Take a Look Inside This Luxury Wyoming Dude Ranch
Our column "The Best Room At" offers a glimpse inside some of the most charming, luxurious, and iconic properties around the world.
If you haven’t heard of the Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch, located on 30,00 acres of some of the most breathtaking land in the country, you just might not be paying enough attention to where the jet-set crowd is heading for to have their Western chic events, weddings, and getaways that are both discreet and indulgent. (The Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch is where Josh Kushner and Kylie hosted one of their wedding soirees.) Located in Saratoga, Wyoming—a four hour drive from Denver—this is a place where ones goes to get away from it all. Read: stressed out people from the East Coast. Mike Williams, the property's COO & EVP, gives Town & Country a look inside the room all the VIPs want to book, what people misunderstand about a ranch vacation, and why you don't need to wear cowboy boots.
What do you consider the best room at Brush Creek Ranch? Why?
The Homestead Cabin Residence, which once served as our owner’s home. The two-story hand-hewn log cabin offers more than 4,000 square feet with three bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms. The Homestead also features a full kitchen and dining area; living area with wood burning fireplace; private outdoor kitchen, patio and hot tub; washer/dryer; and a stunning, rustic elegant design including vaulted ceilings. It also offers one of our most private experiences (it has its own driveway). Homestead is located next door to Stagecoach and Jo’s cabin residences and can be combined with these accommodations to create a private retreat for large families or a group of friends.
How much does it cost per night?
For the winter season, the Homestead is $6,000 per night standard occupancy (6 persons). In the summer season, it’s $9,000 per night standard occupancy (6 persons), which is all-inclusive (lodging, meals, Brush Creek crafted beer & spirits and on-ranch activities including gear and guides).
For those who are unfamiliar with a ranch style vacation, how would you describe the experience?
One of the misconceptions about a ranch vacation is that it is purely a dude ranch, which is really focused on horseback riding. But Brush Creek Ranch is so much more than that. We are a luxury ranch destination offering a vast array of experiences, from skiing, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing in the winter to fly fishing, hiking and mountain biking in the summer. There are endless adventures to be had, which allows guests to take their travel outside the typical box. Our guides are absolute experts in their field which means that guests can be comfortable as a novice or advanced or anything in between.
What is the vibe at the property? Do you have to wear cowboy boots?
Not at all! Most of our guests wear casual, outdoor or active wear during the day, depending on what activities they are doing, and dressier western clothing in the evening. You will definitely see cowboy boots – and hats! – but it is not required.
What do you think sets Brush Creek Ranch apart from other ranches?
Our culinary experience is beyond compare. We have our own ranch-raised wagyu beef as well as a certified organic greenhouse for our produce and we recently opened The Farm at Brush Creek, which provides nine immersive culinary experiences in one unique setting and includes one of the largest restaurant wine collections in the country.
Tell us a little bit about your seed to table dining concept.
Our seed-to-table dining experience began with raising our own wagyu cattle and expanded with the opening of The Farm last summer, which includes a 20,000 square foot greenhouse that produces 100,000 pounds of Certified Organic fruits and vegetables—enough to supply the entire Ranch.
The Ranch recently purchased its own mountain—quite an investment—what is the vision for Green Mountain?
We have long wanted to provide skiing opportunities for guests closer in proximity than Steamboat Springs as well as more robust winter amenities. The acquisition of Green Mountain allows us to do this. There are nine runs, some just over a mile long, and 1,200 vertical feet with a good mix of beginner to advanced terrain. Cross Country trails are on a corner of the property with a Nordic Yurt with all equipment at the hub of the trails. There are over five miles of trails dedicated snowshoeing/cross county skiing.
How would you spend the perfect winter day at the Ranch? And how about summer?
I love a morning snowshoe around the Ranch. After a hearty lunch in the Lodge, I might hit the tubing hill or the ice skating rink – or snowmobiling in Medicine Bow National Forest if I’m feeling like an adrenaline rush. Then settle in by the fireplace with a book and a glass of wine before getting gussied up for dinner at Cheyenne Club. In the summer, it’s outdoors the whole time! An early morning hike to seek out wildlife. Fly fishing in the morning before the water gets too warm. After lunch, a horseback ride followed by cocktails in the Saloon.
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