The origin of the dude ranch vacation is a fascinating story. Back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, “dude” was the name given to “big-shot city slickers” by Western cattle ranchers (or cowboys).

Most people equate dude ranches to the range-riding, dog-wrangling, pot-full-of-beans-eating experience we all watched Billy Crystal endure in the movie "City Slickers." While that experience is ...

Outdoor travel influencer Courtney Lanctot wants Black travelers to enjoy the unique and fun experience of a luxury dude ranch. Back in the late 19th century, these ranch accommodations began ...

Cowboys. Horses. Guns. Booze. And tennis? When it comes to dude ranches, hosts are adopting John Wayne’s, “A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do,” and are offering options unheard of just a few ...

When you think of the Dutton family ranch, peaceful might not be the first word that comes to mind amid the murders, deceit and missing cattle—and yet, doesn’t it still look dreamy? Lucky for us you ...

Prime rib, Caesar salad, shrimp and a dessert table? Whatever happened to franks-n-beans? Apparently, they’re long gone, like much of what I expected to find at a dude ranch. Thankfully, some of the ...

In the late-1800s, big-shot city slickers (known to cattle ranchers as “dudes”) discovered that ranch visits out West made for unforgettable getaways. This spurred a unique niche of travel as working ...

Cowboys. Horses. Guns. Booze. And tennis? When it comes to dude ranches, hosts are adopting John Wayne’s, “A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do,” and are offering options unheard of just a few ...