Guest Accommodations at C Lazy U Ranch
C Lazy U Ranch may have traditional values at heart, but it spares no luxury when providing for guests. The 43 guest accommodations at C Lazy U are five-star, timbered, gorgeous and sumptuous. All of the cabins are within walking distance of the Main Lodge, and stays at the ranch are all-inclusive. Cabins are furnished with fireplaces built with local stone, western-style furnishings, fridges, plush robes, pillow-top mattresses, high quality linens and iHome docking stations. Daily housekeeping and nightly turn-down service is provided for all rooms and cabins.
For guests coming with large family parties, Crest Cabin and Hill Cabin are recommended. Crest Cabin has three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms, and easily accommodates six people. Its comfortable living room has a fireplace and leather furnishings, and the bathrooms have custom copper fixtures, jetted tubs and step-in showers. Hill Cabin is suitable for parties of five to eight guests, and has three bedrooms, three bathrooms and a living room with a fireplace; one bathroom even has a jetted tub. The cabin is designed to look rustic, and is decorated in shades of brown and red. Beautiful carpets and old-fashioned light fixtures add beauty to the rooms.
Smaller parties may wish to stay at the Main Lodge, which has three standard rooms with one bedroom and one bathroom each. These bedrooms are modern, with timber walls, and new carpets and beds. The Aspen Cabin is a one bedroom, one bathroom accommodation with a fireplace, cozy oak furnishings, a desk with a chair, and a bureau.
Guests wishing to experience the ultimate in luxury during their stay at C Lazy U Ranch may rent Midnight Lodge, an incredibly opulent private home that sleeps up to eleven people. With stone patios and bedroom balconies, guests have panoramic views of the ranch. The downstairs has a huge living room with a top-of-the-line sound system, a flat-screen TV and DVD player, and a gourmet kitchen. Also on the ground floor is a dining room, a laundry room, a powder room and a wet bar. Upstairs, at the top of a graceful winding staircase, are four bedrooms and three bathrooms; the master bathroom has a huge copper soaking tub. Outdoors, guests of Midnight Lodge have use of a private hot tub and a private fire pit, both of which have spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains, and a three-car garage is attached to lodge.
Dining at C Lazy U Ranch
The dining room at the Main Lodge is the latest in rustic elegance. Led by a highly-experienced chef, the dining room serves fine American food and regional specialities. Aged Western beef is a forte of the kitchen, as is Rocky Mountain trout and rosemary rack of lamb. Additionally, desserts are delicious and decadent.
The day starts with breakfast, which has traditional offerings of Canadian bacon, egg dishes and hot steel-cut oatmeal served with brown sugar and golden raisins, and a grill that turns out pancakes, waffles and French toast. Lunch begins with an array of homemade soups and salads, and entrees include burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, fresh vegetables and fruit salad. Lunch finishes with offerings of cakes, cookies and brownies.
The evening meal at C Lazy U Ranch is one of the highlights of the day. Dinner begins with elegant appetizers and imaginative soups and salads, and entrees include prime rib, seafood, pork tenderloin, steak and risotto. There are wonderful desserts to complete the meal, such as cheesecake, rich tortes and strudel.
On Friday mornings, guests can experience the al fresco "WoodsieBreaksfast." This traditional outdoor cookout breakfast is complete with breath-taking views of the Continental Divide, which makes dining secondary to the wow factor of the surroundings. The food, however, is great and includes farm-fresh eggs, fruit, homemade doughnuts, as well as hot chocolate and coffee topped with whipped cream.
Spa & Other Activities
The Lazy You spa is situated in the meadow on the banks of Willow Creek. Two of the massage tents are built over the creek and have glass floors, so massages may be enjoyed while watching the water burbling over the creek's rocky bottom. The Lazy You spa offers massages, facials, body wraps, scrubs and soaks in traditional copper bathtubs. Guests who want just a quick tune-up may enjoy a foot rub or a neck and scalp massage.
There is practically an endless source of amusement and activity at the C Lazy U Ranch. First and foremost is horseback riding. From beginners to experienced riders, one of the ranch's 180 saddle horses will be selected for each guest, based on temperament and skill. Small children will be saddled up on Katie, the pony, who is great for first-time horseback rides. Riders are taken on trails throughout the ranch, encouraged to practice in the 12,000 foot practice arena, and learn to drive cattle with the ranch's herd.
