Texas cowboy life is legendary. Planning a meeting in a Western setting gives attendees the chance to immerse themselves in the ranching tradition. Whether the venue is close to major airports or off the beaten path, a ranch provides attendees with the feeling of being out in the country away from it all. The wide-open spaces showcase a peaceful backdrop for inspiration, bonding, and focus.
While most ranches share common Western themes, lots of land, and a ranch house for meetings, each venue is unique in style and substance. Luxury lodging and modern amenities are available, or plan a rustic, back-to-nature event where attendees can be more hands-on with traditional ranch life. No matter the style of ranch, you will find an array of activities, including clay target shooting, pickleball, and chuckwagon cookouts—or just a relaxing swing on an airy back porch. So, pull on your boots and discover some of the state’s top ranching destinations.
Summer weather in Texas doesn’t have to keep you away from the cowboy life. Most ranches have air-conditioned indoor venues for comfortable daytime events, and attendees might then head out in the cooler evening for trail rides on horseback.
Wildcatter Ranch & Resort in Graham is an hour and a half drive from Fort Worth and under two hours from Abilene. “Wildcatter Ranch is 1,500 acres overlooking the Brazos River with stunning views from our three mountaintops,” says Kalli Doubleday, co-owner of the property. “With miles of hiking trails, a steakhouse on-site, activities, a pool, spa, and more, we are a great place for groups to team build while their family enjoys the ranch stay, too.”
The ranch specializes in corporate retreats and offers resort-wide privacy. Doubleday says one major corporation has been hosting its annual retreat at the ranch for 13 years. “They shut the whole ranch down,” she says. “It becomes their home away from home, and we build a completely customized experience depending on their theme.”
Wildcatter Ranch & Resort’s lodging options for up to 70 attendees include 16 cabin suites, the 14,000-square-foot Ranch House Estate for large parties, and the 16-room rustic hotel. “Our meeting spaces are located on the first floor of our boutique hotel,” says Doubleday. “This makes them conveniently located for guests, as well as the perfect space for quick breakout sessions or breaks with easy access to our 60-foot back porch with amazing views or the cozy hotel grand hall full of lounging furniture and a fireplace.”
A bit farther north, Rest Yourself River Ranch Boutique Hotel & Event Center is just outside of Mineral Wells. The ranch, perched on a hill overlooking a bend in the Brazos River, provides breathtaking views and nine indoor and outdoor event spaces, including an amphitheater that can seat 175 and the Great Lodge with knotty pine paneling and 3,500 square feet of event space. With lodging for up to 85 attendees, the ranch combines wide-open spaces with intimate settings.
For meetings near Houston, Spread Oaks Ranch offers 5,500 acres on the Colorado River just an hour and a half away from the city. The ranch is set up for a small group of 12 attendees—or 24 with double occupancy—allowing attendees to take full advantage of the luxury amenities and service. Chef-prepared field-and-farm meals range from Texas barbecue to elegant venison backstrap, so fueling up for activities is an adventure in itself.
In the Texas Hill Country, The Cedars Ranch in Wimberley offers meeting venues and lodging a step above glamping (luxury camping). Mature live oak trees on rolling hills cover 20 acres, while unique lodging venues dot the grounds. Attendees can stay in cabins or geodesic domes. “We do also have great amenities on-site, such as our resort pool and pool house with a bar and swinging chairs, loungers, and day beds,” says Sean Canahuate, co-owner of The Cedars Ranch. The ranch also offers a game room and lounge, bocce ball, pickleball courts, and walking trails.
At Wildcatter Ranch & Resort, the charity ranch race is a favorite team activity. “Divided into teams, guests will compete through multiple events,” explains Doubleday. “At each event, teams will receive materials to build items donated to a local charity. This event is thrilling, with teams relying on strong communication, consulting each other’s strengths, pacing themselves, and working together. We have had teams build youth bikes, bunk beds, and other needed items that are donated after the event, giving the team-building activity another element of unity through charitable giving.”
Team bonding at Spread Oaks Ranch could include clay target shooting; a GPS scavenger hunt; fishing; or culinary learning about topics like foraging, craft cocktail mixology, and smoking meats. The on-site chef also can customize the group’s menu with organic produce and herbs from the ranch’s greenhouse and shade house, as well as proteins from the henhouse and stocked bass lake. Groups might also choose a chuckwagon cookout for an authentic cowboy experience.
While participating in activities can be fun, attendees might also want to pull up a rocking chair and do a whole lot of nothing for a while. “We offer beautiful, nature-immersed lodging and luxurious amenities in the beautiful Texas Hill Country,” Canahuate says of The Cedars Ranch. “Holding meetings or retreats at a ranch like ours gives teams the chance to truly connect and collaborate in a tranquil, creativity-inducing environment. Then outside of the meetings, guests have the ability to relax and unwind surrounded by nature.”
At Wildcatter Ranch & Resort, planners enjoy the option to serve both a buffet and a boxed lunch for eventgoers. These alternatives allow attendees to grab a meal and head out on their own or sit with others to enjoy a picnic on the ranch. For those interested in area history, Spread Oaks Ranch provides group tours of nearby historic sites. Attendees might also enjoy birdwatching and learning more about conservation efforts at the ranch, such as livestock cultivation, controlled burns, organic crops, and wildlife habitat.
Discover how a natural ranch setting might well enhance the results of a meeting or event—all thanks to wildlife, camaraderie, and Texas service with a smile.
restyourselfranch.com
spreadoaksranch.com
staywithreverie.com
wildcatterranch.com