Overview

This Ain't No Dude Ranch...
First of all, the TX Ranch is not a dude ranch; it is a real working cattle ranch with cattle drives and a real western ranch vacation. If you are looking for an authentic western experience, the TX Ranch will take you back in time and away from it all! It is quite remote and its location is in the foothills of the Pryor Mountains. The ranch is a genuine old-fashioned working cattle ranch that lies mostly in Montana, and part in Wyoming - operating since 1976.

Genuine, Authentic Cattle Drives & Working Ranch Vacations
That means everyone can join in the fun - and work. Guests help out with everything from cattle drives to branding calves and chasing down strays. The TX Ranch’s guests get to live the life of a cowboy for a week alongside some good, honest, real cowboys! Everyone who ever watched a cowboy movie always wanted to head west sometime and be a part of it, so here's your chance. Don't just visit the West ~ live it!

When the TX Ranch is not trail-driving cattle, there is no set itinerary. With a ranch that covers 45,000 acres, there is always something that needs to be done and guests are encouraged to participate. There is de-horning, castrating, ear-tagging, shots to be given, and late calves to be branded. Strays need to be rounded up and, of course, they all need to be regularly herded to the best pasture. Once a herd is rounded up a few riders are needed to hold the herd together while a cowboy or two ride in to rope the calves. The calf is then dragged near the branding fire or to the doctoring area. Then the cowboys need more helpers to throw the calves down and hold them while they're given shots, ear tags, etc. Those who participate in everything have a wonderful sense of achievement at the end of the day. They're really proud of what they've done to help.

Located On The Wyoming/Montana Border
The TX Ranch is located 20 miles north of Lovell, Wyoming, and runs northeast for 50 miles around the Pryor Mountains, with the Big Horn Canyon as their eastern boundary. The altitude varies between 3,800 and 5,000 feet (not including the Pryor Mountains). Guests have an excellent chance of seeing Big Horn Sheep and Pryor Mountain wild mustangs during these spring cattle drives.

The TX Ranch’s cowboys are happy to teach guests how to rope in the evenings, and the more proficient will likely get a chance to test their skills. It's not as easy as it looks! There is no electricity, TV, telephones, or noise - just peace and quiet, with maybe the mournful howl of a coyote in the distance. Evenings are often spent trading stories around the campfire.

Guest participation is not compulsory, but it is definitely encouraged. No one absolutely must ride all day, every day. Most people are happy to do it, but if someone would rather laze around camp for a day it's okay. The TX Ranch realizes that their guests are here to have fun and experience a piece of the REAL West!

"Loretta & Hip,
Jim and I thank you so very much for all your efforts to allow folks to experience in a shallow way a real working cattle ranch. I realize that it takes a good deal of effort and energy to do the things that you do that make this work. It is a blessing to have met you all and especially your Mom, Hip. Her stories and gentle presence and most importantly her wonderful cooking and baking were very much the key to our enjoyment of the whole week. She is a gem."

"We wish you a great season, full each week, and many of God's blessings as your family works to protect and preserve the TX and all that it can provide."

Susan & Jim Furman

"Hip, Loretta, Abby, Des, Christine & Shane~
I would like to thank each of you for helping to create such a great experience for everyone during our stay at the TX. You made me feel welcome in your home and on your ranch. You impress me as being some of the best and nicest people I have ever met. I really enjoyed the opportunity to meet and visit with you, Abby. You are gem. I hope that you are feeling better."

"I’m glad that you offer this experience to city folks like me. Since I have not spent any time to speak of on any farm or ranch, it gives me an opportunity to see for myself what kind of work goes into producing the food that I eat. I have always had a lot of respect for farmers and ranchers because I knew from an intellectual standpoint how hard you work to produce our food. But now I have an even greater amount of respect for the farming and ranching community because I have actually experienced a little bit of it first hand. It also occurred to me that there is no better steward of the land than responsible ranchers such as yourselves. So a side benefit to the experience of riding great horses through big, beautiful country is that you provide an incredible educational opportunity to a wide range of people who don’t have farming or ranching in their frame of reference."

"When I inquired about the retirement herd of horses, the clinician Ken McNabb told me that you will provide a good home for all of the horses that have been good to you for as long as they live. I was really happy to hear that. I have a lot of respect for that philosophy. I know that it must cost you money to feed and care for the retirement herd even though you are not getting any financial gain from them. I suspect that many people would simply get rid of older horses that have no more economic value to the ranch. And I’m afraid that they would sell them without much regard to the horse’s future quality of life. The thought of that makes me sick. I couldn’t do it. But I’m glad that you have a sense of honor, respect and gratitude for the horses that have been good to you. And I’m glad that you provide a good quality of life for them even after they can no longer be of service."

"Thanks again for such a great experience. I’m already looking forward to next year!"

Happy Trails~
Bill Strouse

   Seasonal Rates & Info

	Weekly Rates	Daily Rates
Warm Season	$1,300.00 per person	Not Specified

* Rates shown are in US Dollars. Rates and terms are subject to change without notice.  Currency Converter

   Travel & Industry Awards

• The TX Ranch was featured in the production “The Real Cowboy: Portrait of an American Icon” for The History Channel and has also been featured in many other magazines, newspapers and publications for it's authenticity.

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