And so it was, an aluminum bird
brought a loosely knit group to the Vista Verde Ranch herd.
The wide-eyed children would not believe
what in one short week the each would achieve.
A horse named Dudley, a bunny named Spot
the kids would soon learn how he loved to trot.
Our cabins so perfect in every way, shape and form
no mistaking this place for a KOA dorm.
Our bellies did grow with each bite we ate
the food just so good, the desserts were so great.
We found muscles existed that we seldom have used
our backs and our bottoms the Wranglers abused.
What is it about a Wrangler galloping by in high gear
that affects us so as to bring us to tears?
The sights of your ranch rivaled only by its sounds
such a feeling of peace when the silence abounds.
We’ve heard coyotes from afar as our kids howled nearby
crows cawed, and horses whinnied in the pastures of rye.
Your sky is so big, your stars are so bright
your mountains so tall, your streams such a sight.
The hike to Hahn’s Peak, to conquer it after all
the glory of its specter just makes us feel small.
Now a week has passed and we must go home
but no longer loose knit for how much we have grown.
This tale I have said, has been truly told
The Vista Verde Staff, has made us feel like gold.
“Everything is choreographed so well by the staff that you roll from activity to a wonderful meal and back again with none of the usual vacation worry or hassle. We loved every minute of our stay there except for the last hour when we had to say goodbye to the other guests/friends and all the…
“Our group numbered 15…ages 78-6…and every single one of us had the time of our lives. From the thoughtful staff, amazing food, countless activities for all ages to the breathtaking backdrop, it was beyond all expectations.”
“The vacation of a lifetime, there was something for everyone and it was clear VVR has been doing this so long they have it down pat. The food was extraordinary, the activities endless, the peace enduring.”
The staff and other guests were the most wonderful people. Incredible service, gorgeous setting, my two teens left begging to return next year.”
“We have returned to VVR twenty four times, each trip we brought with us our grown kids and grandchildren. We do quite a bit of traveling but still believe VVR is the best week of the year, in fact many years we make two trips, one with kids and the second in Sept for Adults…
“This is all inclusive and worth every penny !! The snowshoeing, back country skiing, equestrian workshops, dog sledding and cooking class were off the charts BUT the main reason we enjoyed our stay so much that we have already booked for next year is the incredible staff.”
“I have to say, we’ve been on a lot of vacations, but our experience at Vista Verde was By Far the most amazing experience we’ve ever had. You could never put a dollar sign on the kind of experience, we will be making this a yearly experience.”
“We just returned from our second Winter visit to Vista Verde Ranch. It is truly heaven on earth! The setting is stunning, the food is wonderful and the people are outstanding.”
“If you travel enough and if you are lucky enough, you will come upon one of these ‘once in a lifetime time’ properties. From the moment we stepped in the front door of the lodge, absolutely every ranch employee we encountered wanted to make sure that every moment of our stay was perfect, and it…
“We are well traveled but have never been anywhere where multiple guests have been there as many as 15 or more years. Unbelievable. Only regret is that I did not listen to Stephanie when she tactfully said that we might want to stay longer than we booked.”
My trip to Vista Verde had been planned 18 months in advance and it must have seemed longer to my friends and relatives who were reminded of it weekly. I was concerned that I would be let down by something that I dreamed of almost daily. But it was beyond my expectations in so many…
“You raised the bar for family vacations. Thank you.”
“Can’t think of a better place to spend our honeymoon.”
“I cannot compliment you and your wonderful staff enough. I just had the best time. In fact, I went out to dinner with friends last night and I couldn’t stop talking about what a fantastic week it had been. The Ranch, the food, the staff, the setting, the works! And if I may say once…
“I know you have heard the “love letters” time and time again, but I wanted to give you another. Coming to the ranch gave me time to enjoy doing things I liked to do, working with folks who were in my situation in life, and being around people who are “nice.” I am thankful for…
“Our holiday was all that we had hoped it would be; everyone at the Ranch made our stay so interesting, exciting and comfortable. We had difficulty in leaving your wonderful place.”
“Again, thanks for your hospitality and kindness. You have a great place and an even greater staff. We were spoiled.”
“Thank you for making the Davis family vacation the best ever. We have never had such fun or laughed so much. We will be back!”
“We have had many holidays all over the world, but there has been nothing to rival the holiday with you. If you want to use our names as a recommendation to potential future guests, please do so. When we’ve finished with them, they’ll sign up for sure!”
“Once again we had a wonderful time, as you could readily see. Whoever said that familiarity breeds contempt never spent a night, much less a week at Vista Verde. We’ll be back next summer. It would be sooner, but I have too much laundry in my basement.”
“We just wanted to say thank you for all the “extras” that you did for us during our wedding weekend. You had so many great ideas (the fire truck was awesome) and you were very easy to work with. We were blown away by the strawberries and champagne in our cabin. We didn’t expect at…
“It’s Sunday morning and we are starting our drive back home. We’ve had the most fun talking about our incredible week that we spent with all of you. The memories we have will be with us always.”
“We are certain you have heard this all before, but we feel the need to let you know that our actual Vista Verde experience far exceeded any expectations we had envisioned. The beautiful scenery, the absolutely wonderful staff, the entertainment, the unbelievable meals, the first-rate accommodations, the homey, comfortable atmosphere, your attention to detail all…
“It is difficult to put into words how you touched our lives over the recent Christmas holiday. When Michele and I decided to take a different approach to the Christmas holiday and seek memories rather than goods and presents, we thought a winter dude ranch might be just the place. I guess at this point…
“Muffie and I needed a Thesaurus so that we could find more superlative words for this fabulous experience”
“Our family can’t praise you enough for making us feel so at home and comfortable. Vista Verde certainly stands tall. The variety of available activities and programs, the quality and enthusiasm of all the staff, the comfort of the cabins and rooms, the excellence of the food and wine, and the beauty of the countryside…
“Vista Verde exceeded our expectations in every way. You should be very proud of your entire organization. We have already rebooked for next June. Look forward to seeing you then.”
“My trip to Vista Verde had been planned 18 months in advance and it must have seemed longer to my friends and relatives who were reminded of it weekly. I was concerned that I would be let down by something that I dreamed of almost daily. But it was beyond my expectations in so many…
“We wanted to let you know what a wonderful time we had at your ranch. The beauty of the land and facilities in the winter was picture perfect and beyond our expectations. Snow laden pines, cozy cabins and more amenities than we expected were just part of it. Little things like the great smelling soap,…
“I want to compliment management for doing such a great job selecting and training the staff. Without exception, everyone made us feel like we were their very favorite guests ever and that nothing could make them happier than to dote on us and satisfy our every need. When we left, we felt like we were…