack rabbits and a variety of birds. Take part in horseshoe pitching, ping pong and badminton. Dine in the Round Up Room on home-style cooking or enjoy an authentic cowboy breakfast. And after dark, enjoy the campfire or a late night swim. There’s no better place to enjoy Texas’ Hill Country than Running-R Guest Ranch, an old cattle ranch with the charm of a simpler way of life.

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Silver Spur Ranch - Bandera, Texas

Located on over 300 beautiful acres in the Texas Hill Country, Silver Spur Ranch truly offers endless activities and entertainment. Start everyday with a hearty breakfast in their 100-seat dining room, then head out and hit the trails! Horseback riding is a favorite here, and whether you're a novice or expert, their staff will assist you in taking one of their beautiful horses out for a slow, relaxed ride. Hay wagon rides are popular with the kids, while adults enjoy grabbing a map from the lodge to explore the wilderness on a hike. Return to Silver Spur at the end of the day and relax by the fireplace in the lodge, or lounge at their spacious swimming pool. Then gather around the campfire and pop open those bags of marshmallows because it's story-time! And once the sky turns black and you can see the silvery stars, you can head to your charming accommodations. Choose from their lodge guestrooms or a cozy cabin, all named after notorious western legends such as Wild Bill Hickok and Jesse James!

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Twin Elm Ranch - Bandera, Texas

This all-inclusive dude ranch features horseback riding, home-cooked meals and plenty of activities to keep you busy. Rustic and comfortable guest rooms feature a game room and living area. And some units even have bunk beds for younger children. The ranch also boasts a full-service RV Resort for those traveling with campers. Horseback riding is the main activity. Trek Twin Elm Guest Ranch’s 250 acres of diverse terrain, hills, woods and flatlands through the Medina. The Medina River runs right through the ranch, and camping or tubing on the river are popular activities. Canoe and kayak rentals are available nearby. The ranch also offers a swimming pool, horseshoes, a ropes course, basketball and so much more! And Bandera is known for its fun-loving cowboys and cowgirls, night clubs and dance halls. Rodeos are held every Friday beginning in April onto Labor Day that are free for ranch guests. Chuck Wagon races are held every May. The family-friendly Twin Elm Guest Ranch offers you a slice of the Old West and an all-inclusive escape from the city.

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WB Ranch - Whitney, Texas

WB Ranch’s lodge features all the amenities of a luxury resort. The beautiful and spacious lodge features a large fireplace, hand-stacked limestone walls, billiards and a bar as well as trophies from around the world decorating the walls. Lodge rooms feature hickory furnishings, private baths and Internet. WB Ranch offers team building activities for corporate groups including airboat rides, donkey races, a longhorn roundup, ropes course and so much more! Plus the Brazos River, named by early Spanish explorers as the ‘River of the Arms of God’, offers canoeing, swimming and wildlife tours. The ranch’s hunting preserve offers opportunities for guests to hunt for deer, doves, ducks, pheasants and turkeys. Guided hunts are the norm and Texas hunting licenses can be purchased at the ranch. A rifle and pistol range as well as clay shooting is also on site. Whether you are traveling for a corporate retreat or hunting excursion, WB Ranch is a perfect destination in Texas’ Hill Country.

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Rancho Cortez - Bandera, Texas

Rancho Cortez is an upscale ranch vacation. Unique and cozy lodging offers large porches, refreshing indoor and outdoor swimming pools, kid’s play area and hot tubs. Rough it and still be comfortable! Rancho Cortez doesn’t just provide you with things to do, the ranch provides you with an authentic cowboy experience. Horseback ride through Hill Country, exploring your unspoiled natural surroundings. Round up cattle on the cattle drive. Tube along the Medina River. Barrel race and pole bend at the ranch’s arena. Experience pioneer life in Hill Country with an overnight campout sleeping under the stars. Then kick back and relax on an old-fashioned hay ride. Or, visit the Rancho Cortez Fitness Ranch where you’ll get cowboy fit. Ranch-style boot camp programs challenge guests to lose weight, boost fitness levels and achieve overall health. Combining the latest exercise equipment with horseback riding through the countryside, Rancho Cortez isn’t your typical gym experience. Visit Rancho Cortez, an idyllic retreat for families and friends offering traditional dude ranch fun and an invigorating fitness ranch!

