Zapata Ranch
August 30 - September 1, 2024
Join us for a weekend of fine dining, highlighting the summer harvest of farmers and ranchers in the surrounding San Luis Valley.
Food and Drink
The dining experience at the Zapata is second-to-none. Using local produce and meats, including bison from the ranch’s herd, our chefs craft an unforgettable and uncommon take on traditional comfort foods with a modern twist. With dishes like bison tenderloin, wild caught trout from the Arkansas River just a few miles away, and herb roasted carrots from local farmers cooked over wood grown on the property, our kitchen provides an organic encounter to cuisine seldom displayed elsewhere.
This special weekend provides a deeper experience of the Zapata’s remarkable food program. Learn more about the local production of fruits, vegetables, eggs, and meat–including the conservation bison raised on the ranch–that will be served at each meal on the Lodge lawn. In addition to a guided hike on Saturday, you can explore the ranch, the Great Sand Dunes National Park, and the surrounding area at your leisure.
The majority of produce featured on the Zapata’s menu is supplied by Valley Roots Food Hub, a non-profit, grassroots program headquartered in Mosca, Colorado. Over 65 independent, regenerative-soil farmers contribute their harvests to the program, with offerings including microgreens, fruit, goat cheese, Amish-raised eggs, pork, beans, quinoa, corn, polenta, elk, yak, beef, and sunflower and safflower oil.
"The Harvest Weekend was a great way to experience the strengths of the Zapata Ranch through its culinary staff and also get a sense of the ranch’s overall mission from a conservation and stewardship perspective. The presence of Sheehan Winery to pair selections with the food really elevated the experience into a true food and beverage centric weekend."
Rates
$1300 includes lodging, meals, a vehicle bison tour, and guided hike for two nights for up to two people. $500 per additional guest in a shared room.
Zapata Ranch
Set back in a shady cotton woodgrove beneath the majestic 14,000-foot peaks of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains lies the historic Zapata Ranch headquarters and lodge, which was established in the late 1800’s. Elk, mule deer, migratory birds, eagles, and black bear also call this area home. The rooms are beautifully furnished and have an elegant southwestern decor that gives them the feel of home. All rooms have individual tiled bathrooms and views that are private, peaceful, and beautiful in any season.
learn more about Zapata