What are people saying about The Bar W Guest Ranch?

TheBarW.com | July 17, 2023We asked our social media friends the following question, “If you've visited our ranch before, what was your favorite part?” Here are their responses. “I loved the whole experience! The staff was great. Meeting new friends on the cattle drive" ( and continue to be friends, from California to Pennsylvania) I would love to come back.” -Royann “Love to the Glamping tents, and the rides were awesome.” -Kathy “Family style meals! My kids loved ringing the bell for meals!” –Chrissy “Very hard to choose, loved all of it. The staff is absolutely wonderful and accommodating! Coming back this year for the week long cattle drive! Would recommend it to anyone who loves horses and making new friends!” -Margaret “My favorite part was everything. The staff was amazing. If I had...

Published on 7/17/2023 (65 days ago) Blog

Horse Riding 101

TheBarW.com | July 17, 2023 1. Stay alert: Riding is super fun, and when you’re first learning, it’s easy to get distracted. You are dealing with a living, breathing animal who might behave unpredictably. You’ll learn to understand “horse talk” better as you progress, but keep your eyes open and be aware of your horse, other horses around you, and the surroundings. Your toes (and pride) will be happier for it. 2. Protect your feet: Speaking of toes, proper boots are a must. You don’t need to purchase new ones for your first riding experience make sure to wear close toed shoes for sure. 3. Greet your horse: Keep in mind that your horse is a living creature, not a vehicle that you can control at your will. The horse could also be nervous, tired or even scared to have someone new riding him....

Published on 7/17/2023 (65 days ago) Blog

What is a Dude Ranch and how did they become popular?

Photo: Dude Ranch AssociationA dude ranch is (in the western US) a cattle ranch converted to a vacation resort for tourists. Guest ranches arose in response to the romanticization of the American West that began to occur in the late 19th century. While there were guest ranches prior to the 20th century, the trend grew considerably after the end of World War I. In the early 1920s guest ranching became popular in Texas.Photo: Dude Ranch AssociationThe Dude Ranch industry was growing so rapidly that in 1923 a dude ranch opened in Hawaii, modeled after those in Wyoming. In 1926, the Dude Ranchers Association was founded in Billings, Montana, to represent the needs of this rapidly growing industry. During the Great Depression the industry continued to expand, likely as an alternative income...

Published on 5/8/2023 (135 days ago) Blog

What is Glamping?

Glamping is a portmanteau of " glamorous " and " camping ", and describes a style of camping with amenities and, in some cases, resort - style services not usually associated with "traditional" camping. Glamping has become particularly popular with 21st - century tourists seeking modern amenities.Glamping is where stunning nature meets modern luxury. It’s a way to experience the untamed and completely unique parts of the world — without having to sacrifice creature comforts. At the Bar W Guest Ranch we offer one of the most unique Glamping experiences around, “There aren’t enough words to describe what an incredible place this is. This was the best experience of my entire life. I stayed in glamping tent 1 and slept like a baby every night. I really felt like I was living in the pioneer...

Published on 4/5/2023 (168 days ago) Blog

The Bar W is One of the Top Dude Ranch Vacations in the United States!

That’s right, just this past December, U.S. News listed the Bar W Guest Ranch as one of the top 10 dude ranch vacations in the United States.They said..."Located 30 miles southwest of Glacier National Park and nestled in the scenic Flathead Valley along Spencer Lake in Whitefish, this intimate family ranch hosts up to 60 guests a week. The packages at Bar W Guest Ranch are for a six - night stay and rates include all meals, guided trail rides, horsemanship lessons, cattle working and all ranch activities and facilities. During your stay, you can go boating or fishing on Spencer Lake, hike into the wilderness areas around the property, take up archery or even learn the skill of hatchet throwing. When the sun goes down, ranch guests will enjoy wagon rides, line dancing and sitting around the...