Clockwise from top: Big picture windows capture expansive Wyoming views, and the lodge’ s decor embraces the West; the lodge’ s porch and rocking chairs invite guests to sit for a spell; exposed wooden beams add a cozy element to the guest rooms; dinners are a sit-down affair. |
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at the airport by ranch staff, we make a pit stop to suit up in Western gear at 104-year-old boot purveyor Lou Taubert Ranch Outfi tters. I settle on a pair of cowboy boots with an Aztec-printed wool shaft and pull straps with turquoise leather tassels. I’ m really going for it.
Armed with new kicks( which I’ ll wear for the next three days straight), I immerse myself in ranch life. The 8,000-square-foot luxe log cabin-like lodge has space for 22 guests with a fl oor-toceiling stone wood-burning fi replace, a game room with a pool table, and an outdoor porch lined with rocking chairs. Reid Creek’ s private chef artfully prepares gourmet breakfasts with homemade rustic rosemary sourdough
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bread, pop-up picnic lunches and sit-down dinners like wildcaught salmon. Once settled in, we focus on designing each day based on endless offerings, from archery and hiking to wildlife viewing and fi shing. If relaxing by one of the property’ s idyllic alpine reservoirs with a picnic blanket and a book is on the docket, that’ s completely acceptable too.
I join a trail ride through open plains under painterly skies. I’ m on a horse named Hollywood, who falls into a fullblown gallop for much of the ride to keep up with his equine buddies. I feel like I’ m fl ying, and though it’ s exhilarating, I’ m equally terrifi ed since I haven’ t done more than an occasional trot for nearly two decades. The horseback training from my camp days kicks in. Back at the barn, I say goodbye to Hollywood with a sigh of relief— but also with a huge sense of accomplishment. I don’ t even mind that my legs, shoulders and back are sore.
Later, we embark on a bumpy ATV tour to a prime hiking spot fl anked by massive rock facades and majestic overlooks. We also venture on an e-bike along gravel and dirt
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roads to one of the ranch’ s many vistas to look for elk, pronghorn and bald eagles. The common thread here is the authenticity of the place and staff( many of them have grown up nearby) and the concept of time marked only by sunrise and sunset. And that’ s entirely intentional.
“ Programs are not designed in an isolated way for entertainment,” says Andrea Nicholas Perdue, CEO of Wagonhound Holdings.“ Guests experience a connection to the land that is a refl ection of a way of life in the rural Wyoming mountains. Our guests’ energy can be solely focused on each other and the joy of spending their most valuable resource [ their time ], disconnecting from their everyday lives and
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immersing themselves in an authentic American West experience.” The all-inclusive nature of a visit to Reid Creek Lodge means there’ s no need to stress about schedules, participation or timing.
Being present, pushing oneself beyond the comfort zone and making connections is what it’ s all about. By the end of my three-day stay, I’ ve come away with two self-realizations: I will sign up for horseback riding lessons back home, and I will make it a priority to challenge myself with different things, even if clouded by the distractions of everyday city life.
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