Talk about living your best life.
At work, the phone was constantly ringing, and one crisis after another took up my weekends off.
Located in Wickenburg, Arizona, about 106 miles northwest of Phoenix, Rancho de los Caballeros is a place to refresh and rehearse your own thoughts. This ranch offers first-class service and accommodations with views of the beautiful grounds and surrounding landscape.
Make no mistake, this is a men’s ranch, but it’s an upscale men’s ranch, so there’s an opportunity to relax, and that starts with the food.
eat
Rancho de los Caballeros’ executive chef Robert Cornet has outdone himself with a special dish.
Cornetto’s food is always top-notch, but it shined even brighter at the recent Lunch Reserve Wine Evening. It’s no surprise to learn that he started cooking at 2 a.m. Tuesday for his Friday night experience.
Truly, what a great start to the weekend. Cornet regularly offers pairing meals from the ranch’s clubhouse restaurant, 19. On this particular Lunch Reserve Wine Evening, a beautifully presented five-course meal came out while the server assigned to the table poured wine from the Farniente family. A view of the winery and vineyards.
The highlight of the special dinner, paired with wine, was the elk tenderloin dish prepared by Chef Robert Cornet.
The meal started with butter-poached Chilean sea bass paired with Far Niente Chardonnay 2023. Second course: Smoked Beet Hummus and Enroot Pinot Noir 2022, followed by Colorado Elk Loin and Post and Beam Cabernet Sauvignon 2022. Braised Wagyu Short Rib with Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 was the last savory course to appear outside. Desserts rounded everything out with Walnut Dacquoise and Miso Butterscotch Diplomat with Far Niente Dolce 2017.
This is just a brief list of courses, but it doesn’t begin to describe the creative aspects that appeared on the plate. For example, for a moose loin sprinkled with cranberry granola, the chef prepared a mixture of acorn squash and turnips and onion puree. The walnut dacquoise (a layered dessert cake topped with whipped cream) was served with miso butterscotch diplomat (a type of meringue biscuit), apple mousse, compressed apples and apple gel. Note: Far Niente Dolce 2017 was amazing.
The next night, the ranch held a Saturday cookout, but it wasn’t just a cookout. It was a roaring table barbecue with a Southwestern flavor.
On Saturday nights, Rancho de los Caballeros hosts an evening cookout with live music and entertainment. Our staff makes sure guests have a filling meal of beef brisket, ribs, and other meats with all the sides.
The ranchers piled into several wagons and hurried to a nearby site, a collection of small buildings that looked like an Old West town. There was also a small arena with a stage surrounded by chairs and picnic tables. In fact, most guests probably could have walked, but it would have been difficult to get back in the very dark, pitch black darkness.
When dinner was ready, about 100 guests were piled high with salads (no one can beat a friend for salads), potato salad, cowboy beans, cornbread, potatoes, brisket, shredded pork, shredded chicken, and more. We lined up at a table. There are also vegan options. Apple crumble cooked over the campfire was then served with smoke and everyone joined in. There was plenty of food.
A band played while guests ate, and during breaks, the facilities manager gave a fun and entertaining whip demonstration.
It’s getting cold as the sun goes down, but there are heating devices scattered around. Guests could also ask staff to call a heated car to pick them up, which many did. However, the sky was clear and there were many stars.
Other meals include a buffet breakfast served in the main dining room and lunch at Club Grill, a clubhouse restaurant with a patio located right next to the golf course. The patio is comfortable, the American cuisine is delicious, and your lunch is topped off with a selection of cookies delivered on a tray by your server. Of note here are the Roadrunners who live nearby and are willing to beg for food. The staff will take care of him. Raw ground meat is his favorite meal.
play
This is a man’s ranch, so one of the main activities is horseback riding. The horses are friendly and the staff are very kind, especially an older woman who hasn’t ridden horses since she was a child. Stairs are provided so riders don’t have to struggle too much to “board” or “disembark”, but that part can be scary if you can’t see the stairs. I had no choice but to believe the wrangler’s word that the steps were there.
You don’t have to worry about getting into the saddle. Our staff will assist you. They take great care to ensure rider safety.
The scenery looks the same even if you’re not on the lead horse. Still, this two-plus hour trail ride was filled with interesting sights, including an abandoned copper mine.
