GUESTBOOK
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THANK YOU FOR AN INCREDIBLE WEEK!
I want to thank you both, of course along with the whole crew, for an incredible week. I feel really fortunate to have been able to see this place (as an adult this time!), ride the country, and see my grandparents in such a state of bliss. Your generosity has absolutely bowled me over. You exude warmth and everyone around you is made better because of it. Thank you for the care you gave my family and I, and for managing such an important and beautiful place. I hope to see you both again one of these days.
OUR WEEK WITH YOU WAS WONDERFUL!
I cannot say enough good things about how much I enjoyed the time there. It’s a magical place and you guys do an amazing job.
~ Lisa T, Albany, NY
OUR FAVORITE FAMILY VACATION
Wow! We love Elkhorn. We come with three generations and all of us love it. The setting is spectacular, the people are so kind and down-to-earth and the food is stellar. It’s a comfortable, relaxed, easy place to be together for our family. Thank you for welcoming us!
PERFECT PLACE FOR CHRISTMAS AND A FAMILY REUNION
The ranch was the perfect place to be for Christmas – the perfect place to have a family reunion in celebration of Mom and Dad’s 60th! You are such wonderful hosts and made us all feel so welcome. Of course the Montana Elkhorn is like home to us, but although we hadn’t been to Elkhorn south in 20 years, you made us feel at home as well. We loved convening in Pueblo in the evening for cocktails & tall tails, we loved our horses and rides, and all the ER Christmas traditions – they make the holiday very special. No matter what the future brings, we’ll have wonderful, very happy and heart warming memories from Christmas 2013, and I am deeply grateful to you for that.
~ Handwritten note from AmyC
HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
Thank you again for a most wonderful week and lovely Christmas. It was so wonderful to be back and “come home for Christmas”. It was great to see all of you and meet up with old friends and make new ones. You really know how to make us all feel so much at home. Many, many thanks for all that you do for all of us.
THE MOST INCREDIBLE PLACE
“My thanks for weaving your magic” and shared this note from traveler Katherine B: “What a truly wonderful and magical time I had on my holidays. It truly was everything I had hoped it would be AND so much more … Elkhorn was without doubt, the most incredible place I have ever been lucky enough to visit …”
~ Shared by Nigel, UK Travel advisory
FABULOUS WEEK… PLANNING TO COME BACK
We had a fabulous week with you all. I continue to say that I have never been any other place where I have felt so comfortable and so unobtrusively well cared for. Planning to come back!
~ Henry H, Livingston, Montana
VERY BEST OF TIMES
Dear Charley and Mary, For me, this recent visit was the very best of times, one of the most blessed times of my year. What is it about Elkhorn? Being with dear old friends, making new friends, relishing the warm sun on my back while riding trusty LeRoy over God’s country. All that, of course, but I believe even more it is rubbing elbows with that marvelous crew of yours … Thank you with all my heart. I would ride your brand forever. Love,
~ George P, Feb 21, 2018
A MAGICAL PLACE
Thank you, thank you once again for a most wonderful week at Elkhorn. It is truly a magical place a place that I now call, home away from home. I love visiting the Ranch and to see the Miller family and crew. This week was no exception, in fact it just reconfirmed it all once again, why this is such a special place for both me and S. We met new like minded friends and revisited with old friends. The boys had such a great time.
~ Kerstin E, San Francisco, CA
ABSOLUTELY MAGICAL WEEK
Many thanks for an absolutely magical week at the Elkhorn Ranch. Parker (Sr.) declared it, “By far the best family vacation of his life!” You have a very special place, and we will certainly be back! Great people, great conversations, great fun ~ great everything! Thanks for a really special time from every one of us.
~ Sally & Parker Hansel, Thanksgiving 2018
WHAT I MISS ABOUT THE ELKHORN RANCH
– clear skies so blue a polarizer is unnecessary
– the chirps, warbles and calls of the birds
– the absence of traffic roar, sirens, and backing-up beeps
– the pockets of silence so intense one can hear the wind whistling through the feathers of birds flying overhead
– the subtle beauty of the desert
– the fiery orange of the ocotillo blooms against that blue sky
– the soft muzzles of the yearlings
– seeing a bobcat casually stroll away after it has decided you pose no threat
– the scarlet cardinals as they dip and flash across the landscape
– great food that someone else prepares
– the friendly people
– night skies blazing with stars
– riding, riding, riding!
~ Heather D, April 2014
SUPER IMPRESSIVE OPERATION
We had such a wonderful tme at the ER+ this spring. Thanks for making it so special. You run a super impressive operation and all of the folks on your team were very professional and cheerful. Three cheers to the crew in the kitchen – great meals. We also enjoyed our picnic on the way home …
~ Annie T, Austin, TX
SONGBIRD PARADISE
Louisa and I just returned from our annual week at the Elkhorn Ranch. The Elkhorn Ranch sits in the foothills of the Baboquivari Mountains, about 60 miles southwest of our home in Tucson. Run by Charley and Mary Miller, the ranch is delightful, offering great accommodations, delicious food, an incredibly beautiful setting, and an array of activities that include trail riding and hiking. We’ve been going there for more than 25 years…
The Elkhorn Ranch features a wide range of habitats that include desert, desert grasslands, riparian, and oak and pinyon pine forests. The habitat variation has to do with changes of elevation on ranch property and also with the flow of seasonal streams that run through the place.
