Peace, tranquility & the wild west. All of these magical things come together in Clark, Colorado at The Home Ranch. Recently I had the wonderful opportunity to visit this beautiful, rustic guest ranch in the heart of the Colorado countryside. I drove out from Telluride and what should have been a 5 hour journey ended up an 8 hour blizzard trek. This made my anticipation to get there even bigger! Upon arrival I was greeted by the most charming staff and I felt at home immediately…

Nestled in the high Colorado Rocky Mountains in the Elk River Valley, The Home Ranch fully immerses it’s guests in it’s genuine western charm. There are 6 unique lodge rooms and 8 stand alone cabins. My cabin, sweetly named Roo became my little hideaway among the winter aspens and pines.

This is a place to slow down and take solitude. A place to enjoy nature in all it’s glory. The decor in the cabins is finely procured by ranch owner and founder Ann Stranahan. She has carefully collected pieces to make you feel as it you are in a historic country cabin.

The capacity of the ranch is 50 guests, which means freedom of space is always at your disposal. Each guest is greeted by name and becomes part of the family immediately.

Coming from a background in textile design (I used to design patterns for fabrics) I was in love with the vintage fabrics and patterns everywhere. Each cabin has vintage furniture and it’s own wood burning fire place, which was very comforting in the blizzard.

Surrounded by rustic charm & elegance…at the ranch I felt well cared for and like a mountain princess. The ranch is part of the Relais & Châteaux brand of properties. This means that I was pleasantly aware of little surprises during my stay. There is the utmost attention to detail every where you turn.

My expectations were exceeded in so many ways. What makes an R&C property so special are the little surprises and authenticity you come across throughout your stay.

My cabin was stocked with some of my favorite snacks, including homemade chocolate chip cookies…

And a basket full of snacks…

The Home Ranch is located just 18 miles north of the Steamboat Springs ski resort During the winter guests can enjoy private cross country skiing and horseback riding. In the warmer months a whole world opens up wth hiking, yoga, mountain biking, fly fishing (this is an Orvis endorsed property) and there is even a Cattle Round Up Week. Since I’m such an active adventure seeker, I’m very curious about herding cattle, this trip is on my bucket list!

This is a very family friendly ranch where kids and adults can indulge their pioneer spirits. Families return year after year to create everlasting memories. I’m already tempting my kids with the idea of a summer visit!

On this trip, I took advantage of the cross country skiing, this is one of my favorite winter activities and such amazing exercise! I brought my own Nordic gear, but the ranch has a large selection of everything you could need in their Ski Hut.

This little warming hut cabin is super cozy and the perfect place to enjoy a piping hot cup of tea or coffee while you gear up or gear down.

Thankfully I was able to do lots of nordic exercise so I could have an extra hearty appetite for all the delicious food! Extraordinary cuisine is a focus here. You will never go hungry. Everything is homemade at the ranch and there is careful attention to every single ingredient.

They call this “Haute Mountain Cuisine” and I completely agree with this distinction. If you love the farm to table approach then this place is for you! Ingredients are locally sourced when available and The Home Ranch raises it’s own organic beef, pork and poultry. They also grow as much produce as they can for the season. The warm seasons are short, but they are pros at collecting bountiful crops.

I guarantee you will be pleasantly surprised with the creative menu offerings. Because everything is made to order, the ranch can adapt the menu to suit any dietary needs.

This area of Colorado is know for legendary snow falls and I was happy to be there during some epic powder days…

One of the highlights for me was meeting the horses. There are over 80 horses on the ranch & thankfully I was able to spend some time with them. The snow was too deep to ride, but we got outside with the ranch hands to feed them.

Mountain magic moments…

I hope you can visit this beautiful hamlet soon. Please contact The Home Ranch for more information or to book your stay. Also, follow them on social media: Facebook  Pinterest  Instagram  Twitter

Visit the Relais & Châteaux website to learn more about their extensive selection of properties around the world. Facebook  Twitter  Pinterest  Instagram

Thank you to The Home Ranch for your hospitality at this beautiful & memorable property. All thoughts and opinions are my own. All photos by Marla Meridith.

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