Have you ever been on vacation, or had an inspirational adventure travel experience that felt so transformative, so deeply satisfying, that you truly didn’t want it to end and couldn’t wait to return?
Here I share with you why a ranch vacation to The Hideout Lodge & Guest Ranch in Shell, Wyoming, is a true sanctuary for the soul and could be just the adventure you’ve been seeking your whole life…
Have you experienced the ‘Holy Grail’ of travel?
It’s the end of your trip of a lifetime and you’re happily swapping social media, email addresses and cell numbers with new friends, hearing cries of: “Stay in touch!”, “Tag me in the photos!” and “We’ll come visit one day!” – feeling 100% certain you’ll be friends for life, no matter which far-flung corners of the earth you’ve all hailed from.
You feel that burst of bittersweet tears that spring at the thought of what you’ve experienced. That heart-twisting happy-sadness as you drive away, watching the wonderful place you stayed, played, rested, laughed and explored, fade into the distance…
I truly believe that if you experience these kinds of feelings at the end of a vacation or adventure, then you’ve hit the Holy Grail of traveling.
But those feelings are not just because the weather and people were nice. Or because the views were stunning, the food was great and you’ve been away from your daily routine, and the thought of going back to it all genuinely makes you want to weep.
No, it’s when a sort of magic happens. The ‘perfect storm’, that sometimes only-once-in-a-lifetime vacation where you find yourself somewhere so special, in one small snapshot of time where you’ve connected deeply to yourself, the place and adventured with like-minded others who you feel like you’ve known your entire life.
Some might call it fate or destiny – it feels life-changing, refreshing and enlightening – like the whole adventure was meant to be.
Travel magic on a ranch vacation
If you’re looking for this kind of experience from your equestrian vacation, there’s a beautiful, boutique luxury guest ranch nestled in the wilderness of Wyoming – The Hideout Lodge & Guest Ranch.
Many, many (the majority of!) guests have left this boutique riding ranch reporting experiencing a beautiful maelstrom of feelings, with tears in their eyes, expressing that it was the best week of their lives. And then they have returned to this Wyoming guest ranch time and time again, to recapture that travel magic.
If you’ve already experienced a ranch vacation to The Hideout Lodge & Guest Ranch in Wyoming, you’ll know first-hand that feeling all this and more is a common occurrence.
But why? What is this ‘magic’ these guests have experienced that sets The Hideout apart from countless other guest ranches in Wyoming and beyond?
Well, unless you have experienced it first-hand, it’s almost impossible to communicate this feeling, this ‘travel magic’, but here I explore the very essence of The Hideout Lodge & Guest Ranch, and share with you the ‘secret sauce’ that leaves happy guests calling it a sanctuary for the soul…
Powerful people connections
One of the most transformative aspects of this ranch for horseback riders, guests report, is the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals from around the world, and The Hideout Lodge & Guest Ranch embraces diversity, welcoming people from all walks of life.
Ages, backgrounds, upbringing, social status’ and egos are left at the ranch gate, and solo travelers, couples, girls on getaways . mothers and daughters, and more, gather.
Through shared experiences and epic adventures, like horseback riding in Wyoming’s wilderness, dining together every day and spending time lost in nature, guests have said they bonded very quickly with other travelers, forging genuine, lasting friendships and creating unforgettable memories.
With countless hours on Wyoming’s horse riding trails and endless opportunities to ‘chew the fat’, and put the world to rights, you can’t help but bond; it’s the perfect ranch vacation for solo travelers!
The ranch’s six-night Wyoming horseback riding program , where all the guests arrive and depart at the same time, also really helps create a sense of community and exclusivity – that ‘first-day-of-school’ feeling where excitement and expectations are at an all-time high, and people meet and connect for the first time
A Western wellness ranch vacation
Imagine a vacation where you head home actually feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, inspired and motivated again? Where you feel completely disconnected from the day-to-day, devices and regular routine, and reconnected with your self?
For many travelers, ‘wellness’ means more than just physical health. It encompasses mental and emotional wellbeing, too.
A vacation to natural horsemanship guest ranch, The Hideout, offers a holistic approach to wellness, providing a refreshing and energizing environment that promotes a focus on horseback riding, relaxation, rejuvenation and personal growth.
Guests say they feel truly “Hidden out” from the world, and disconnected from their devices and daily routines by being immersed in a serene, natural environment, with happy, healthy horses.
