Vista Verde Guest Ranch

Vista Verde Guest Ranch is a Magical Wedding Destination for Outdoor Enthusiast

Tucked in between humbling mountain ranges 45 minutes outside of Steamboat Springs is a magical guest ranch suited for a couples dream beginning.

By Sherra Meyers

Dude Ranch is a stretch when referring to Vista Verde Luxury Guest Ranch. In fact, it is a dude ranch with an awe-inspiring menu for the outdoor lover’s delight reaching far beyond the scope of your typical dude ranch. The luxury goes beyond the comfort appointed cabins. The real luxury is herded around the customer service. The employees are what tie-together this hidden retreat. The young and well-educated staff comes from all walks of life ready and eager to make your visit one of your most memorable. By the way, the guest to employee ratio is 1:1! Need I say more?

If considering a destination wedding – the ranch will be the fantasy outdoors retreat for all your family and friends. The ceremony can be held on a mountainside with vista’s reaching as far as the Continental Divide at the old Homestead or in the grandeur of the Lodge’s Great Room or for a more intimate setting; the living room in one of the luxury guest cabins. The options abound for your rehearsal dinner and reception – a cowboy’s steak ride set on a vista view hillside with chef and crew followed by a genuine barn square dance topping it off with a campfire complete with hot chocolate and s’mores! If you are thinking something a bit more sophisticated at the ranch – start with wine hour in the pasture with the horses followed by a gourmet five-course dinner in the dining room and turning it up a notch with dancing in the Lodge’s Great Room. The options are endless and the accommodating staff will work tirelessly to make sure your entire event is pulled off without a hitch.

The ranch is able to accommodate overnight up to 40 guests. The one to three bedroom rustic/luxury style cabins and lodge rooms are perfect for families or couples alone. All cabins have charming wood stoves, alpine log furniture with accents of western art and stocked with snacks, drinks and coffee (best part – no TV’s or phones)(not to panic – cell phone service works here and there and wireless is available all around the ranch for those that absolutely have to have to keep in touch with the outside world). To relax those active muscles at the end of each day, each cabin has its own hot tub on the deck – perfect for viewing the amazing star-infused sky at night.

As for activities for your guests, the problem will be finding the time to fit it all in! All activities have trained guides to train, enhance or simply show you the way. The corral of activities include; horseback riding (trail, loping, barrel riding, cow herding – and more), mountain biking complete with training course, hiking (from 1 hour to all day with packed lunch), kayaking, rock climbing for all levels to even cooking classes. Activities are scheduled daily through the endless efforts of the attentive staff taking activity orders; pardon the pun, during meal times.

If children are part of your group, parents and children will both delight while the kids have a safe and open haven to romp around – the Kid’s Hut offers an equal paradise for the kids as to the adult’s. The highly energized staff has constant activities that get the kids involved all around the ranch.

Vista Verde is where the magic begins but never ends. As many couples and families do, you will find yourself wanting to plan an annual trip, perhaps every anniversary would be the perfect way to celebrate as a romantic getaway and even a place to bring the future family to start your own Vista Verde family tradition.