“Zapata Ranch is, beyond any doubts, one of the two or perhaps three US outstanding western ranches. My comments will not be the common comments on a ranch, since Zapata is not at all a common Ranch. Zapata has the spirit of the West deep embedded and there is a clear will to keep that as it is. Although Zapata is a “Guest or Dude ” Ranch, it has an execution formula that places it very close to a real working ranch in the West and Southwest of the US. Notwithstanding the aforementioned, it meets the main required exigences of the average now-a-days-traveler as wifi, room with private bath in different options, laundry facilities, and the possibility to order somethings from the closest town twice a week and a remarkable quality and diversity of food respecting the tradition, the taste and the flavour of the West meals, quite influenced by geography and local preferences and a perfect execution as well.”
Zapata Ranch
If leisurely days of riding amongst two thousand bison or in Great Sand Dunes National Park sounds like you, then Zapata’s your place. Hike the wild Sangre de Cristo Mountains, join in with the daily ranch work, and in the evening, relax in the Lodge, have a massage, and enjoy a gourmet dinner. All riding levels welcome.
Open March – October.
About The Ranch
The Medano-Zapata Ranch is owned by The Nature Conservancy and managed by Ranchlands in a partnership model that emphasizes environmental conservation practices. Located on the eastern edge of the San Luis Valley of southern Colorado, the ranch borders the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, the newest national park in the United States. Home to a conservation herd of bison that run in a single 50,000 acre pasture, the ranch also runs a herd of Angus mother cows. Additionally, the ranch has a 17-bedroom Lodge that welcomes guests from around the world who are interested in exploring the ranch’s scenic and ecologically diverse meadows, wetlands, sand dunes, and cottonwood groves and learning about ranching’s role in preserving and protecting these natural landscapes.
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Activities & Programs
Zapata Ranch offers extensive programs based around horseback riding and nature programs, and also the opportunity to experience life on a working cattle and bison ranch while enjoying high-end amenities and gourmet food. Guests who desire a working ranch experience are welcome alongside our wranglers and ranch staff on various ranch projects. For those seeking to just experience the ranch and its surroundings, horseback rides through the herd of 2,000 wild bison or the neighboring Great Sand Dunes National Park are favorites.
Other possible activities during your stay include whitewater rafting, rock climbing, hiking in the nearby mountains, ecological tours of the ranch, fly fishing, massages, and more.
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Food
The dining experience at the Zapata is second-to-none. Breakfasts of eggs made to order, biscuits and gravy, warm pancakes, cereal, and fresh fruit are followed up by homemade lunches eaten on the trail or in our dining room. Dinners are expertly prepared each evening and presented with a flair for our guests to enjoy in our lodge-style dining room.
Ranch-raised bison meat is a common feature, along with other fresh—often local—meats and produce.
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Accommodations
Accommodations are in the ranch’s historic 17-bedroom Lodge, the original ranch homestead built in the 1800’s. Rooms are beautifully furnished with elegant southwestern decor, include individual tiled bathrooms and views that are private, peaceful, and beautiful in any season.
Make a ReservationWhat Our Guests Have to Say
“We usually don’t even think about returning to a place a second time but this is a place we would definitely consider. It was nirvana and we didn’t want to leave!”
“The best thing at Zapata? The people! The wranglers who attend to your experience were each smart, educated, hard-working, kind, informative and talented women. They tailored each days experience to your comfort level and ensured that we had a memorable time. They really were outstanding!”
“We rode through herds of Elk and Bison; the trees were alive with owls and porcupines (I never actually saw a porcupine, because it wasn’t the season, but was assured they do climb trees!), as well as eagles and buzzards soaring above. At sundown each night, after a delicious healthy meal, we heard the coyotes yipping and hollering in the hills – a spine-tingling, yet thrilling sound. And all against the breathtaking backdrop of the Great Sand Dunes National Park, and the soaring Colorado mountains.”
Pricing
Our all-inclusive pricing and packages include all meals, lodging, and activities on the ranch. Taxes and gratuities are not included.
There is a 3-night minimum for vacations, apart from March and April, when we offer two-night stays.
Redefine Ranch Management
Try our conservation-focused, turnkey management services.
