The Dude at 100
A century ago, America's guest ranches were pioneering adventure travel long before we knew we needed it
News flash: Experiential tourism isn’t new.
In the second century AD, Roman travelers, eager for a float down the Nile, were carving their names into Egyptian temple walls. In the 1700s British aristos hightailed it to the Continent to immerse themselves in European customs. In 1926, Americans weren’t thinking about longevity treatments, infinity pools or schlepping around the campagna with Michelin-starred chefs. The Frontier was still a living memory, and upmarket travelers hungered for horses, mountains, campfires and a chance to exchange the coal smoke and crowded cities for the range’s fresh air and wide-open spaces popularized by writer Zane Grey’s cowboy pulse-pounders. Enter the Dude Ranchers’ Association, founded 100 years ago to promote such Western vacations and ensure travelers could find authentic ranches where they could embrace outdoor living rather than read about it.
In this context the word “dude” isn’t Gen X slang, it means a “newbie.” In the early 20th century it referred to an East Coast urbanite—a tenderfoot who had never thrown a saddle over a horse or slept under the stars. Living as a cowboy in the Dakota Badlands during his 20s, New Yorker Teddy Roosevelt celebrated the life. “I do not believe there ever was any life more attractive to a vigorous young fellow than life on a cattle ranch,” he wrote in his autobiography. Ranchers adopted the nickname with good humor, and before long, the places welcoming these visitors became known as dude ranches. Historians trace the origins of the dude ranch to 1882, when Howard Eaton and his brothers accepted their first paying guest at their cattle ranch near Medora in the Dakota Territory. The Eatons, now in Wyoming, still host guests today. (See the “Field Notes” below for a list of current ranches)
What began as an escape for wealthy Easterners soon evolved into one of America’s first experiential vacations, inviting guests not simply to see the West but to participate in it. A century later, the details may be different but the promise of the dude ranch and contact with the working cowboys remain little changed.
Families still arrive seeking horses instead of highways, conversations instead of screen time, and landscapes large enough to remind them that life is very different on the Western range. In an age obsessed with authenticity, the dude ranch is less a relic than a remarkably modern answer to what many travelers say they’re searching for now.
Enter Bryce Albright.
Albright serves as executive director of the Dude Ranchers’ Association, but her connection to the organization began much earlier. She grew up on a member ranch run by her aunt and uncle, surrounded by guests discovering the rhythms of Western life. She lives today on her family’s Wyoming ranch, where she raises cattle, Quarter Horses and two daughters. I asked her why the dude ranch continues to hold appeal—and what the next 100 years might hold.
Q: People have predicted the end of the American West for generations, yet dude ranches are enjoying renewed interest. Why do they still captivate us?
A: “The appeal and allure of the West hasn’t changed and the idea of a dude ranch vacation has stayed the same. People want to experience the life of a cowboy, connect with nature and see the working class of the West. That’s even more important now to be a part of that - pushing cattle or sitting around the campfire listening to stories, reconnecting with family and nature and not screens. In fact, some ranches restrict wifi or laptops, and phones are frequently banned in dining rooms.”
Q: What about the horses?
A: “There’s always going to be horses. The horse remains the foundation of every dude ranch. Elkhorn Ranch in Arizona does a great horseback riding program. You don’t have a ranch without horses.”
Q: How do your members evolve along with modern travelers while preserving the values and traditions that make a dude ranch feel genuinely Western?
A: “If they’re lucky guests can still jump in a creek, but pools and hot tubs are more prevalent now. Some ranches even have full blown spas. Montana’s Mountain Sky Guest Ranch, for example, is state-of-the-art. And while dinner might once have been a can of beans, many ranches are now serving top-of-the-line food. Dancing took place back in the day, and you still see dancing at night. In Livermore, Colorado, Cherokee Park Ranch features a fun and seasoned square dance caller. Guests have the chance to learn, enjoy and laugh while square dancing and line dancing.”
Q: Do visitors have an opportunity to hear stories about the places they’re bunking in?
