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Daycations: Home on the Range – Grand Canyon Ranch
By Lisha Ross
With few exceptions, it’s difficult for most of us city slickers to fathom living in a time when the American West was wild, vastly uncharted and sparsely populated territory. A rugged wrinkle in time when cowboys drove cattle across the dusty plains; Mormon converts packed up their wagons and headed west in search of the new Zion; outlaws were a menace and the equalizer of man was the Colt .45. Gone but not forgotten, the days of gunfighters and wranglers have been forever immortalized in movies, museums and kitschy ghost towns, but few Wild West experiences are quite as tangible and sublime as those found just 105 miles away at the Historic Grand Canyon Ranch. Far away from the bright lights, traffic and rigors of city life, this quiet retreat awaits with unexpected pleasures around every hitchin’ post and stable.
A Capsule of History
Nestled at the foot of Spirit Mountain, between the west end of the Grand Canyon and the Music Mountains of Arizona, the 165 sq. mi. guest ranch is an anachronism with a history as intriguing as its picturesque surroundings. Ownership of the ranch, originally known as Diamond Bar, passed through the hands of many a wrangler since its beginnings in the early 1800s, including Wellington Starkey and legendary gunfighter Tap Duncan. Workers on the ranch lovingly spin tall tales of the Hole in the Wall Gang, mysterious ghost dances of the Hualapai Indians, wayward gold miners and travelers who used the nearby spring as a resting place and watering hole.
Today, the Grand Canyon Ranch is owner Nigel Turner’s tribute to the spirit of the Old West–a working cattle ranch that he and his ranch hands maintain with endearing reverence to the people, lifestyles and wilderness of a bygone era. Home to Corriente cattle, a herd of American bison, gentle riding horses and a handful of workers, this isolated patch of land is an inspiring getaway for those seeking solitude, adventure and a slower pace of life on the modern American frontier.
By Air or By Land
Easily accessible by car, Grand Canyon Ranch is a quick 2-hour drive through the scenic desert Southwest; an excellent and economical choice for a family road trip. However, if you want to enjoy the Grand Canyon from a perspective unlike any other, you may want to opt for one of HeliUSA’s return helicopter flights. At just 40 minutes in duration, these fully-narrated tours offer the fastest mode of travel and the most breathtaking scenery. On the way there, you’ll be treated to heavenly views of Hoover Dam, the bypass bridge and Lake Mead before dipping below the rim of the Grand Canyon to explore over 19 miles of its geological splendor. The return flight is even shorter, about 30 minutes, and caps the adventure with a flight over the Las Vegas Strip.
The Lay of the Land
Helicopter passengers travel from the landing pad to the ranch by quarter horse-drawn wagon; drivers can park alongside the ranch. Fly or drive, all guests are greeted with warm Western hospitality and invited to leisurely explore the grounds. Rustic pine cabins, mock saloon and jail fronts, the main ranch house and a stone tack house built in the late 1800s line the perimeter of the guest encampment. Some merely add character and antiquity to the space, but those that have modern functionality have been renovated beautifully. Once the main living quarters of previous ranch owners, the ranch house now serves as check-in, gift shop and a meeting place for tours, socializing and dining. Remodeled and designed with a timeless grace, the earthen-colored pine walls are graced with photos of ranch life and various ranching props. In the dining area, whispers of white curtains drape the windows as natural light spills across the oversized wooden tables and chairs.
Outside, horses frolic in a nearby pasture; a larger-than-life covered wagon sits forever parked in the center of it all; and a huddle of teepees mimic a Native American campsite. Real roaming cowboys go about their daily ranch chores, while others are costumed entertainers, always ready to engage guests in a number of fun activities. During the high season, which runs through the warm summer months, you may find yourself in the middle of a recreated shoot-out or a live action roping demo. Things slow down to a mosey in the low season of spring, when temperate days and chilly nights beckon locals with a more tranquil getaway. But even in these slower months, random activities abound. Marshall Dylan is happy to show you old weapons, dusters and glad rags in the “armory”, and Buckskin Dan, well, he’s always good for a song. Challenge your family to a game of horseshoes or just saunter along with a camera and an eye for photo opps.
Pokin’ Around
HeliUSA offers a number of daily, overnight and weekend packages that include round-trip helicopter flights, accommodations or campouts, live entertainment by the campfire nightly and two to three meals per day. Everything else is a la carte, from guided horseback or horse-drawn wagon rides and buffalo safaris to walking historic tours. Sunset rides are magical by either horse or wagon. The horseback ride traverses rugged, Joshua-tree lined paths, while the wagon heads up Diamond Bar Road along the old Mormon trail. Either way, the destination is the same–a champagne toast atop Buffalo Point, where guests can photograph buffalo in the wild as the sun’s last rays stretch across unparalleled vistas of Arizona, Nevada, California and Utah.
Home Cookin’
If there is but one tiny thorn in this wonderful Western adventure (and it may not even be noticeable to some), it’s that the food choices are limited. The main ranch house is the only restaurant within 20 or so miles, and the menu includes a small selection of Western-style fair at what some may consider above average prices. But alas, the food does not make or break this exciting destination. After a long, hard day on the range, all a tired cowboy or girl really needs is a wickedly tender rack of ribs or perfectly seasoned steak, a cold beer or a glass of wine, and that they do have.
Beddin’ Down
When it comes time to rest your weary bones, Grand Canyon Ranch has options for everybody from the dainty damsel to lovers of the great outdoors.
Warm & Cozy
Pine cabin accommodations are comfortable, cabin chic and authentic, save for realistic-looking faux, thermostat controlled cast iron stoves. Keeping all very quiet on the Western front, you won’t find televisions or radios in these rooms, so if you’re the plugged in type, you may want to lug along a laptop or portable DVD player. Otherwise, you’ll have to settle for being lulled to sleep by the soothing ambient sounds of the desert at night. Cabins vary in size from the intimate standard with a queen bed to the larger, two-story version with a queen bed downstairs and two single beds in the loft. All are equipped with heating and A/C, a charming cowboy bathtub or shower, and porches with cowboy chairs for Zen moments of peaceful reflection.
Starry Nights
For the young at heart looking for a novel approach to camping out, Grand Canyon Ranch offers nights under a blanket of stars in true, native fashion. Those teepees aren’t just for aesthetics; each one is a room unto itself with colorful rugs strewn about, one double or two single beds, a propane heater and a 12 volt lantern. As you might expect, they don’t have plumbing, but a clean, community restroom is just a few paces and a swing of batwing doors away. Teepee accommodations are available starting in mid April.
Few weekend getaways have the power to recharge and revitalize the soul quite like a spell at this contemporary Western retreat. Quick travel time, unrivaled scenery, impeccable service and a variety of activities make it a hit for a romantic rendezvous or a fun family outing. And perhaps the best thing about it is that you never really feel pressed for time. So leave the watches and cell phones at home, throw on your denim and journey to the wide open spaces of Grand Canyon Ranch. For package rates, additional info and reservations, visit www.grandcanyonranch.com or call (800) 359-8727.
