An Old West Retreat Complements Miles Of Rideable Trails
Story By: Staff Of UTV Sports
Photos By: Brandon Bunch
In the midst of the 20th century’s rapid shift from traditional industry to an economy primarily based upon information technology, the word pioneer was redefined. What once meant (in our heads anyway) people traveling to find new land had been revolutionized. Its new meaning became closer to that of technological innovation and with it came advancements that would one day lead civilization to present times. During this evolution, one thing remained… Exploration. Whether it’s to delve into something unknown or broaden one’s horizons, there’s no denying that people want to experience new things. In our pursuit of helping our readers find new land to indulge, we took a trip to Flying E Ranch and met with the owner, Jim Brown, and learned how he plans to couple the notions of pioneers both old and new to offer guests an experience that goes further than just a warm-welcomed stay.
Following the historic age of the Old West, cattle ranches that were converted to vacation resorts, or otherwise known as dude ranches, brought about a huge trend that we still carry on today. It allowed families to quench their thirst for adventure by providing a place to travel and enjoy the great outdoors. Nowadays, we have motorhomes and toy haulers, but stepping back in time, dude ranches offered amenities in an environment that normally wouldn’t have them. Located in Wickenburg, Arizona, the dude ranch capital of the world during the late ’40s to mid-’60s, lies the Flying E Ranch. Still functioning today, the Flying E encompasses 1,920 acres of personally-owned estate and is accompanied by 17,300 acres of state land.
Originally, the Flying E needed something to traverse the near 20,000 acres, and up until very recently, horses were the sole mode of transportation used to fulfill those needs. After all, the main objective then and still now is to get kids and families outside. But that isn’t the only goal. As part of the adventure stay that guests experience at the Flying E, they are also able to relish in the old-school aesthetics of the facilities. This is to bring people back in time and expound on why the Old West was great, and why so many embrace it. Even so, times have progressed, and the Flying E plans to as well.
Eventually, the ranch began running into situations where a family would come out, half of them wanted to get on a horse, and the others weren’t able to. They had to create a means to get around for those who lacked the ability or desire to climb up on horseback… Although riding a horse could be described as a life-changing experience, if other modes of transportation didn’t come into play, the ranch would be at risk of becoming a time capsule with no one to see it. Around this same time, technological advancements were giving way to Powersports, and the rise of UTVs finally paved the way for guests of all ages and abilities to experience everything Flying E has to offer.
Upon our arrival, motorized trails had just begun being cut through the 20,000 acres, as opposed to the miles and miles of horse trails that currently exist, and we were lucky enough to get a preview of what this ranch really has to offer. Behind the wheel of our Polaris Ranger 1000 and near race-ready Yamaha Rhino 660, we toured the rolling hills and wound our way through acres of dense desert vegetation, while stopping to check out old relics left from generations of cattle ranching. That being said, cattle are still present on the ranch, and it’s not uncommon to stumble upon groups cruising through the land snacking on the greenery. The ride was a mix of freshly cut hard-packed dirt and smooth flowing natural sand washes, with this new trail system beginning and ending at the Flying E newly expanding event space.
The Flying E Ranch has been holding events of all kinds for many years utilizing the original barn and lodging area, but the desire to expand their offerings to larger and larger groups of people has led the ranch staff to build out a great new stage and covered seating area ready to entertain nearly two hundred people. Think elaborate weddings—or maybe even race driver meetings and award ceremonies, with an old school saloon-style restaurant and full-service bar next door ready to nourish and hydrate the masses, while immense corrals lie behind it. A strip of new Old West style buildings was under construction while we were there, and current plans included the addition of a grand Mexican Cantina. Whilst we stood there in awe imagining the scale of things to come, we were quickly reminded by the dinner bell that our own family-style dinner awaited us up in the lodge dining room.
With bellies full of delicious homemade meatloaf with all the fixins, we moseyed our way around the dining room to admire the extensive amount of history from photo albums, old newspapers, framed photographs, and other relics dating back to the 1950s. After traveling back in time, it was time to get back to our guest room to get some adequate rest for the day ahead. The rooms are exactly what you’d expect, a perfect representation of Old West living with modern amenities.
The peaceful night quickly turned to daybreak, and we were up to catch the sunrise feeding of the horses at the nearby barn. Hot coffee in hand, we made our way down to see the cowboys in their daily routine. Very picturesque and kind of surreal to witness up close. From there was more amazing food from the kitchen and then down to the arena for the day’s events. With so much work to be done, there’s not much down time which kept us on a race pace mentality, just without the top speed.
A true cowboy never stops working, even during our “off-time” these guys were hard at work tending gates, fences, herds, and telling stories like no other. From in the seat to in the saddle, these guys work hard and play harder. They had a special surprise for us, our destination was one of the infamous historical places in the area, Robson’s Mining Camp. An epic unexpected stop that had us in awe for hours on end, a near untouched time capsule to the mining days. Rich in history, an extensive display of machinery, all in a compact footprint nestled in a small valley once rich with gold and the miners seeking all its glory. The site is home to various activities and gatherings, it’s a must-see into Arizona’s history.
The entire experience and ambiance of Flying E Ranch is authentic to the core. This is no show or front, there’s no one pulling a tourist attraction here. This venue and it’s operators are the real deal, and that’s known within minutes of your arrival. Watching this establishment extend their hospitality to the Powersports enthusiast brings a smile to our faces, and they are looking to do that as often as they can. We invite you to partake yourself, but prepare yourself to leave a little more cowboy and a little less city-slicker. The first step to prepare for your getaway is to visit their website at flyingeranch.com, or even better yet, pick up the phone and fill your ear with that joyous “Howdy Partner!” attitude.