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Silver Spur Ranch - Bandera, Texas

Leave all your worries at the door. This historic ranch is open year round and each guest room and cabin carries the theme of a Wild West character – e.g. Calamity Jane and Jesse James. Whichever room or cabin you choose, you’ll bask in the authentic western décor and spaciously cozy accommodations. The ranch is adjacent to the Hill Country State Natural Area, featuring over 5,620 acres for horseback riding, fishing, camping and more! Friendly horses and experienced ranch hands guide you on scenic tours through Hill Country – over panoramic hills, meadows and forested areas. Every level of rider will have a wild time. The ranch boasts the largest outdoor swimming pool in the area. And, the arena offers barrel racing, pole bending and other great activities for the whole family! Bring your family and experience an authentic Texas dude ranch vacation at the Silver Spur Ranch! You’ll discover thrills and adventure at this Hill Country retreat.

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The Sugar and Spice Ranch Camp - Bandera, Texas

Spend an all-inclusive week with the girls at a Western riding camp. In the ‘Cowboy Capital of the World’, mothers and daughters camp in a real bunkhouse and ride their very own horse for a week! This is an idyllic experience for any type of rider. You’ll learn how to care for your horse by grooming, feeding, bathing and riding. Trail rides along the Old Spanish Trail give you a peek into this historic area. The trail was once used for cattle drives from Mexico to Wyoming. The ranch’s lodge is the center of action, especially on the last day of your trip. A swim day at the outdoor swimming pool offers fun for mothers and daughters. Add in the ranch’s gourmet meals, nighttime bonfires and Tuesday-evening massages and your experience gets a little sweeter. Weekend, holiday and women-only packages are available! Bond as mother and daughter through horses and shed a few tears when its time to say goodbye to your horses.

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Mayan Dude Ranch - Bandera, Texas

Stay in rustic yet chic one-to three-bedroom western rock cottages, or luxurious lodge rooms with glorious views of Bandera and Hill Country. Start your day with a cool glass of orange juice and cowboy coffee brought to your room. The Cowboy Breakfast is the largest and best served on the trail. Then head off on a morning trail ride. The ranch’s cowboys will guide you through the hills or down to the Medina River. Trail rides are offered twice daily – once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Swim in the Texas-sized swimming pool – lunch is served here as well. Tube or fish along the Medina River. Tennis, basketball and volleyball courts are all found on-site. And at night, enjoy tons of brisket, ribs and tenderloin at the Riverside Gazebo’s BBQ as cowboy bands serenade you during your meal. Bandera is cowboy-land and there’s no better place to hang with cowboys than at the Mayan Dude Ranch.

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9

Wildcatter Ranch Resort & Spa

Atop the northern Texas hills, Wildcatter Ranch offers all the comforts of home in guest rooms and suites as well as a historic guesthouse. Spend your days horseback riding – it doesn’t get much better than at Wildcatter Ranch. Well-trained wranglers make you feel comfortable riding each horse, even if you don’t have much experience. They’ll take you through the northern Texas countryside for a truly inspiring country tour. Sport clay shooting is a popular ranch activity, even if you don’t go hunting. ATV rides and tours take you along the Brazos River. And the soothing treatments Spa at Wildcatter Ranch reflects the tranquil Texas countryside. The ranch’s steakhouse serves Texas-sized steaks, ribs and local favorites. And the Blowout Saloon features an award-winning wine list and specialty drinks. For couples looking for a romantic evening along, at night enjoy the sunset from the back porch of your guest room. Simply relax at Wildcatter Ranch in northern Texas. This rustic, yet luxurious guest ranch offers all the comforts of home for a family weekend or romantic getaway.

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Primitive Acres Guest Ranch - Mt Enterprise, Texas

Open year-round, the ranch includes 10 camp sites, eight fully furnished cabins and cottages and four RV hookups for any type of Texas vacation. Hot tubs, outdoor swimming pool, concession stand and dining hall round out the ranch’s amenities. There are plenty of trails, creeks, gullies, hills and more to discover across Primitive Acres Guest Ranch. And you can bring your own ATVs, Jeeps, 4-wheelers, dirt bikes, dune buggies and other 4x4’s to explore! Horse, wagon and buggy rentals are available as well! Or, you can bring your own horse to be ridden with a guide only. And if you like to hunt, the hunting camp features sleeping quarters, a full kitchen, walk-in cooler and dining room for your hunting vacation. Dine on hickory steaks, pork chops and hearty fare at the dining hall, or host an outdoor BBQ of your own! Visit the Primitive Acres Guest Ranch for a rugged outdoor adventure for the whole family!

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