There are, however,  some supportive family members and friends who might tag along on one horse-lover’s vacation but have interests that lie in other places. Perhaps they want to spend a week reading and relaxing on the spacious front porch of their cabin. Maybe they prefer to do a half-day ride and then trap shoot or fly fish in the afternoon, or perhaps they are most interested in seeing Wyoming back country while being toured around the Big Horn Mountains in our famous “Red Dragon” SUV to an adventurous or romantic picnic lunch destination. Some folks might even want to spend an afternoon in downtown historic Cody before heading to the Cody Nite Rodeo! We also have mountain bikes available at the lodge as well as staff who are knowledgeable about local hiking trails if you prefer outdoor adventure on foot.

Fortunately, the possibilities at The Hideout are endless when it comes to activities  – what do you want to do during your time in or out of the saddle?

Fly fishing at The Hideout!

In addition to the beautiful Shell Falls, the Big Horn Mountains offer vast scenery and thousands of acres of untouched wilderness

Shell is a treasure chest of fossils – sometimes our lucky guests can visit an active dinosaur fossil dig site!

]]> http://thehideout.com/new/blog/?feed=rss2&p=204 0 http://thehideout.com/new/blog/?p=202 http://thehideout.com/new/blog/?p=202#comments Thu, 05 Jul 2012 13:58:15 +0000 Peter De Cabooter http://www.thehideout.com/blog/?p=202 Continue reading →]]> When we posted a quick photo of this beautiful dessert to The Hideout Facebook Page on Tuesday, we had lots of recipe requests! After some kind words to the kitchen, the ladies have passed their knowledge on to the rest of us… enjoy!

Apple Berry Cobbler from the Hideout

Fruit Layer

2 lb. total Blueberries, Raspberries, and apple mixed

(I used about 1 1/2 apples, peeled and chopped)

14 oz. Juice from berries, or water

9 oz. Granulated sugar

2.25 oz. Cornstarch

Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Allspice, Ginger to taste

1 oz. lemon juice

1. Place 3/4 of water or juice in saucepan and add the granulated sugar.

2. Boil the mixture.

3. Make a slurry by placing the cornstarch in a bowl and added the remaining 1/4 of liquid while

whisking as well as spices and lemon juice.

4. When sugar/water mixutre begins to boil, slowly add the slurry, whicking constantly. Return to

boil.

5. Cook until the mixture is thickened and translucent, approximately one minute.

5. Remove from heat and fold in the berries.

6. Place berries in bottom of casserole or individual ramekins.

Buttermilk Biscuit

1 egg

13.2 oz. Buttermilk

20 oz. All-purpose flour

1.2 oz. Baking Powder

1.5 oz. Sugar, granulated

Dash of Cinnamon

pinch salt

4.5 oz. Butter

1. Whisk egg and buttermilk together in a small bowl. Place in refrigerator until needed.

2. Sift together dry ingredients.

3. Cut or flake the butter into dry mixture, most of the butter should be in large flakes or shards.

4. Add the egg/buttermilk all at once and mix by hand or on first speed of a mixer until just

incorporated.

5. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 10 minutes.

6. Turn out onto floured surface and knead until the dough just comes together. Do not overmix.

7. Roll out to thickness of 1″

8. Fold one side towards center and pat down. Repeat with other 3 sides, rotating dough 90

degrees.

9. Roll dough out into even thickness of 1/2″

10. Cut into desired shape/size.

11. Allow to rest for 20-30 minutes.

12. Place individual biscuits on top of fruit filling.

13. Egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar.

14. Bake 350 for about 20-30 minutes or until biscuits rise and are golden brown.

Makes about 10-12 individual ramekins

If you don’t have a scale to measure ingredients, gourmetsleuth.com is a great resource for

converting ingredients.

After you’ve seen the sights and maybe purchased that perfect new pair of boots or hat, you can mosey on over to a delicious Western dinner at The Proud Cut Saloon where they serve up their “kick-ass cowboy cuisine.” Surrounded by four walls of vintage rodeo photographs and several hunting trophies, you can enjoy an authentic Wyoming dinner in style while swapping stories from your week with wranglers and other guests.

The nightly rodeo show starts at 8:00pm and features local cowboys and cowgirls trying to beat the clock  in all of the classic rodeo events like bareback riding, tie down roping, team roping, bull riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding and barrel racing.

Bull riding at the Cody Nite Rodeo

For those of you who haven’t been to a rodeo before, this is definitely a great way to experience the town of Cody while taking part in a true Western tradition! After the fun has ended, our wranglers have you home before midnight so you can be up and ready for another day of riding and adventure on the range here at The Hideout.

If you are interested in attending the Cody Nite Rodeo, which runs from June 1st through August 31st, during your stay, talk to a wrangler or someone from the Hideout Office – they are more than happy to get you all set up for an evening in Cody!