Those habitats are home to a variety of wildlife. One of the charms of the place is that it attracts a huge array of songbirds. At times, the concentration of these birds in the vicinity of the ranch’s cabins and outbuildings is stunning. Among the birds that I saw were numerous Northern Cardinals. I also encountered large numbers of the Cardinal’s cousin, the Pyrrhuloxia.
~ Steve K, Tucson, Arizona
ANOTHER DISPATCH FROM FORT APACHE
Thank you Mary thank you Charley
we’re welcomed in your home
for one or two weeks or more
we never more will roam
We feel like family
once we arrive
forget our cares
and feel so alive
Lovely casitas
we each are given
to call our home
what great livin…
The food is great
morning noon and night
there are no scales
that just seems right
It’s on to the barn
each morning we go
to saddle up and ride
with those in the know
Charley is a master
you get just the right horse
how does he know
he’s the master of course
Wranglers they’re called
handsome and charming
they smooth out the trails
so it’s not so alarming
You can ride on the desert
or high in the hills
you can choose just how
you’ll get your thrills
How about Tom
he maintains the casitas
everything’s great
even his margaritas
If you go in the office
you’ll find Diane
whatever you need
she’ll have it on hand
You might even see Anne
she’s sometimes there too
hard at work
with plenty to do
You cannot forget
the rest of the clan
all working hard
on MARY’s grand plan
Same time next year
if given the chance
we will return home
to Elkhorn Ranch
COUNTING THE DAYS UNTIL THE NEXT TIME…
… we all know how much thought and care goes into creating the experience that you give each & every one of us, an experience that seems more extraordinary to us every year. There really are no words to thank you and tell you how much we appreciate all that you do. We are counting the days until next time!
THANK YOU
For giving me such a perfect vacation at Elkhorn. I felt so well cared for, and I loved me new horse … I miss you all and the relaxing Elkhorn routine (and the food!).
FAMILY REUNION
Thank you for the wonderful week at Elkhorn Ranch with the H clan. [We] had a great time as did our 2 sons, their wives and the 3 grandchildren. The hospitality, the staff, the food, the activities were all excellent! You both do such a wonderful job of making people feel welcome. Your staff interacted in such a positive way with our family. We thank you for a fun, relaxing week.
~ K & E Marshall, Jan 2016 letter following a Dec 2015 family reunion week
WAY BEYOND MY EXPECTATIONS!
Riding, accommodation, food & people were all fantastic and the boys thanked me individually & without prompting for a most amazing holiday & experience! We didn’t want to leave our horses … Those lucky Americans who go year after year! I’ve never been to a place with such loyal repeat business, but can now fully understand why.
EQUESTRIANS DREAM EXPERIENCE
I have recently returned from a three week vacation at Elkhorn Ranch. This is an equestrian’s dream experience. The ability to choose the type of ride, easy to loping, and the terrain of interest, desert or mountain, was honored each day in the company of expert wranglers. The horses are very well trained and provide sheer enjoyment for the rider. The delicious food was varied, plentiful, and prepped by an experienced chef. Traveling solo, I made so many new friends and look forward to returning for a repeat visit. I give Charley, Mary, and the entire Elkhorn Ranch staff 5 stars for my vacation!
~ Sincerly, Debra Footman, Maine
LOVELY FRIENDS
Thank you so much for everything! This has been such an amazing experience. All of the wildlife has been beautiful, everything is so much different, and greater than expected. I loved seeing all of the new birds, different kinds of plants and of course the may cacti, and all of the gorgeous horses are breathtaking. I can’t thank you enough for all the wonderful times we have had here, all of the fun experiences we’ve had, and all of the lovely friends we have made. I hope more than anything that we can come back next year! Thanks again, Love,
~ Olivia & Alex G, Feb 2014, Presidents Day School Holiday Week
LOPING THROUGH THE WASHES BY THE END OF THE WEEK…
Our young children had never ridden before our visit to Elkhorn. The horses were so gentle with the kids, and the wranglers made them feel comfortable riding off into the hills the very first morning. By the end of the week we were all loping through the washes!
THANK YOU AGAIN…
Rory and I had such a great time at the ranch. We love your family, the staff and guests. The thoughts, memories and photos of our visit will carry us through until we see you again next year. Thank you again for all your hard work, consideration and hospitality.
~ Handwritten note, Feb 3, 2014
NO ONE WANTED TO LEAVE…
We couldn’t have had a happier time the week we spent with you at the Ranch. The care and thoughtfulness as to all our needs were so very much appreciated. No One wanted to leave. Thank you .. and your wonderful staff for making our 50th Wedding Anniversary with our family so very special. With love from,
~ Joanna G, Washington Depot, CT, April 6, 2015
WONDERFUL WEEK!
Dear Friends, Thank you so much for the wonderful week I had at Elkhorn Ranch! All of you have become people I look forward to seeing. Blessings, and I hope to be back next year. As ever,
~ Joanne K, Colorado, Feb 2, 2016
CLARA READY FOR RIDING!
~ Peri D, Santa Monica CA, Mar 16, 2018
SOUTHWESTERN PARADISE
Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving to the whole Elkhorn family! We are feeling blessed that we got to know all of you and visit your amazing slice of Southwestern paradise for the first time this year. Can’t wait to be back in 2014!
TRULY REJUVINATING
Dear Friends at Elkhorn Ranch, Thank you so much for the deeply relaxing and truly rejuvenating days among you. The gentle presence of the horses, sublime beauty of the land and your excellent care of the horses, the land and us, your grateful guests, makes for a nourishing experience on multiple levels. I returned home renewed and eager to share the joys of my days at Elkhorn with friends and family. Big Love!