We have 20 people registered to go to the Dude Ranch, please contact Carolyn Crabtree (423 8383622) if you are interested in joining us in the Smoky Mountains for a lovely horseback riding adventure.
The French Broad River corridor was one of the very first passages west of the original 13 colonies. Many of the families in our area have deeded land commissioned by the King of England from the late 1700’s. In the 1850’s the train ran from Asheville to Wolf Creek in Tennessee which is a few miles past Hot Springs, NC. At Wolf Creek Lodge, passengers would travel by Stage Coach onward west to the other parts of what is now Tennessee and beyond. In 1869, the railroad was connected from the Tennessee side to Wolf Creek, so the stage was no longer needed. The funny thing about “the West” is that it started in Tennessee and other states bordering the 13 colonies and slowly moved all the way to the Pacific.
Horseback Riding
Horseback riding, of course, is the main ranch activity that is done all months we are open. We have 5 trails ranging from 1 to 2 hours long in duration not counting saddling and grooming. You generally ride twice a day, once before and once after lunch. You will be given a horse that fits your skills at the start of the week. Our trail rides are all on the ranch and have views most other horse trails only dream of having. The river ride is the flat trail and from there the other trails go on up to 200 feet and up to 1000 feet above the lodge area. Our Arabian horses are great mountain trail horses.
Grub
At our Ranch, eating good food comes naturally.You’ll enjoy great meals from breakfast to supper. Beef, chicken, turkey, and pork to name just a few of the main entrees served each week. We have mashed potatoes, sauteed vegetables, homemade bread, and the best desserts that surpass some of the greatest restaurants!
We serve most of our meals family style, which means all the food comes out to the tables at the same time. Passing the plates of great food is part of the ambiance. You can sit right next to your favorite wrangler since they get to enjoy the meals with you. Our food will fulfill your every expectation.
Yehaw, it doesn’t get better than this!
Lodging
Our lodge rooms were newly constructed in 2001. Each room can sleep up to a family of 4, with a private bath. Rooms 1 and 4 have one queen and one double bed. Rooms 2 and 3 have one king and built in bunk beds. Decorated in old western themes and built entirely out of wood, these rooms give you a rustic appeal with all the modern conveniences. The main lodge is located only a few feet away.
Our Lone Star Hotel is a timber frame building so characteristic of the 1800's complete with oak pegs and square nails. All 7 rooms in this structure have a bathroom and sleeps up to 21 guests total. When we get a large family group, they usually pick the Hotel so they can all be in the same building. The Iron Horse Saloon is the entire lower floor and that is where we do the Square Dance and the Bluegrass Band Plays. This might just be the most 1880’s building you will ever walk through.