Although the 2011-12 Wyoming winter was not as long as the previous one, like every other season we areeagerly looking forward to welcoming more of  our 2012 “early season”  Hideout Guests.

We work through the entire winter to ensure that we are ready for our guests, and let us be honest…we don’t see that many people living in a town of 83 souls on the West slope of the Big Horns (with the nearest sizable town dozens of miles away.) The route that traverses The Big Horn Mountains at 9,000 feet  is often closed for traffic due to snowfall, cutting us off from the Eastern side of the range.

Needless to say, in addition to being eager to do what is imbedded in our deepest soul (pampering and taking care of guests and ensuring that they have a great vacation experience,) we are thrilled to have the opportunity to strike up new conversations, exchange experiences and exercise our speech again now that guests have started to regularly arrive here at The Hideout.

So far, the season is off to a great start and we have welcomed new and repeat visitors from both North America and Europe.

Our 2012 seasonal staff is almost in place. We hired several of our seasonal staff well ahead of the season and invested in plenty of training and education to make sure they are great hosts for those vacationing with us at The Hideout! Just a few weeks ago, we  took these new hires on a day-long tour covering all landmarks from The Hideout to Cody and beyond, led by local expert guide, Bob Richard. Mr. Richard explained all interesting pit stops, covered the history of the area and gave us all valuable information to share with our guests, both new and returning.

Some of the Hideout Staff on a tour of the Big Horn Basin with Bob Richard

Today marks the beginning of another week, with guests of all riding experience and background joining us for a great Wyoming adventure. We couldn’t be more thrilled to be meeting another new batch of folks (and seeing old friends again) and listening to stories from their home towns and countries.What a great feeling it is to welcome them all to our small corner of paradise here in the Shell Valley and Big Horn Mountains.

Happy Trails and best to you all,

The Hideout Management

The back cover explains, “West of Sheridan is fast-paced, adventurous, and captivating, while embodying humor, romance and inspiration. Above all, it is a literary illustration of character and moral fiber; a compelling look inside the heads of two very distinctive, contradictory men and what drives them.”

What’s so special to us, other than Ross’ success as an author, is that this exciting story takes place in our neck of the woods with familiar landscapes, towns and general geography. Mr. Ross tells us that he gained much of his inspiration for the setting of West of Sheridan from his time spent here at The Hideout as a repeat guest.

Mr. Ross was kind enough to send us a few boxes with signed copies of the novel to stock in our gift shop – the handwritten inscription in each title page reads, “The Hideout is where this adventure started for me. Hope your adventure is the same.” Well, shucks, Mr. Ross – we’re so glad we could help your creative flow from our little corner of Shell, Wyo!

We were also extremely honored to find a very special “thank you” from Mr. Ross in the afterword of West of Sheridan:

I’d like to say a special word of thanks to David and Paula Flitner, owners of the Flitner Ranch and The Hideout, and Peter and Marijn  De Cabooter, managers and hosts of The Hideout Ranch in Shell, Wyoming. I have stayed there several times, and it is never easy to leave. It was on an impromptu trip to The Hideout many years ago when I was introduced to the culture and people of Wyoming, and have found myself drawn back ever since. The accommodations are luxurious and comfortable, the food is incredibly but it is the people – their honesty, integrity, and spirit – that make this resort such a wonderful place to stay. You will arrive as a guest, but you will leave as a friend. The Hideout location is used in this story with permission. (Ross 635)

The Hideout crew is so thrilled to be mentioned with such high regard and we’re all excited to crack open a copy of West of Sheridan and dive into the story!

To read rave reviews, back cover information and sneak peeks at Mr. Ross’ novel, visit: Amazon.com or pick up your signed copy from The Hideout gift shop during your stay.

Happy trails and happy reading to you all!

The Hideout Crew

On our third week of the 2012 guest season and already looking onward to the fourth, it’s becoming quite clear that there is no such thing as a “typical” week here at The Hideout. So far, our guests have taken lessons in the arena, seen fossilized dinosaur tracks, vaccinated and wrestled calves at a traditional ranch branding, ridden to the heights of Devil’s Leap, gathered a few hundred cows out on BLM land and next week’s guests are coming to The Hideout for our increasingly popular Authentic Horsemanship clinic week.

What a good lookin’ group!

They have also enjoyed fine dining at The Hideout Lodge, gone trap shooting, caught a fish or two on the waters of Shell, lived the lives of cowboys during the day and lives of well-attended guests in the evening as they enjoyed wine, good company, a game of pool or two and a soft pillow at the end of it all.

Hey there, cowboy!

All things considered, the only thing that is “typical” here at The Hideout is a great, unparalleled experience that will provide you with memories for years to come (or at least until you return to make some more!) We are so happy to have made new friends already this season – while we will miss them greatly as the season goes on, we are thrilled to welcome more new and repeat guests to our Hideout home here in the beautiful Shell Valley as the season rolls onward.