Flyfishing in either Willow Creek or the Colorado River is another great source of pleasure for guests and guides. The rivers teem with rainbow, brown and brook trout, and C Lazy U Ranch guides teach flyfishing, flymaking and provide guests with all of the equipment needed for the craft. A valid Colorado fishing licence is required for all fishers and can be purchased at the camp's general store.
Other summertime activities at the ranch include archery, using compound bows, and hiking is a great draw, with trails leading through the alpine meadow and through the mountains. Guests can learn a great deal about the local flora and fauna with a guided hike. For those looking to explore by bike, the ranch has a selection of mountain bikes to choose from and guides are available to teach guests how to handle a bike in the mountains. A spring-fed heated swimming pool is great for cooling off after a long day in the saddle, and a hot tub allows tired muscles to relax. Guests of the C Lazy U Ranch can enjoy hayrides, rope climbing, zip lining, basketball, volleyball, bocce ball, shuffleboard, weekly yoga classes, tennis lessonsand horseshoe tossing. Indoors, there is a well-equipped fitness center that is open 24 hours a day, and a games room featuring a pool table, air hockey, foosball and ping pong.
Luis' Old Place Store is the general store on-site, and sells “Western” clothing, including shirts, coats, gloves, hats, C Lazy U Ranch logo items, jewelry, sunglasses, toys, candies and a selection of toiletries and other necessities.
Family Vacation
C Lazy U Ranch is committed to introducing youngsters to the beauty of outdoor mountain life. It has children's programs for kids aged 3-17, which run throughout the summer and during school holidays year-round.
The Kids Program for tots aged 3-5 includes pony rides, scavenger hunts, nature hikes, gold panning, donkey cart rides, interaction with the ranch's llamas and alpacas, picnics, and fishing. In inclement weather and during the hottest times of the day, kids are drawn inside to participate in arts and crafts, singalongs, story time and games.
Kids aged 6-12 will learn horseback riding from experienced wranglers, and will participate in extended outings that include cookouts of burgers and s'mores. Participants will learn to build teepees, try their hand at archery, go fishing and enjoy scavenger hunts, paddle boating, hayrides, pool parties, tennis and capture the flag.
Teens from ages 13-17 will go horseback riding in the mountains, and learn how to herd cattle. Overnight camping trips on horseback, with all equipment provided, are part of the fun. Teens will visit an off-ranch rodeo, go white-water rafting, cross rope courses, play volleyball, tennis and basketball, go fishing and learn archery.
Weddings & Conferences
Destination weddings at C Lazy U Ranch give newly-weds and their guests the opportunity to have a destination wedding in the glorious surroundings of the Rocky Mountains and their alpine meadows and aspen groves.
There are several wedding venues available for the exchanging of vows. The Woodsie Outlook is high above the ranch, and has staggering views of the Continental Divide and Willow Creek, making it the ranch's most popular venue. Majestic Pond is located on the ranch's meadows, with alpine flora and rolling mountain vistas as its backdrop. The Main Lodge is a historic log timbered building ideal for indoor weddings. Guests who dream of an idyllic winter wedding can get married in the Hay Meadow, with its sprawling snow-covered fields, and arrive at the ceremony in a horse-drawn sleigh.
Receptions are spectacular in the Hay Barn, with its antler chandeliers, barn-style string lighting and indoor dance floor. The Hay Barn has two bars, and offers buffet-style meals. The Main Lodge has an intimate saloon-style room downstairs, perfect for cocktails, and upstairs has a formal log dining room ideal for buffet dinners. The Patio House is on the deck of the pool area, with indoor or outdoor seating. Casual weddings are right at home here, as there are barbecue dinners, plenty of space for lawn games, an indoor dance floor, an outdoor fireplace with seating around it, fire pits for bonfires and an ice cream parlor for guests to enjoy.
Phone: 970-364-0414, website
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Conclusion
C Lazy U Ranch is America's premier guest ranch and a beautiful vacation spot for families and couples. Situated 8,000 feet above sea level in Colorado's Rocky Mountains, C Lazy U's 8,500 acre property is an authentic dude ranch with cattle and working horses. The ranch staff welcomes guests to share the outdoors with them, as well as experience the fellowship that can be gained with one's horse and the pleasures of mountain life.
Guests may wish to be active bycycling, hiking, swimming and flyfishing, or may simply be there to enjoy the clean air, the alpine meadows with their carpets of wildflowers, and the stunning views of the mountains and valleys that surround the ranch. C Lazy U Ranch is located near Granby, Colorado, and is less than a two-hour drive from Denver.
