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Chico Basin Ranch is an 87,000-acre working cattle ranch located 35 minutes south east of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Chico Basin is managed under a one-of-a-kind lease by the Duke and Janet Phillips family, third-generation ranchers. The ranch is one of Colorado's largest historical cattle ranches where, in the late 1800s, Charles Goodnight grazed his cattle herds and a branch of the Santa Fe Trail traversed. In-keeping with its rich cultural history, the ranch uses traditional, time-honored methods to complement innovative management programs that sustain the business and the ranch's natural resources.

The ranch operates in the high prairie with a pristine, unobstructed view of the Rocky Mountains and 14,000 ft Pikes Peak. Its sprawling ranges of shortgrass and sandsage prairie, spring-fed lakes, meandering creeks and hidden pools are home to a diverse wildlife population of birds, pronghorn, deer, fish, prairie dogs, coyote, badgers and more.

Our family and staff specialize in providing an exclusive number of vacations on a real working cattle ranch that shares our way of life with people from all over the world. Central to the ranch's guest operation is providing learning opportunities about large-scale cattle ranching, riding horses and learning about the wild. We host families, individuals, or groups wanting either casual and relaxing vacations or more intensive programs. Educational opportunities are also available through a variety of clinics in horsemanship and holistic management.

Our horses are our pride and joy, and we enjoy riding them across the free-flowing rangeland that makes up our home. We have come to enjoy sharing this land and our animals with guests that come to learn about ranching, riding horses and herding cattle.

We welcome you to our home. It's a pleasure for us to have you visit and we look forward to getting to know you.

Good to know

  • Works with travel agents?

    yes

  • Belongs to

    Colorado Cattleman's Association, Quivira Coalition, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, The Nature Conservancy, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Savory Institute

  • Good time to go

    There are different activities going on throughout the year depending on the seasons and ranch operations, so be sure to call ahead to see what's going on.

Lowdown

  • Owner(s)

    Duke Phillips

  • Address

    22500 Peyton Highway South, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA, 80928

  • Tel

    719.683.7960

  • Capacity

    6

  • Open

    Jan-Dec - view details

  • Nightly rate

    $240-270 - view details

  • Ranch Type

    Guest Ranch, Working Ranch, Authentic, Hands-On

  • Great for

    Romance, Action & adventure, Peace & quiet, Solitude, Diverse scenery, People of all ages

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Highs

  • An authentic working ranch where you can dive in for a real cowboy experience; a family-friendly ranch - they also offer special children's rates and encourage children to get involved in all aspects of ranch-life
  • With fishing on any one of their five lakes, some of the best birding in the state with over 320 birds, and hiking and biking trails, there's lots of fun stuff to do
  • The Phillips family has a vast experience in the riding and ranching way of life including Duke's experience on a 3 million acre Australian working ranch with 45,000 head of cattle
  • Opportunities to be involved in working cattle and day to day ranch duties as well as learning about conservation and their diverse ecosystem
  • Relaxed, unscheduled dining with buffet breakfasts laid out to take whenever you choose and with each night dining casually with the ranch family in their personal home

Lows

  • Being a "ranching first" ranch, this is no frills; however, this is the real experience with true working cowboys
 

Summer Season Rates & Booking

  • Open

    Mar-Oct

  • Nightly rate

    $240-270

  • Nightly rate (non-rider)

    $240-270

  • Nightly rate (children)

    $210

  • Minimum stay

    3 days

  • Preferred arrival day

    Sat

  • Preferred depart day

    Sun

  • Booking Policy

  • Children aged 5 and under visit free. Children 6 - 12 years old receive a 20% discount. A deposit of 50% is required to confirm your reservation. Final payment is due the day you arrive at the ranch. Because of the time, energy, and effort required in preparing for your visit, cancellations received 30 days or more in advance of your arrival date will receive a 75% refund, unless otherwise stated. No refunds will be given for cancellations less than 30 days notice prior to a confirmed arrival date. In situations where reservations must be cancelled, we encourage you to reschedule your visit, rather than cancel completely. There is no penalty for rescheduling your visit.

  • Included FREE in your stay

  • meals, activities, lodging, tax, Riding

  • Extras

Winter Season Rates & Booking

  • Open

    Jan-Feb, Nov-Dec

  • Nightly rate

    $240-270

  • Nightly rate (non-rider)

    $240-270

  • Nightly rate (children)

    $210

  • Minimum stay

    3 days

  • Preferred arrival day

    Sun

  • Preferred depart day

    Sat

  • Booking Policy

  • Children aged 5 and under visit free. Children 6 - 12 years old receive a 20% discount. A deposit of 50% is required to confirm your reservation. Final payment is due the day you arrive at the ranch. Because of the time, energy, and effort required in preparing for your visit, cancellations received 30 days or more in advance of your arrival date will receive a 75% refund, unless otherwise stated. No refunds will be given for cancellations less than 30 days notice prior to a confirmed arrival date. In situations where reservations must be cancelled, we encourage you to reschedule your visit, rather than cancel completely. There is no penalty for rescheduling your visit.

