Glamptuary Review - Badger Creek Ranch
HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE COUNTRY LINE-DANCING, MEALS WITH THE RANCH STAFF, HORSE & CARRIAGE RIDES, SHEEP, CHICKENS, AND A EDUCATIONAL RANCH TOUR RICH WITH HISTORY OF THE UTE, COMANCHE AND APACHE INDIANS WHO LIVED ON THIS LAND FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
The words I would choose to describe our Glamptuary stay at Badger Creek Ranch are: transformative, connected, enlightening, and relaxed.
The transformative part began before we arrived at the gates of BCR. It began on County Road 53 which we picked up in Hartsel, CO…just as we lost GPS. Before we lost signal, it said we had another 1.2 hours of driving ahead of us. The pavement turned into dirt. There were no signs of life except the hundreds of cattle we saw casually grazing alongside the road.
I started to question if I entered the address into GPS correctly. There was no reason for me to doubt myself. As we drove further and further down the road, I realized I was getting farther away from what I knew as civilization. A moment of panic arose. Were we headed the right way? What if something happens? I stared out the window at the endless rolling hills looking for answers to these questions I suddenly felt a sense of relief. I knew the road went somewhere, and I knew these cattle belonged to someone, and I knew were headed towards something. We weren’t lost. We were exactly where we needed to be, as always. I smiled. And then a few minutes later I saw the sign and gates for Badger Creek Ranch.
The rustic design of the ranch entrance (along with the long road ahead inside the gates) set the tone for the adventure we were embarking on. We were leaving our lives as we know them behind and were headed towards an adventure in the Rockies.
The transformation was in full swing and it almost felt like the road to nowhere we traveled in on was by design.
When we arrived at headquarters for Badger Creek Ranch we were promptly greeted by their very friendly staff. We received a warm welcome and were offered coffee. As we sipped on the fresh brew, we were told dinner was at 6 PM sharp and we’d be dining with the ranch hands and owner, Chrissy McFarren. I thought it was awesome that we’d be breaking bread with everyone that made this trip possible.
We were shown to our safari tent so we could unpack and freshen up for supper. The simple and rustic look of the exterior of the tent aligned perfectly with our immersion into ranch life.
The tent came equipped with a comfortable bed and luxury linens which felt great to the touch. There was an old barrel serving as a nightstand along with a rocking chair covered in animal hide. I felt like I had traveled back in time as we settled in and the transformation was complete.
Just before 6 PM, we moseyed back to the main house for supper. The staff makes it a point to eat dinner together whenever possible, and the ranch guests are also invited to the table. This was a nightly tradition in my family when I was growing up and the kid in me got excited to break bread with everyone. The conversation was warm. The food was delicious. The feeling I had was a sense of belonging - like I’d been here before. This is where I felt connected - both to Chrissy and her staff, to my wife Christina, and the land. A good supper will do that.
After supper, Christina and I retired to another small ranch house called “The Gathering Space.” We enjoyed some hot tea and a friendly game of chess. There was a wood burning stove in the corner that made the room feel cozy. After a couple games, we turned in for the night to get rested up. Chrissy had big plans for us and her guests who were traveling in for the weekend.
We woke up early to catch the sunrise. It was spectacular, brief and totally worth it.
The sound of quiet in the middle of a 7,500 acre ranch is different. Peaceful vibrations are how I would describe it. Especially when the horses came in from the pasture for their morning feed.
It was time for our feed as well so we headed to the main house for breakfast. We noticed the freshly chalked sign outside the entrance to the ranch house which laid out our plans for the day. I was especially excited for the guided walking tour of the ranch. I was a little nervous for line dancing. It’s been awhile since my last rodeo…
Following the instructions of the sign, we began our Saturday by wandering around the property saying hi to all the chickens, the sheep, the sheep dogs Frankie and Grace, the horses, and passersby as guests started to arrive for the days festivities.
