ZAPATA RANCH

The lodge is built on the original Zapata homestead dating back to the late 1800s and 15 rooms are split over three buildings connected by a lit walkway. Meals on dude ranch vacations are served “family style” in either of two dining rooms or outside with breakfast at 08h00 and dinner at 18h00. The kitchen creates home-style menus often featuring ranch-raised bison and beef as well as locally grown vegetables and produce.

Zapata's all-inclusive pricing and packages include all meals (beginning with dinner the night of arrival and extending through lunch the day of departure), lodging and activities on the ranch. 

Insider's Tip: Check-in is on Thursdays and Sundays. We recommend arriving on a Sunday as there are no ranch activities on this day.

ACTIVITIES INCLUDED

• Horse riding through the bison herd
• Horse riding through the Great Sand Dunes National Park
• Working and driving cattle
• Join the ranch's cowboys as they monitor herd health, check and fix fences, irrigate farmland, assess pasture conditions, and perform any number of other activities required on a working ranch.
• Guided or non-guided hikes into Great Sand Dunes National Park, the Medano meadows, or the many lakes that dot the ranch and the nearby mountains
• Guided naturalist and birding tours

ACTIVITIES (NOT INCLUDED)

• Fly Fishing
• Photography Tours with Professional Photographer Steve Weaver
• Whitewater Rafting
• Rock Climbing
• Paddle Boarding
• Dune Boarding
• Massage & Wellness Services

PRE AND POST SUGGESTIONS

• White-water rafting on the Colorado River
• Exploring any of the numerous national parks in the region - Grand Canyon, Canyonlands or Zion to name just some
• Take a houseboat out on Lake Powell
• See the bright lights of Vegas and take in a show
• Drive from town to town exploring the Rocky Mountains
• Fly to Los Angeles for a combination of beach, shopping and Hollywood highlights including Universal Studios, Rodeo Drive and celebrity-filled restaurants