A: “A lot of the ranches do history talks, delivered by either the family who owns the ranch or a friend who knows the timeline of the property. In Wolf, Wyoming, guests at Eatons’ Ranch join Mr. Ron, a longtime family friend to hear the Eatons’ Ranch’s amazing history. Mr. Ron floats around the ranch throughout the week telling stories and offering guided historical tours of the land surrounding the ranch.”
Q: How do travelers respond?
A: “Guests love that. They know these places are historic but to hear the traditions told to them—the history on where people went riding, the geology or how a mountain range got its name—when you’re sitting on a horse and looking at the Tetons or the Snake River you’ll remember that.”
Q: What do you hope the next hundred years look like for your ranchers?
A: “Dude ranches have outlasted the Great Depression, two world wars, and a global pandemic. The magic has not changed. When you show up, you are surrounded by horses and the ranches—there’s been a lot of love and money put into that. I just hope in 100 years with technology still moving forward, people can still escape to a dude ranch and connect across the dinner table or on the back of a horse. I’m not going outlast AI, but I hope the dude ranch does.”
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Over to you: Have you ever stayed at a dude ranch, or is it still on your travel bucket list? If you’ve been, which ranch did you visit? Let’s swap stories in the comments below!
Some other uniquely American places and where to find the boots in which to explore them:
Field Notes
Eatons’ Ranch, Wolf, Wyoming. America’s oldest operating dude ranch traces its origins to 1879, when the Eaton brothers established a cattle ranch beneath Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains. Guests have been paying to experience ranch life here since the early 1880s, helping launch an entirely new style of American vacation. Today the ranch combines horseback riding, fishing, hiking and authentic Western hospitality much as it has for nearly a century and a half. Address: 270 Eaton Ranch Rd; Tele: (307) 655-9285; Rates: From about $2,250 per adult, per week.
Cherokee Park Ranch, Livermore Colorado. One of Colorado’s oldest family-owned guest ranches, Cherokee Park Ranch has welcomed guests to the Cache la Poudre River country since 1886. Horseback riding, fly fishing, whitewater rafting and nightly campfire gatherings make it a classic all-inclusive Western vacation. The ranch caters to families throughout the summer before shifting to an adults-only season in late August. Address: 436 Cherokee Hills Drive Tele: (970) 493-6522; Rates: From about $3,000 per adult for a week-long all-inclusive stay.
Triangle X Ranch, Moose, Wyoming. The only dude ranch located inside Grand Teton National Park, Triangle X has been operated by the Turner family for five generations. Log cabins, unlimited horseback riding and spectacular access to Grand Teton scenery make it one of the country’s iconic guest ranches. Wildlife viewing, float trips and fishing round out the experience. Address: 2 Triangle X Ranch Road; Tele: (307) 733-2183; Rates: From about $2,280 per person for a six-night all-inclusive stay.
Elkhorn Ranch, near Tucson, Arizona. Family-owned since 1945, Elkhorn Ranch occupies a secluded valley in the Sonoran Desert 65 miles southwest of Tucson. Horseback riding, hiking and birdwatching replace television and Wi-Fi, encouraging guests to embrace the slower rhythms of ranch life. Saguaro National Park, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument are all within easy reach. Address: 27000 West Elkhorn Ranch Road; Tele: (520) 822-1040; Rates: From $698 per adult, per night (four-night minimum).
Mountain Sky Ranch, Emigrant, Montana. Set on 17,000 acres in Montana’s Paradise Valley, Mountain Sky blends the traditions of a classic dude ranch with the comforts of a luxury resort. Guests spend their days horseback riding, fly fishing, hiking and exploring Yellowstone National Park before retreating to beautifully restored historic cabins. The ranch is particularly well suited to families seeking an upscale Western vacation with extensive children’s programming. Tele: (800) 548-3392: Rates: Cabins from $14,350 per week (up to two guests).
Cool piece, Andrew! When I was a kid, I stayed at that ranch in Valley, Wyoming, and loved it. Every day we swam on horseback across a raging river to reach the mountain meadows. It was gorgeous. But I never knew where the word “dude” came from—so interesting!
A dude ranch has been on my bucket list for years. I’m heading west for my first time this August. Excited to experience it.