We made our way back to the main house to begin our guided hike into the ranch. About 30 people had arrived by 10 AM which is impressive considering it’s an hour drive to anywhere from the ranch. Chrissy and her trusted pup Luna welcomed everyone. Chrissy explained we’d be hiking into parts of the ranch that were once heavily occupied by the Ute Indians. We then walked about a mile across the land (which isn’t far considering the ranch is roughly 7,500 acres) and discovered the remains of a Tipi village. All that was left was the circular formation of the rocks which were used to weight down the Tipis. Chrissy did an amazing job describing details about the Ute Indians and what their day-to-day life was like. It was amazing to stand right where the Ute stood thousands of years ago. I was feeling enlightened and craving more of Chrissy’s knowledge. I could tell she has a passion for the history surrounding her ranch, respect for the land and those who came before us, and gratitude for what we are here to preserve and nourish.
Next, Chrissy led the group to the area called “The Buffalo Jump.” A flood of images popped up into my mind and including Chrissy commanding a buffalo to jump over something. This was not correct at all although I could see her being capable of such a feat. In fact, “Buffalo Jump” had nothing to do with a buffalo jumping at all. Our trusted guide explained that this was how the Ute hunted buffalo from a conservation approach of only taking what they needed to survive. The Ute would herd the buffalo using natural rock embankments for directional assistance. Only a few buffalo were let into a small area where they could be humanely hunted. The rest were turned away to continue grazing. The “Jump” referred to the esteemed Ute who jumped up from a hiding spot to turn away the stampeding buffalo that were not to be hunted that day. Only the bravest Ute volunteered for this position as survival was not guaranteed. After a successful “Jump,” the hero was celebrated for bravery. The Ute were very conscious and respectful of the land and animals they shared the land with. It is often thought that all Indians ran buffalos off cliffs as a hunting style and while this is true in some cases, the Ute developed a gracious approach to hunting and a unique approach to the “Buffalo Jump.”
After our brains and hearts felt full, it was time to head back for lunch so we could fill our belly with a BBQ spread led by grill master Walter. There was also a live band complete with a banjo, violin and guitar led by musician Andrea Early Coen. She also doubled as our line-dancing instructor and we did surprising well thanks to Andrea’s patient instruction. No one was harmed in the making of our line dance and we had a lot of fun and laughs as we danced in the dirt. After we danced, we rode in a carriage led by Ranch Lead Gregory and his massive and beautiful draft horses.
After a full day of exercise for the brain and body, we felt very relaxed and fulfilled. A BIG THANKS to the Badger Creek Ranch, Owners Chrissy and Dave McFarren, the Staff, the Musicians, the the Volunteers for a fun and memorable Glamptuary experience. It was now time to kick back and let it all sink in.
On our way out Sunday morning, I had a chance to talk with Chrissy about her efforts to promote regenerative agriculture and educate folks about how important land conservation is. If you are lucky enough to stay at Badger Creek Ranch, you’ll have the opportunity to grow spiritually and pick up some new skills along the way. I feel blessed to have met Chrissy and now call her a friend.
Helpful Information For Planning A Visit To Badger Creek Ranch
Booking: Directly on Badger Creek Website
Nearest Major Airport: Denver International Airport
Drive times: 3 1/2 hour drive from Downtown Denver and from Airport
Nearest town is Salida, CO- 19.3 miles away (55 minute drive)
Nearest hospital - Salida, CO
Dirt road access, 4WD vehicles are recommended to safely reach ranch
All meals and beverages provided and you can bring in your own snacks and beverages
Shared bathroom assigned with shower
Towels provided, bring your own toiletries and hairdryer
Wi-Fi is available at main lodge
Small gift shop at main lodge
Horseback riding is available and dependent on type of stay booked
Not dog-friendly
Family-friendly with advance notice
Open for group bookings and events
Board games available
Call to discuss what type of experience you are looking for prior to booking
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