Zapata Ranch, owned by The Nature Conservancy and managed through a one-of-a-kind partnership with the Duke and Janet Phillips family, is a 103,000-acre working bison and cattle ranch. The ranch is located on the eastern wall of the San Luis Valley in Southern Colorado and borders the Great Sand Dunes National Park, with the United State's tallest sand dunes, and the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range with its several 14,000 foot peaks.
The high desert grasslands, alpine forests, wetlands, sand dunes, creeks and lush meadows offer one of the most scenic and ecologically rich environments in the United States, described in Western Horseman Magazine as "one of the world's most unique and diverse landscapes". The ranch and surrounding valley is a wildlife mecca and is home to thousands of elk, bison, deer, coyotes, birds and many other species.
In the News
Conde Nast Traveler Magazine: 1 of 3 Best Ranches in America for a Real Working Ranch Vacation
Western Horseman Magazine: 1 of 15 Best Holidays and Riding Vacations to Book Today
Gourmet Live: 1 of 4 Ranch Vacations for Food Lovers
The Equestrian Magazine (UK & Ireland): 1 of 2 Ranches Featured in Lifestyle Ranch Riding Holidays
Conde Nast Traveler Magazine: The Best Ranch Lodging and Dining in Colorado
ABC News: Featured on The Travel Show as a Top Learning Vacation Destination
America's Heartland TV Show: Featured as an Unforgettable Experience in the World of Agriculture
Colorado Meetings & Events Magazine: Featured in the National Treasures Venue Report
CBS Denver News: Top 5 Ranches in Colorado
| Guest Capacity: | 30 |
| Meeting Capacity: | 50 |
| Dates Open: |
Spring: Mar. 01, 2012 to May. 31, 2012 Summer: Jun. 01, 2012 to Aug. 31, 2012 Fall: Sep. 01, 2012 to Oct. 31, 2012 Winter: Oct. 31, 2012 to Mar. 30, 2012 |
| Riding Dates: | Mar. 01, 2012 to Oct. 31, 2012 |
| Minimum Age For Independent Riding: | 8 |
| Minimum Age Accepted at Ranch: | 0 |
| Nearest Airport: | Alamosa, CO - 30 Minutes Colorado Springs, CO - 2.5 Hours |
Lodging Overview
Each guest room is equipped with either two double beds or a single king, its own private bathroom and free wi-fi access. The lodge is built on the original Zapata homestead with buildings that date back to the late 1800’s and is surrounded by extensive grounds. The buildings are all restored chinked log and boast high comfort and rustic elegance. Daily maid service and laundry facilities are included.
Recreation Overview
Join us at any time of the year and immerse yourself into day-to-day life on a real working ranch and experience the outdoors. Each experience is customizable and trips can consist of activities from both programs. Ranching With Nature: --Move cattle from one pasture into a fresh one --Help maintain irrigation flow in our pivot fields --Monitor water levels and grass growth --Participate in a traditional branding --Have 1-on-1 horsemanship instruction --Fix barbed wire Fence or stretch electric fence to prepare for cattle moving pastures Great Outdoors Exploration: --Ride through our wild herd of 2,000 bison that roam on 50,000-acres --Summit 1-of-6 bordering 14,000-ft peaks (trail heads just 5 minutes away) --Take a leisurely horseback ride and picnic through the Great Sand Dunes National Park --Rise before dawn and photograph the sunrise over one of our lakes --Go on an interpretive walk through our grasslands and learn about bison as a conservation species --Spend the morning hiking up to a high mountain lake and fish for the afternoon --White water raft down the Arkansas out of Salida* --Fly Fish on some of the nation's top gold medal rivers* *These experiences incur additional cost
Dining Overview
Zapata Ranch utilizes our own grass-fed beef and bison, along with local San Luis Valley produce. Our style is down home, gourmet and our meals are served family-style in our dining room. We use only the best ingredients and prepare them with creativity and respect. Guests are welcome to bring any alcoholic beverages to enjoy during their stay.
Rates
| Adult Rate: | $285 to $328 per day per person, based on length of stay |
| Child Rate: | $227 to $262 per day for children 8 & up, based on length of stay; children 7 & under are free |
| Service Charge/Tip Rate: | Our tip policy is strictly optional, most guests leave between 12% and 17%. |
| Tax Rate: | 10.8 |
| Accepted Payment Methods: | MasterCard, Visa, Checks and Cash are accepted |
| Travel Agents Accepted: | Yes |
Accommodations
| Lodging Accomodations: | Yes |
| Cabin Accomodations: | Yes |
| Weekly Arrival Day: | 7 nights, Sun - Sun |
| Seven Night Week: | Yes |
| Six Night Week: | Yes |
Activities
| Children's Program: | No |
| Children's Program Start/End Age: | 0 - 0 |
| Baby Sitting: | Yes-Charge |
| Cattle Gathering: | Yes |
| Cattle Drives: | Yes |
| Daily Cattle Work: | Yes |
| Additional Cattle Activities: | Branding, Sorting, Doctoring |
| Overnight Pack Trips: | Yes-No Charge |
| Fishing: | Fishing in high mountain lakes is available free of charge, and trips to Gold Medal sections of the Rio Grande and Conejos River for an additional cost can be arranged. |
| River Rafting: | Yes-Charge |
| Guided Hiking: | Yes-No Charge |
| Tennis: | Nearby |
| Golf: | Nearby |
| Hay/Wagon Ride: | Yes |
| Rock Climbing: | Yes |
| Adult Only Weeks: | Yes |
| Women Only Weeks: | Yes |
Other Amenities
| Liquor: | BYOB |
| Whirlpool Spa: | Yes |
| Wheelchair Accessible: | Yes |
| Massage Available on Ranch: | Yes-Charge |
| Laundry Facilities: | Yes-No Charge |
| Information Technology Facilities: | AV equipment. WIFI, meeting room |
Other Seasons
Winter Program
Because this is a working ranch, we have work going on every day. For the most part we are riding and training our ranch horses throughout the winter, but there is also the opportunity to help rotate pastures, calve cows and go on scenic horse trips to the national park and through our herd of bison.
| Winter Season: | |
| Cross Country Skiing: | Yes |
| Downhill Skiing: | Yes |
| Snowmobiling: | Yes |
| Snow Shoeing: | Yes |
Special Events
Conventions, Meetings & Retreats
Our meeting facility is complete with all top-of-the-line AV, wi-fi and floor-to-ceiling windows on one whole side of the facility that looks into one of our pastures. With 15 rooms (30 person capacity), experiences are intimate and easily customizable, providing plenty of time to take part in life on a real working ranch or experiencing the outdoor activities right in our backyard.
| Capacity: | 50 |
| Season: | year round |
| Activities: | Horseback Riding, Bison Tours, Hiking,and Fly Fishing, White Water Rafting and Skiing all nearby |
| Minimum Nights: | 1 |
Bed & Breakfast
When not filled with week-long guests, we open our lodge to overnight travelers. Rate includes 3 meals for two people and bison tours are available for an extra charge.
| Capacity: | 30 |
| Season: | year round |
| Activities: | none |
| Minimum Nights: | none |
Weddings
100% customizable
| Wedding Planning: | |
| Wedding Officiant: |
Family Reunions
Family groups are a great use of the facilities because of the opportunity to have the ranch exclusively to yourself. We can create a custom itinerary for your group to include ranch and non-ranch activities.
| Book Entire Ranch: | Yes |
| Book Entire Ranch: | We offer the option for groups to rent out the entire ranch. This would include all 3 meals for each person, and a custom-made itinerary. |
| Capacity: | 30 |
| Discount: | Yes |
