Frequently Asked Questions About Vista Verde

We have children’s programming for ages 3-18.

Little Buckaroos (3-5)

Kids (6-10)

Tweens (11-13)

Teens (14-18)

The activities are specific for each program but each age group will ride horses and enjoy lake time, pool parties, crafts, games, campouts, camp fires. All kids can participate in activities with their families as well. The Little Buckaroos do pony rides in the arena, not trail rides.

When families sign up for trail rides, mountain biking, and hikes, we will ask about the kind of experience they are looking for such as fast-paced, or slow and scenic. For fly-fishing, we ask guests if they want fast-moving water in rivers and streams or a quiet lake experience. From there, the guides and wranglers make the groups. All-level activities like wine tasting, paddle boarding, and cooking classes are grouped together.

Very picky eaters get their way at the Ranch. Provide us with an advanced list of “safe foods” so that we can do our best to have options they will eat. We offer Dine and Dash for the kids on Formal Dinner nights, where kids find their favorite foods like quesadillas, chicken tenders, burgers, pasta, and mac and cheese.

Supervision runs from 9:30am-12:00 and then 2:00-4:30.

If kids from different age groups want to move around they can always move down in age group (for example teens can do tweens or kids activities). Rarely will we move kids up in age group to keep the activity level and emotional maturity of the groups in alignment.

Little Buckaroos (Ages 3-5)
(Children must be potty-trained! We do not have a daycare license.)

Activities 9:30-12:30- 2:00-4:30

• Wagon rides
• Petting zoo
• Panning for treasure
• Obstacle courses
• Mini hikes
• Pony rides
• Arts and crafts
• Afternoon nap time

 

Kids Program (Ages 6-10, elementary school)

AM and PM activities, lunch with family

Activities: 9:30-12:30- 2:00-4:30 (no “ish”, hard 4:30 ending)

• Trail rides
• Panning for treasure
• Wagon rides
• All-day ride with cold lunch
• Lake party
• Pool party
• Rodeo

 

Tweens Program (Ages 11-13, middle school)

AM and PM activities, lunch with family

Activities 9:30-12:30- 2:00-4:30

• Trail rides
• Petting zoo
• Ride with the cows, cow penning Cow rides -not on cows, with cows
• Hands on horses
• Paddleboarding
• Arena riding skills
• Pool party
• 3D archery
• Rodeo
• All-day ride with cold lunch

 

Teens Program (Ages 14-17, high school)

AM and PM activities, lunch with family

Activities 9:30-12:30- 2:00-4:30

• Paddleboarding
• Riding Skills clinics
• 3D archery
• Hands on horses
• Petting zoo
• Team penning
• Roping clinics (on the ground, not from horseback)
• Teen camp-out/ Campfire at Homestead (we’ve always kept this activity very sacred that kids MUST be 14 to participate, it’s like a rite of passage into the teen program. Sometimes 13-year-olds move up and join other teen activities during the week. For this one, we say no…unless the only participants are related (i.e. siblings or cousins that are 13 and 16).
• All-day ride with cold lunch
• Rodeo

Technically, teens are allowed to join appropriate activities (no wine-tasting). Preferably with family. But they do pay an adult rate.

This is your chance to discover natutre and disconnect form the real world. “Disconnect to reconnect” with yourself and the poeple who matter most. For this reason, our wifi is limited to the areas around the the Lodge and can be spotty at the cabins. We provide all the equipment needs to enjoy the Adventure Center and the Horsemanship activities. Gifts, apparel and ranch-ready accessories are available for purchase in our Mercantile.

We have amazing vegetarian, gluten free and dairy free options for all meals including desserts. We pride ourselves in accomodating most requests.

We accomodate all levels of riders, children or adults. We meet you where you are and build from there. Our highly trained horses and our wrangler team are experienced working with people of all riding abilities.

Vista Verde Ranch is easy to settle into thanks to the fresh air, the gorgeous mountain setting and the amazing food. If altitude is a concern, some guests find that acclimating in Denver for a night or two (5280 feet above sea level) can really help before coming to the Ranch (7720 feet).

Our Guides and Wranglers are great instructors! For outdoor activities and horse rides, they always accommodate the lowest level in the group but it is easy split groups to accomodate for different levels and experiences.

We give all of our guests the first right of refusal to rebook for the following year. Summer family stays and end-of-year holiday times tend to book out far in advance (up to one year) while other times of the year are more open.

School-aged children love to visit the Ranch between early June and mid-August, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years and in March during spring school breaks.

We may call ourselves a luxury ranch, but we’re very casual when it comes to attire. Even our “formal dinners” are only formal in the sense that they are as good or better than what you’d find in a top restaurant in a big city. But here, you can wear jeans to that same meal! A packing list will be sent out at the time of booking to help give you and idea of what to bring. We also have some fun, Western apparel in our little store if you want to get into the spirit of this experience! You can also take a look at our What to Expect page.

Yes! We have a pre-arrival form that guests fill out to help our kitchen prepare for any dietary restrictions. We accomodate all allergies and food preferences.

We provide pick up and drop off shuttle service to the Steamboat and Hayden airports.

Yep! We offer all-inclusive stays which encompass airport shuttles, accommodations, 3 meals a day and snacks, unlimited house beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages amd all the activities we offer on the Ranch.

Your deposit will be refunded less a 4% cancellation fee if cancellation is made more than 90 days prior to arrival.

Between 90 and 60 days prior to arrival, no refund will be issued, however, you may choose to roll your deposit to a stay in the following 12-month window.

Within 60 days of arrival, we regret that no refund is possible, regardless of the reason for the cancellation. This includes illness, quarantine, or local or state restrictions on travel from your home destination for the dates of your planned stay. However, you are welcome to send another party of the same size in your place.