Even in the absence of a spa, or dedicated wellness programs, like yoga or meditation classes, guests still feel like they’ve emerged from a wellness ranch retreat – both mentally and physically.
New experiences, like horse riding, fly fishing in Wyoming, immersing in natural ‘Authentic Horsemanship’ and more, leave tired travelers emerging refreshed and energized, and “Full of positive vibes!”.
Who doesn’t want that from their week away from the world!
The Hideout: the ‘real deal’ of ranch vacations
‘Authenticity’ is The Hideout Lodge & Guest Ranch’s core ethos, so much so, that they’ve created their own brand of natural horsemanship named ‘Authentic Horsemanship’. Spot their branding around the ranch!
Dedicated ranch owners, Peter and Marijn De Cabooter, and their treasured staff and colleagues pride themselves on their, genuine care, authenticity and attention to detail.
Photo: Peter and Marijn De Cabooter
Guests say they can literally feel the deep level of devotion, intention and commitment to excellence that permeates the entire Hideout ranch vacation experience
And this intention is apparent from the get-go – from the moment you inquire via the website about a luxury vacation to this Wyoming dude ranch, to the moment you set back off down the drive, waving goodbye, you will experience Peter, Marijn and the Hideout staff’s total commitment and dedication to excellence and authenticity.
From heartfelt, warm greetings on arrival, to caring, always-smiling staff who quite clearly want to provide you with the most exceptional service they can, you can also see that this level of care extends to their beloved animals, too.
Says Peter: “We want to offer the best ranch riding experience possible, surrounded by a team of authentic, quality individuals who really care about our guests. We care about this and while we’re not perfect, we will do everything within our means, regardless of challenges, setbacks etc, to make sure our guests have a great and unique experience, and above all, feel we deeply care.”
This unwavering commitment to excellence drives everything they do.
The other thing that’s so humbling, is that they LISTEN, really, really listen! Peter and Marijn are always striving to improve, and by actively engaging with guests and staff, seeking feedback and identifying areas for improvement, they go out of their way to make necessary adjustments, ensuring their guests have the best possible experience.
This authentic care, combined with the ranch’s commitment to providing an exceptional experience, creates a truly memorable adventure – I’m not actually sure you’ll be made to feel so seen, heard and welcomed anywhere else!
The heartbeat of The Hideout: a culture that endures
Creating and maintaining a strong cultural identity in a seasonal business like The Hideout’s ranch vacations can be challenging, especially with a constantly changing team.
However, by nurturing their deep-rooted core values, Peter, Marijn and now their son, Victor, the ranch’s ‘Keepers of Culture’ or core team, have preserved this Wyoming guest ranch’s unique culture over many years.
When new staff members are integrated into the team and learn ranch life at The Hideout, they’re aligned with the ranch’s very special values and this consistency ensures that, although the winds of change happen each year, the very heart and soul of the ranch has remained the same over decades.
Guests love this and always say, “It’s your culture that sets you apart. And that shows!” It’s about the Keepers of Culture bringing in the new crew each season and sharing with them their ways of ranch life, so guests always feel a sense of the familiar.
More than just a ranch vacation…
If you’re very lucky, at least once in your lifetime you will experience a vacation or trip where everything just seems to ‘click’.
The Hideout Lodge & Guest Ranch is more than just a ranch vacation destination; guests who’ve been – and very often returned time and time again – experience
this unique ‘travel magic’ and say it’s truly a sanctuary for the soul.
Whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, personal growth, epic horseback riding or more, the combination of transformative experiences in jaw-droppingly stunning natural beauty, authentic hospitality, feelings of wellness and the chance to bond with like-minded guests from all over the globe, give all visitors to The Hideout Lodge & Guest Ranch a truly unforgettable journey.
This charming Wyoming guest ranch offers that true travel magic, that ‘secret sauce’ and the combination of all of the above, plus being around happy horses, is what really creates this once-in-a-lifetime travel experience.
If you love the sound of escaping to a truly tranquil, horse riding-focused, small-scale luxury ranch vacation in Wyoming, get in touch with us at The Hideout Lodge & Guest Ranch today! We’ll help you plan and book your dream luxury riding ranch vacation.
For more news and updates straight from the ranch, check out Peter’s Hideout blog, too!
Written by Kate Hammaren Writing & Editing