  • Included FREE in your stay

  • meals, activities, lodging, tax, Riding

  • Extras

Environmental & Social Practices

  • Environment

  • In practicing holistic resource management, we strive for a healthy eco-system that creates and supports a vibrant, diverse wildlife and human community, which is supportive, caring, productive, honest and not afraid to set high goals. We desire to create a knowledge base available to members of our community, used to realize the full potential of the land and the people living on it.

    We want a healthy, natural environment that supports a sustainable local economy and provides an aesthetically pleasing landscape of large open spaces.

  • Community

  • Most important to our success as a modern ranching business are the relationships we are building with our neighbors, both locally and in nearby towns. We are forming partnerships with people who want to become more informed and involved with a ranching organization such as ours that produces products that are useful to them while enhancing the natural environment from which they are produced.

    We believe that ranchers provide an increasingly important role in the stewardship of our nation's native rangelands. As ranchers, we already live on the land and our families' futures depend on our success at building and maintaining the health of the ecosystem on our properties. A rich tradition in ranching and an innovative business strategy form the backbone of the ranching operation.
     

  • Food

  • Meals are prepared with our own grass-fed beef and served family-style, either with the ranch staff and families, or on your own in the guest quarters' kitchen and dining room.

     

  • Conservation

  • Conservation is an important product we produce through our ranch management practices. Life as a rancher puts us out on the land almost every day. This first-hand experience provides us with a valuable understanding, respect and knowledge of the land, livestock and wildlife. In our ranching philosophy efforts, we combine our perspectives with ecologists, botanists and biologists. Conservation on the ranch is achieved through a multi-dimensional partnership with several organizations in the ecological community, both state and federal.

    Some of the ways we implement conservation goals are as follows:

    • Employ monitoring transects to analyze grazing programs and make management decisions.
    • Study cattle and other plant and wildlife populations and map findings scientifically.
    • Implement intensive time-controlled cattle grazing programs to achieve land stewardship goals that improve the soil, water table and health of the ecosystem.

Lowdown

     

    Nearest Airports

    • Colorado Springs Airport, Colorado Springs

    • Nearest town / city

      Colorado Springs

    • Distance to ranch

      35 miles

    • Time to ranch

      30 mins

    • Ranch shuttle

      Roundtrip $100

    • Denver International Airport, Denver

    • Nearest town / city

      Denver

    • Distance to ranch

      120 miles

    • Time to ranch

      1 hour 45 mins

    Private Air travel

    • Travel by

      Helicopter

    • Distance to ranch

      0 miles

    Nearest Town / City

    • Colorado Springs

    • Population

      380307

    • Distance

      35 miles

    • Time from ranch

      30 mins

    • Facilities

      grocery store, pharmacy, church, school, post office, medical clinic, hospital, bank, atm, gas station, museum

    • Shopping

      boutique shops, malls, western wear
     

    Our riding stands out

    • All of our horses are cow horses that we train and use on the ranch.
    • Our riding is dictated by the work we do, which often means spreading out and gathering cattle across the prairie.
    • Education is at the center of everything we do, and we provide one-on-one horsemanship instruction while out riding or in the corrals if requested.

    Our horses

    • guest horses

      25

    • horse types

      Quarterhorse

    Our Riding

    • Scheduled rides

      All of our riding is determined by the work we're doing each week.

    Good to know

    • Riding considerations

      225-250 lbs, no riding experience needed, We recommend a good level of physical fitness

    • Saddles

      Western

    Lowdown

    • Type of riding

      Western Riding

    • Riding opportunities for

      Beginner, Intermediate, Experienced

    • Rides are grouped by

      Everyone rides together, Rides dictated by ranch work, Families Ride Together

    • Max riders per ride

      6

    • Pace of ride

      Walk, Trot, Lope

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    You'll enjoy

    • hours in the Saddle

      Morning - 4 hours, Afternoon - 4 hours
    • Riding always depends on the work being done. Some days will be long in the saddle, while others will be short.

    • Riding

      Openly through property
     

    Riding Lessons

    • Details

      lessons come with package, basic riding lessons, advanced horsemanship lessons

    • Lessons given by

      horse trainer, ranch owner or manager

    • Lessons located

      on the trail, in the arena

    Branding work

    • When

      Apr, May, Jun, Jul

    • Frequency

      Weekly

    • No. Branded

      varies

    • Interaction

      Guests watch, Guests participate
    • Branding schedules vary from year to year. If you'd like to participate in a branding please call ahead.

    Setting

    • Private Land - more than 50k (acres)

    • The ranch operates in the high prairie with a pristine, unobstructed view of the Rocky Mountains and 14,000 ft Pikes Peak. Its sprawling ranges of shortgrass and sandsage prairie, spring-fed lakes, meandering creeks and hidden pools are home to a diverse wildlife population of birds, pronghorn, deer, fish, prairie dogs, coyote, badgers and more. The ranch is truly beautiful.

    Meals are often prepared using our own grass-fed beef by our amazing ranch cook. Dinners are eaten with different families on the ranch each night or, if you would prefer, in the privacy of your own kitchen. A breakfast basket is provided in the kitchen where you eat on your own, while lunch is usually a sack lunch eaten while out on horseback or working.

