From Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip
Kay El Bar Guest Ranch, Wickenburg, Arizona
As we turned off the highway to the Kay El Bar Guest Ranch in Wickenburg, Arizona, I knew we were entering horse country. Horses were grazing in the pasture to my right, to my left, horse trailers and dusty pick up trucks rested nose to tail in the parking lot where weekly team penning takes place Tuesday afternoon in this cowboy community.
We pulled into the gravel lined parking area of the Kay El Bar Guest Ranch and were immediately greeted by Reba, the head wrangler’s dog and our new best friend. I gave a quick glance to the swimming pool and hot tub. It was January, so we wouldn’t need the pool, but the hot tub would come in handy after a full day of horseback riding. We brought our bags into the 100 year old adobe building and smiled at the sound of horses calling in the distance.
COWBOY THEMED GUEST ROOM
Kay El Bar Guest Ranch Room #3
I stayed in room #3 in the lodge. During low season from Oct. 10 – Feb. 10, 2010 the lodge rooms rent for $210 single, $375 double. Familes may prefer the Casa Grande, as it sleeps four or the private Homestead House.
Don’t forget that these rates include plenty of first-class trail riding on well conditioned horses, as well as cooked to order breakfast, buffet lunch with home made cookies and family style dinner.
Check the Kay El Bar website for lodging specials or subscribe to their newsletter. If you aren’t traveling with school age children, I’d recommend January for ideal Arizona horseback riding conditions. Our morning rides were invigorating, while the afternoons were scenic and dust free.
My horseback riding partner on this girlfriend getaway bunked in room #1. A light sleeper, she awoke each morning to the sound of the office staff coming through the main door early in the morning. My cowboy themed room was clean and comfortable with a dresser, chair, hat hook for my custom cowboy hat and a Kay El Bar boot jack that I used daily. (I bought a boot jack to take home to my leather jacket clad, boot wearing, motorcycle riding husband.) Say it with me now; opposites attract!
Kay El Bar Guest Ranch Hospitality
I don’t have enough room to go on about the friendly staff at the Kay El Bar Guest Ranch. Owner Joe Beattie bought the ranch because his wife and two daughters liked to ride and he wanted to spend more time with them. I had the privilege of riding his daughter’s horse, Mac, while my friend rode Maggie; both Tennessee Walking horses. Having ridden quarter horses my entire life, I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face as we walked, trotted and loped on these gaited beauties.
Kay El Bar is social media savvy and can be found on Twitter, Facebook and is a member of the Dude Ranchers Association. Thanks to the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce and the Kay El Bar Guest Ranch for hosting me. The property offered plenty of stunning scenery for me to introduce my new blog, Writing Horseback.
Photos by Nancy D. Brown
Kay El Bar Guest Ranch (800) 684-7583 or (928) 684-7593
Wickenburg, AZ 85358
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6 Responses
Great review Nancy, and as the ‘light sleeper’ mentioned, I would only add that room #1 would probably be fine for anyone who is a heavy sleeper – I think even tap-dancing mice practicing their soft-shoe in the corral would wake me, I’m such a light sleeper (not that I saw any mice, mind you). And I heartily agree on the wonderful staff – I’ve never met such a great bunch of warm, friendly, professional, and entertaining staff anywhere. I would definitely go back to the Kay El Bar again.
When I move to Tucson, one of my goals was to learn to ride a horse. Ten years later and I still haven’t met that goal. Maybe a visit to Kay El Bar would fix that. Glad you enjoyed the beautiful Arizona winters, which are perfect for horse riding.
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