The ranch accommodates riders of all levels, from beginners to professionals. These are mostly Quarter Horses and are hardy. However, the weight limit is 250 pounds.
A word of warning to anyone considering a ride: If you are not an experienced rider, sitting in the saddle for two and a half hours can be uncomfortable and extremely painful. Nevertheless, the scenery, at least part of it, and the experience are worth everyone’s time.
The scenery is much the same unless the rider is on the lead horse. Still, the ranch is surrounded by 20,000 acres of wilderness in the high Sonoran Desert, so when riders look anywhere but the horse in front of them, they’re greeted with interesting sights like an old abandoned copper mine. (It’s actually just a big dark hole in the ground, but it’s a scary enough puzzle to spark your imagination). If needed, guests can request golf cart transportation to and from their rooms.
Another activity is trap shooting and skeet shooting. Instructors are knowledgeable about firearms and strive to keep participants as safe as possible. Because firearms are so dangerous, skeet shooting groups are kept small. On this day, the instructor said he had to take away his guns because people were foolish enough to point their rifles at his friends. I can’t say it enough. Instructors are careful and safe. This activity takes approximately 45 minutes. One participant said it was just the right time.
During our visit, our instructor, a semi-retired cowboy from Montana, told us that most people would end their day by hitting at least one target.
One of the activities that takes place on the ranch is trap shooting and skeet shooting, where safety is paramount.
Other activities include hitting the pool, riding electric bikes, shopping at the gift shop, and playing pickleball or tennis. There is also an archery range and of course a golf course. There are also activities for children. However, the best activities can be found at the spa and wellness center.
After a stressful week, month, or any other time, you may find true relaxation here. Book a facial, nail service, or even a massage or body treatment with aromatherapy or salt scrubs.
Walking through the labyrinth is spiritual and relaxing.
The maze is open to any guest, but the real fun begins with meditation and sound bathing. Some may say it’s boring. That may be true, but some skeptics and even traditional believers have found something here.
A personal note: Less than a week after saying my final goodbye to my mom, I found myself here.
Meditation is performed lying on the cold ground, wearing only a thin blanket to protect from the cold. surprise. It wasn’t. So, the six of us froze, but kept gamely going, trying hard to focus on the sound of the leader’s voice, and actually had some success.
In a soothing tone, she instructed the group to gradually release tension throughout their bodies. She was regularly banging on a crystal singing bowl, which produced a very interesting, high, clear sound.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity due to the cold, but actually only about 15 minutes, the group stood up and slowly walked through the labyrinth.
“Slowly” is the key word. The advantage of a maze is that the path tells you where to go, so you can focus on more important things, like the chirping of birds or the sound of horses running through a meadow.
We walked in concentric circles. Some people entered the maze barefoot, but later reported that it was a mistake. It took a long time to warm up after that.
Throughout the experience, participants were able to leave whenever they wanted, although some participants left when the ground was getting colder.
For me, the experience was interesting. I felt in my heart the joy my mother was experiencing in the afterlife. The same joy I felt from her on the day she passed away. It was nice to have time again and it was so valuable to me. Some people reported not feeling anything.
stay
The rooms at Rancho de los Caballeros are unlike those at a luxury hotel. Not like a hotel room, not even a luxury hotel room. This is a two-room casita with a spacious entrance, kitchenette, murphy bed in the living room, internet, TV with lots of channels, luxurious shower, and a spacious private bedroom.
The most noticeable thing about this whole place is the gas fireplace. On cold nights, it felt great to turn it on and enjoy the warmth. It looked great too.
A new thing in the field of travel is called a “sleepcation.” This is especially appealing for people who find it hard to get a good night’s sleep. While it’s not a true “sleep” experience at Rancho de los Caballeros, our comfortable and spacious king-sized beds with a variety of pillows will ensure you get a fulfilling and restful night’s sleep. You can also watch TV in bed.
There is a fire pit in the lovely grassy courtyard, which is lit by the staff at night.
All of this comes at a cost. The two-night stay, which included all meals, horseback riding, and skeet experience, cost about $2,500 for two people. But if stress relief is on the menu, you won’t find a better place.
Rancho de los Caballeros, luxury ranch and spa
1551 S. Vulture Mine Road, Wickenburg, Arizona
928-684-5484
ranchodeloscaballeros.com