Happy trails to you all!

-The Hideout Crew

pular Authentic Horsemanship clinic week.

Photo courtesy of Hideout guest and photographer Gene Devine

Bluebirds have been spotted, the deer are migrating towards the slope of the Big Horn Mountains and calving season is all but finished. Puppies, lambs, calves and foals can be seen running through the pastures as fast as their little legs will carry them. All of these things, plus dozens more, are signs that spring has officially arrived in Shell, Wyo. Soon the branding pens will be full, the smell of barbecue and burning branding irons will mingle in the air and our guest season will be in full swing.

Spring is a rewarding season for us here at The Hideout for so many reasons. We are able to open our ranch to guests again, see old friends (both guests and returning staff) and hit the trails with our equine friends who are more than happy to get out of the pasture and back to work. The season helps us remember why we spend those long winter months in solitude -so we can be surrounded by the beauty of the valley and warm friendship, enthusiasm and energy of people from all over the world once the thaw has finished.

Once the buds form on the trees and the grass turns from dusty yellow to vibrant green, we know it’s time for another great season here at The Hideout. We hope to see all of our old friends and guests out on the range and trail this season, and we’re also hoping to see some new faces out there!

Happy spring to you all and happy trails from all of us here at The Hideout!

]]> http://thehideout.com/new/blog/?feed=rss2&p=166 0 http://thehideout.com/new/blog/?p=155 http://thehideout.com/new/blog/?p=155#comments Thu, 01 Mar 2012 17:39:07 +0000 Peter De Cabooter http://www.thehideout.com/blog/?p=155 Continue reading →]]> “No worries” is a phrase we like to use to describe our guest experience here at The Hideout Lodge & Guest Ranch.

An important part of our worry-free philosophy is being all-inclusive. This means that you know exactly how much a vacation at The Hideout will cost you. It means no surprises, no discussions with the kids or family members about wanting to do this or that or turning out your pockets when checking out at the end of the week.

All-inclusive packages mean that you don’t need to blow your vacation budget to please the different needs of your family or traveling companions once they are at the ranch. It means that, when you book your vacation, you know that almost anything your heart could desire is included in the rates. Our rates include: lodging, food, wine with dinner, cocktail hours, all riding instruction and cattle work (under the safe and watchful eyes of our Hideout wranglers and cowboys,) horsemanship and stockmanship clinics, all non-riding activities like trapshooting, unguided fishing, canoeing, 4×4 tours, roping lessons, hiking, biking, ranch tours, etc., all gratuities & taxes and a DVD with pictures of from each day of your stay.

What is not included? Well, if you decide to get a massage, go on a rodeo excursion with our wranglers in Cody, Wyo, take a day of professionally-guided fly fishing or purchase any items from our well-stocked gift shop it will be an extra fee.

“No worries” also means that The Hideout Lodge & Guest Ranch is a safe place for you and your family. We hire our staff based on The 3 C’s of Character, Conduct and Competence and train them well. They are responsible and will never put you in danger during any of our activities. The Big Horn Basin and mountains, where we are located, are also some of the safest places around with no crime, little traffic and no nervous or frustrated people riding in the mountains… we are also grizzly-free, contrary to many other ranches in Northern Wyoming.

In the evening when parents are sipping a last glass of wine enjoying great conversations with the other guests, the kids and teenagers can roam around the lodge and property freely without the need to worry.

A no-worries, all inclusive family vacation at The Hideout Lodge & Guest Ranch is an all-around great family experience!

For those guests who are seeking even more luxury than the standard accommodations offer, we offer The Hideout Homes. Located across from The Hideout’s main property and within 10 minutes walking distance, The Hideout Homes were built in 2007 with no expenses spared in terms of the quality of architecture, interior design, amenities and a million-dollar view.

Ritz Carlton-style homes at The Hideout Lodge & Guest Ranch.

The Hideout Homes are western-style log homes decorated with the highest of standards in mind. The luxurious Hideout Homes feature two master suites with oversized bathrooms, walk- in showers, private decks and fully-equipped designer kitchen with granite countertops and hardwood floors. You can relax in the open concept living room near the fireplace while looking through the panoramic windows with incredible views of the Bighorn Mountain Range.

The Hideout Homes also feature a third spacious guest suite with private bathroom, flat screen TV and twin beds.  None of the rooms have connecting walls for maximum privacy and the two master bedrooms feature a private deck. There is also a terrace with fire pit and detached two car garage.

Hideout guests can upgrade their accommodations at The Hideout at a premium and stay at The Hideout Homes. Most of the visitors are overwhelmed visiting these homes and cannot believe that they have access to this level of luxury in one of the least densely populated areas and states in the United States (except for Alaska.)

If you are interested in booking The Hideout Home for added luxury during your stay at The Hideout Lodge & Guest Ranch, E-mail office@thehideout.com or call 800-354-8647 for rates and information.