playbook / F A M I L Y
FUN
B E AU M O N T R A N C H
GRANDVIEW, TEXAS
40 minutes south of Fort Worth 817/866-4000 beaumontranch.com This working ranch offers an eclectic mix of modern amenities and rustic charm. Situated on 800 acres, Beaumont Ranch provide guests the chance to learn roping and riding alongside real cowboys and ranch hands. Other activities include zip lining, archery, ATV riding and shooting sporting clays. Herds of longhorns, horses, llamas, goats and other wildlife roam the property, so you never know what you might encounter while enjoying a walk around the ranch. All meals are served family-style in a traditional Western buffet. Lodging options include 26 unique suites, rooms, guest cabins and homes spread out across the property.
DIXIE DUDE RANCH BANDERA, TEXAS
ABOVE // Enjoy a guided horseback ride with beautiful Hill Country views at DIXIE DUDE RANCH. LOWER RIGHT // Goats graze and laze on the grounds of PRUDE RANCH.
HEY DUDE! Saddle up for an unforgettable family vacation WORDS KELLY WOOLEY
SURE, WE LIVE IN TEXAS, and you might own a pair of cowboy boots. But when’s the last time you went roping and riding, listened to stories around a campfire or gazed at an endless expanse of stars in the night sky? Those adventures are closer than you think—just mosey on out to one of these dude ranches for a family vacation you won’t forget.
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april/may 2022 | DFWCHILD
Dixie Dude Ranch, founded in 1901, is also a working ranch, with some added bells and whistles to entertain visitors of all ages and interests. Get the inside scoop on real ranch living during daily horseback rides led by cowboys and cowgirls who raise livestock and compete in local rodeos. You can also partake in hiking, swimming, basketball and table tennis, to name a few of the ranch’s activities. An added bonus for mom and dad—there’s an on-site licensed massage therapist. Depending on the size of your party, accommodations include a variety of units within cabins, cottages, two-story “bunkhouses” and lodge rooms. Family-style meals are served three times a day with traditional ranch-style fare such as barbecue brisket, sausage, pork ribs, fried chicken, mashed potatoes and homemade rolls. Most nights end with a good ol’ fashioned campfire accompanied by Western music. As a testament to its authenticity, Dixie Dude Ranch was recognized by Southern Living magazine and featured on CNN as one of the “6 best places to be a cowboy (for a while).”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DIXIE DUDE RANCH; PRUDE RANCH
4 hours, 45 minutes southwest of Fort Worth 830/796-7771 dixieduderanch.com
