Wind River Ranch is located seven miles south of the quaint town of Estes Park, Colorado. The ranch is perfectly located with Rocky Mountain National Park to the front and back of the property. This Colorado Christian Family Dude and Guest Ranch is nestled in the beautiful Tahosa Valley near the base of the majestic, snow-capped Long’s Peak (14,259’) mountain. The view is spectacular as seen in the photo slide show at the top of this page.

This Colorado Christian Dude and Guest Ranch is an answer for families who want a true family vacation. Many times moms and dads come back from a family vacation emotionally and physically worn out. At Wind River Ranch, we specialize in providing a flexible family camp and dude ranch program that caters to each family member’s needs during a weeklong vacation. Parents don’t have to spend their vacation deciding and planning the next activity, transporting the family to the next event, or deciding what restaurant appeals to everyone’s taste buds. At Wind River Ranch, everyone, including mom and dad, have the opportunity to relax and have fun.

At this Colorado Christian Dude and Guest Ranch, your family will gather around our dining room tables at each home cooked meal. You will giggle along with your kids as you share stories and re-tell the events of the day. Our amazing staff will bring out a delicious meal prepared fresh each day by our executive chef. If you find that your child desires something special off the kids menu, their request will not be a problem. Our chef and staff do a fantastic job making sure guests with dietary restrictions or food allergies have a specially prepared meal.

What does a day at the Ranch look like? Picture this, when you roll out of your comfortable bed, your hot cup of coffee, latte’, hot chocolate, specialty teas or French vanilla is waiting for you in our lodge. The fire will be crackling as it warms the room and the leather couches will give you a great place to put your feet up and enjoy the start to the day. Or grab your coffee and visit one of the rocking chairs on the deck or walk down to the barn and watch the wranglers saddle the horses for the day.

After you finish the wonderful,hot breakfast with your family, the day is yours. Each member of the family can choose to be as busy or as laid back as they desire. The morning Bible study on the porch of Ranch House starts at 9:30 am and it is optional. You can choose to go on a morning horse ride into Rocky Mountain National Forest, take a dip in our pool or hot tub, or read a book in one of our hammocks.

As you enjoy your morning, you may catch a glimpse of your 3-year-old on the playground with our Little Buck-A-Roo’s counselors, or watch your 8-year-old make a movie with our Kid’s Club staff (each family receives a copy of at the end of the week), or perhaps you will see your 11-year-old playing a friendly game of "lightning" with their counselors, or run across your 16-year-old enjoying building relationships and playing crazy ice breaker games at our Teens Program. WRR offers an age specific program each morning from after breakfast till lunch. Our hand-picked staff are wonderful role models that you want your children to be around.

Each day offers new places to ride and unique activities to choose from. This is a vacation for each and every family member, but more importantly, it is a vacation for the family to create memories together. Our past guests speak of their vacation at the ranch as being like no other vacation because their children have the freedom to play outside with other kids. In todays world, that is not something most of us feel comfortable allowing. But it is a fun aspect of the ranch and it is a blessing to see kids running, laughing, and enjoying the outdoors the way we got to when we were young.

My words cannot describe the experience and spirit of the Ranch; they can only offer you a taste of what you will encounter. As Executive Director of Wind River Ranch and Ministries, I am proud to say that I have never seen a disappointed guest in my 13 years here. A week at Wind River is more than a vacation; it is an investment in your family. Your family will always remember this vacation and given the choice, your children will choose Wind River Ranch over other destinations. I feel confident in saying that because we hear year after year from our returning guests.

Please take a minute to view our new Promo Video found in the top right corner of this home page. You will also find two Testimonial Videos just below the Promo Video. At Wind River Ranch, we know that where you stay is very important to the overall experience. This is why we just completed master bedroom and master bathroom remodels on our deluxe cabins. Please go to the Cabin tab on the home page and check out the cabin blue print tab found to the right of the main Cabin tab. Here you can see photos and the unique layout of each cabin. The ranch has updated the mattresses, added elegant western bedding and remodeled each master bedroom and master bathrooms with granite counter, copper sinks, slate walk in showers, and many other touches. We want your cabin to feel like Home.

THE HISTORY OF WIND RIVER RANCH

The ranch was originally used as a mountain retreat when it was founded in the late 1880’s. E.J. Lamb put in a road continuing past the ranch at the time and was even able to charge a toll. It is rumored that he charged a toll coming and going. The ranch was then a working cattle ranch covering over 500 acres. Somewhere around 1930 the ranch was transformed by the Hutchinson’s into a Dude and Guest Ranch. In 1997 Wind River Ranch was transformed into a Christian Family Dude and Guest Ranch and is currently operated by a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization called Wind River Ministries.

If you are curious what the word “Tahosa” means, it is an old Indian word for “refrigerator magnet.” Other than that last little bit of trivia, the rest of the history shared above is true to the best of our knowledge. Please come and be part of the continued traditions of dude ranching here at Wind River Ranch and soak in the same views that drew E.J. Lamb to build his homestead here on this special piece of property.