    Package does not include alcoholic beverages, however guests may bring their own.

    Good to know

    Alcohol

    BYOB

    Snacking

    Stocked refrigerator

    Lowdown

    • Enjoy

      Ranch-style

    • Meals served

      family style, meals roll with days activities, everyone eats together

    • Enjoy dining in

      nature settings, patio, dining room (casual attire), private dinners

    • You'll definitely love

      ranch-raised beef

    • Dietary restrictions catered for include

      lactose intolerant, vegans, vegetarians, other

    Email Ranch  View Website

     

    Children at the Ranch

    Great for children aged 8 and over



    Children aged 5 and under stay free. Children 6 - 12 years old receive 20% off regular rates.

    Riding Policy: Children aged 8 and over are welcome and encouraged to ride with the group, as well as take part in the daily ranch operations. Children aged 7 and under can do led rides in and around the corrals.

    Detailed Activities

    • Arts & Crafts

      Leather work

    • Riding based activities

      animal care, horse care

    The 87,000-acre Chico Basin Ranch is one of Colorado's largest historical cattle ranches. In the late 1800s Charles Goodnight grazed his cattle herds in this region, and a branch of the Santa Fe Trail also traversed through the ranch.

    Dating back to prehistoric times, large numbers of Native Americans lived on Chico Basin's ranges of rolling prairie, flowing springs and creeks, and hidden lakes - all in the shadow of 14,000 ft Pikes Peak, one of the largest and most majestic peaks in the Rocky Mountains.

    In keeping with its rich cultural history, the ranch uses traditional, time-honored methods to complement innovative management programs that sustain the business and the ranch's natural resources.

    Lowdown

    • Ranch established

      1800's

    • Guest ranch since

      1999
     

    Owner Info

    • Owner - Duke Phillips

    • Languages spoken

      english

    • Chico Basin Ranch is owned by the Colorado State Land Board and managed under a one-of-a-kind lease with the Duke and Janet Phillips family, a third-generation ranching family, for a 25-year term that began November 1, 1999.

      Duke grew up in ranching in Latin America and has ranched in Florida, Oregon, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Australia. His passion are horses, working cattle and living on the land. After graduating from The University of Texas, Duke traveled to Australia where he worked on a 3 million acre ranch running 45,000 head of cattle. He is committed to building bridges between urban and ranching communities, and inviting guests to participate in a real working ranch is part of this vision. Duke also sees ranchers as the best alternative to doing something positive for the ecological woes we are facing on a large scale basis – using cattle to disturb the land to achieve conservation goals.

      Duke has made many friends with the guests who come spend time on the ranch and looks forward to getting to know more people.

    Rooms & Rates

    • Room type | nameSummer ratesWinter rates

    • House | May Camp$0n/a

      • Description

        May Camp's new adobe renovation is home to guests with a full kitchen, dining room, sitting area, washer/dryer, bathroom and outdoor fire pit. Both rooms and all guest quarters are accessed by the big screen porch that looks out on to the prairie. Right above May Camp is a spring-fed lake and wetland that is home to a large number of waterfowl and great for warm water fishing and swimming. Also, a place for sketching or for writing or perhaps just enjoying an afternoon siesta in the shade. This is only a short walk/hike from the house.

      • Rooms

        2

      • Max occupancy

        6

      • Prices listed are

        per person

      • Minimum stay

        no minimum

      • Bathrooms

        Shared bathroom

      • Amenities

        fridge, microwave, washer / dryer

    Services

    Communications

    • wireless internet
    • telephone

      • Business Services

      • computer and fax hookups
      • printers

        • Cell Networks

        • verizon

    Additional Services

    • Corporate Retreats

      For groups of 100 & over. We don't offer lodging for corporate retreats, but do have locations set up for daytime meetings, meals and special activities for retreats staying at The Broadmoor or other nearby locations.

    • Weddings

      We can cater for groups of 100 & over.

    Onsite

    Outdoor Activities

    • bird watching
      • hiking

    Water based Activities

    • lake water sports

    Good to know

    • You can borrow

      Saddle bags, Rain coats
     

    Fishing & Wildlife

    • Fishing

    • Types of fishing

      spin, lake, equipment available, guided inclusive, unguided

    Local Attractions

    • We've only highlighted attractions that may add to your stay!

    • Pikes Peak

    • Pikes Peak is a 14,000 ft mountain in Colorado Springs that can be climbed, and makes for a good trip when exploring the fun town of Colorado Springs.

    • Distance

      35 miles

    • Time from ranch

      45 mins

    • The Broadmoor

    • A landmark hotel and golf course in Colorado Springs, home to several restaurants, bars and art galleries.

    • Distance

      35 miles

    • Time from ranch

      45 mins

    • Rodeos

    • Depending on the time of the year there are several rodeos and ranch rodeos that take place in Colorado Springs and Pueblo.

    • Distance

      35 miles

    • Time from ranch

      45 mins

    • Colorado Springs

    • Colorado Springs is full of great restaurants, bars, shopping and fun things to do.

    • Distance

      35 miles

    • Time from ranch

      45 mins

    Tel 719.683.7960

     Email Ranch View Website  

     

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