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Dude Ranch Jobs: Now Accepting Applications for Summer 2024!


Before you read on, be aware that our ranch is value driven, not dollar driven – if you are driven more by money than making magic this is not a good fit for you.

Employment Policies and Expectations
Employment Application

You think you may want ranch employment with guests at a Colorado Dude Ranch or Guest Ranch? Most of us dreamed of this kind of work for years before we were hired here – we know exactly how you feel!

Don’t believe that a Dude Ranch job is like a vacation at summer camp. It sounds hokey, but we truly believe that our mission is not about maximizing profit. Our mission is to maximize joy: our guests, yours, and our own.

Dude Ranch jobs - wranglers
Dude Ranch employment – wranglers

This is very physical labor; hard work with long hours. We hire folks who are:

  • mature
  • well rounded
  • happy
  • “people – friendly”
  • have initiative
  • self directed and take ownership
  • and who have the stamina and endurance required by ranch life.

We create magic for our guests by:

  • washing dishes (plan on it!),
  • housekeeping (likewise!),
  • picking up trash (constantly – including cigarette butts and other disgusting stuff),
  • shoveling manure (horse, goat, kitten, whatever…), spreading manure (tons of it),
  • and clearing trail in the high country (finally something that sounds fun!).

^Please read this paragraph again!^

  1. We are interested in candidates who can quickly and easily become part of a team.
  2. We can no longer consider applications that come in pairs.

In Return, we offer you:

  1. Base Pay (varies by job) PLUS Room (& linen & laundry) & Board (open kitchen). Value of R & B adds about $10/hour (tax free as you are the ranch “fire department”).
  2. Any personal tips that may be given to you by delighted guests, plus tips that are divided by all staff. (During the summer months, tips are often greater than pay!)
  3. The opportunity to interact with “venture angels” who are looking for investment opportunities (you!).
  4. On your free time, access to all guest activities (recreation room,  jacuzzi, horse back riding hiking, fishing, shooting, etc.).
  5. The opportunity to make lifelong friends.
  6. The opportunity to collect new skills & training of marketable skills 
  7. Build Your Resume
  8. Work-Play Balance (in God’s playground) 
  9. Working as a Team Member on a team of Professionals
  10. Everyone enjoys clear simple rules: to be happy here.

If you are interested in working for us, then please:

  1. Study the Dude Ranch Job Descriptions below.
  2. Visit the page that lists our Expectations.
  3. Feel free to send us an Application

Dude Ranch Job Descriptions & Openings:


The Lodge & Kitchen

Dude ranch jobs - summer adventure vacation all-inclusive pet friendly guest ranch
A dude ranch job – Dining Room ready for dinner!

Don’t listen to those wranglers! YOU are the most important part of our ranch! Some of the most important memories that we want to create for our guests are meal memories.

We eat in the dining room, in the back yard, and on the trail. We serve “hearty western fare family style,” which can include lots of vegetables and salads as well as meat and potatoes. Because Ellen and Dan are both RN’s we see many guests who have therapeutic diets or allergies.

The kitchen staff is a group of people who have high energy and good humor. Psychosis is not an obstacle to working in the kitchen, although active drinking problems will get you sent on your way. Summer Kitchen Staff responsibilities include:

  • Preparing hearty western meals for 20-25 hungry guests and 10 – 16 hungry staff (about 40 total).
  • Serving meals family style; in dining room, on front porch, at picnic tables, and on the trail.
  • Baking enormous amounts of desserts and cookies daily.
  • Preparing therapeutic and/or special diets (with management support) as needed.
  • Managing and maintains food and supplies inventories (shops for groceries).
  • Regularly reviewing and assuring compliance with all Health Department Safety Standards and rules.
  • Maintaining a spotless clean kitchen, including washing dishes, pots, and pans.
  • Helping little kids get eggs from the hen-house.
  • Helping wranglers, maintenance persons, and managers do whatever needs to get done to provide guests with a safe and delightful ranch experience.
  • Telling endless jokes and humorous stories.

Open Lodge & Kitchen Jobs:

Summer Head Cook

Summer Assistant Cook

Lodge Staff


Dude Ranch Jobs in the Barn

Dude ranch jobs - adventure vacation all-inclusive pet friendly guest ranch
Beating the rain! We don’t see much rain as we get 385 days of sunshine each year!

Don’t listen to those kitchen people! YOU are the most important part of our ranch! Some of the most important memories that we want to create for our guests are from horseback.

Good candidates for barn positions will have both horse & people sense. This is NOT a horse job, it’s a people job that includes horses. You must be safety-conscious, hospitality-minded, and not one to cut corners.

Barn positions require long hours in the elements working at high elevation. You’ll want to be physically fit and prepared to work one of the hardest summers of your life – but also the most fun summer you’ve ever had!

Open Wrangler Positions:

Summer Plain Ol’ Fashioned Wranglers 

Summer Children’s Wrangler