We have shifted to a very flexible cancelation plan for any guest impacted by COVID-19.
We have moved our final deposit date to from 60 days to 30 days prior to arrival and our nonrefundable policy to the same 30-day window to give guests more time to make the best choice for their families.
The Ranch’s accommodations and activities are scattered across our 6,600 acres. 17 of our 29 accommodations are located in separate buildings. Whether you prefer a hybrid glamping cabin on Rock Creek or a luxury house set into the hillside, you’ll find your home away from home at The Ranch.
We are reducing our maximum guest count from 125 per night to just 75 per night during the summer to ensure we can space everyone out and keep the required distance for safe operation. After Labor Day, our maximum guest count will be reduced further to 50 people per night.
Effective July 15th, Montana’s governor implemented an executive order requiring all businesses and public spaces to require employees and customers to wear masks indoors and outdoors where a 6-foot separation cannot be maintained.
The Ranch has worked very hard to ensure that you have plenty of space to roam during your stay. Our safety procedures for activities, and reserved or in-room dining greatly reduce the instance that you will need to wear masks for the safety of your party, staff and other guests. Guests will not be asked to wear masks in dining areas. However, they will be asked to wear masks in public areas. We will provide patio seating for anyone preferring not to come inside and wear a mask.
Guides and staff will wear masks and gloves during the moments when social distancing isn’t possible. We will ask guests to do the same in those rare instances. Out on the trail or activity, once six feet of distance can be maintained, face masks will not be required. If a guest does need assistance that requires guides to go within 6 feet it is mandatory that guides and guests put on their masks.
The Granite Spa will reopen on October 1, 2020. Please contact your Ranch Ambassador to make an appointment.
We are putting a 24-hour block between guests on every accommodation to ensure appropriate time to let the room rest and our team to fully sanitize the space. This is another reason bookings must be completed directly through our reservations team until September 23.
We have reduced housekeeping services to once per day. Guests may request an additional evening turndown service or request reduced or no services during their stay.
An amenities catalog will be provided so that you can order complimentary snacks, beverages and periodicals.
We will continue to offer private activities, but space them out to ensure we can clean all the gear and sanitize it before every activity.
Due to spacing of activity start times and sanitation of our extensive included equipment, each day we will include one guided activity and one nature-based activity. We have added 11 new guided or self-guided activities to ensure families will be able to explore further than ever before while creating space and time for proper sanitation and social distancing protocols for guided activities. For example, you might enjoy horseback riding in the morning and then sapphire mining, disc golf, hiking or Respite on Rock Creek in the afternoon.
We are asking families to stay together for all excursions to ensure groups can be adequately spaced.
We have staggered our start times for activities so that we can control the number of people in the Rod & Gun Club. Most fittings will be done at the site of the activity. We ask that you abide by start times for the safety of our staff and guests.
Guests will be asked to hike, bike or e-bike to activity locations rather than driving, so that we may follow social distancing procedures.
Guides and staff will wear masks and gloves during the moments when social distancing isn’t possible. We will ask guests to do the same in those rare instances. Out on the trail or activity, once six feet of distance can be maintained, face masks will not be required. If a guest does need assistance that requires guides to go within six feet it is mandatory that wranglers and guests put on their masks.
Our kitchen staff is trained in safe food handling techniques.
For guest eating in the main dining room, we are reducing the capacity of the venue to ensure plenty of space is between all guests and a lower head count ensures less people there at one time.
If you join us for reserved dining in the Granite Lodge, Pastoral Creekside Picnics or Buckle Barn lawn, your meal will be specially prepared for your party.
If not plated, meals will be served family style to avoid cross-contamination. Meals like our Black Pine Dinner have been served like this for years, and allow guests to choose a variety of dishes and go back for more of their favorites.
We are reducing our twice-daily housekeeping services to once-daily services. Guests can request turndown service or they can request reduced housekeeping services during their stay.
We will provide hand sanitizer and disinfecting products for guest use in each accommodation.
Airport transfers are available and included from Missoula, Butte and Anaconda airports. A Ranch employee will greet guests at the airport and drive them to The Ranch. Masks will be required during transportation. Water and snacks are available for the drive.
If guests prefer to drive themselves or do not wish to wear masks, a Ranch employee will greet guests at the airport and provide a complimentary private vehicle from Enterprise car rental agency for guests to transport themselves to The Ranch. They will be ushered to The Ranch with our driver leading the way. (Advanced notice required)
In addition to wranglers wearing masks and gloves during the moments when social distancing isn’t possible, all rides will be scheduled in 30-minute increments. Guests must arrive no later than 15 minutes after their scheduled time to ensure we can limit the amount of people at the barn.
We recommend that guests bring their own boots, hats and gloves if they have them as an extra sanitary measure. We further recommend boots with at least a one-inch heel.
Boots will be set out for guests based on their size on the daily. Guests riding more than once can either check their boots out for the duration of their stay or return them to be sanitized.
All guests must use the mounting deck to get on their horses. If they are unable to get onto their horse without assistance, they will not be permitted to go out on the riding activity.
A safety speech and steering instruction will be done prior to any guests mounting their horses. Once the guests are on their horses, their wrangler will show them the steering instructions again; encouraging guests to try themselves.
Out on the trail, once six feet of distance can be maintained between horses, face masks will not be required. If a guest does need assistance that requires wranglers to go within 6 feet it is mandatory that wranglers and guests put on their masks.
Returning back to the barn, guests must wait for wranglers’ assistance to dismount from the mounting deck.
When COVID-19 travel restrictions and recommendations begin to ease in Montana and other states, we will have some availability to accommodate families and small groups looking to have The Ranch to themselves. Please see our private travel page for more information.