Bush Creek Ranch is huge, spanning 30,000 secluded acres of sagebrush prairie and rolling hills in Wyoming’s North Platte River Valley. Guests at one of its three all-inclusive guest ranches can experience the clearest of starlit skies, and no shortage of room to run, ride, and play. The working cattle ranch is surrounded by more than two million acres of national forest, flanked on either side by the Sierra Madre and Medicine Bow mountain ranges, so the views in every direction are sprawling. The nature-focused retreat caters to cowboy hat-clad business executives, multi-generational families, young professionals, and celebrities alike.
Lodging options include the Lodge & Spa, Magee Homestead, and French Creek Sportsmen’s Club, each with its own focus. Magee Homestead skews even more elevated and ultra-luxury compared to the main Lodge, while French Creek was designed for hunters and fishermen.
There are 19 hotel-style rooms at the Lodge & Spa, and a central gathering space where all guests eat breakfast and lunch daily. For a bit more privacy and room to spread out, opt for private cabins and residences that are a little farther afield from the ranch’s main gathering spaces (guests are assigned their own personal golf cart for getting around). Stone fireplaces, dark leather couches and cowhide chairs, antler chandeliers, and other Western accents make all of the accommodations feel equally cozy and inviting.
The Lil Wranglers program allows parents to enjoy some alone time while the kids hang out with guides and play games, make arts and crafts, and otherwise explore the ranch under supervision. Twice-daily activities, led by energetic, outdoorsy guides, help guests make the most of the ranch’s massive scenic footprint—hiking, mountain biking, ATVing, horseback riding, rock climbing, fly-fishing, and more. From spirit tastings at the on-site distillery to ranch-raised American Wagyu beef, there’s no shortage of Western-inspired indulgence.
It’s a fabulous winter getaway, too: There are 600 acres of private downhill skiing, best complimented by an evening of cozying up near one of the many fireplaces.
Get there: Scenic views along WY Hwy 130, an hour from Laramie Airport, three and a half hours from Denver International, or fly private into Saratoga Jet Center, less than 20 minutes away.
Amenities: All-inclusive (lodging, three meals daily, select beverages, and a wide variety of on-ranch activities, such as horseback riding, shooting, yoga, and more.)
