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Welcome to the French Broad Outpost Ranch

A dude ranch vacation where you get to do things together like a family.

Adventures

 2024 Summer 5 night week At A Glance

Sunday

Arrivals Enter the Ranch4:00 p.m.

Supper6:00 p.m.

Horseback Riding Orientation7:00 p.m.

Free Time8:30 - 10:00 p.m.

Monday

Breakfast8:00 a.m.

Riding in the Corral - 10 Guests-Group A 9:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m.Riding in the Corral - 10 Guests-Group B
Lunch12:30 p.m.Afternoon Ride - 10 Guests-Group A 1:30 p.m
3:30 p.m.Cattle Drive - 10 Guests-Group B
Supper6:00 p.m.Live Bluegrass band
7:00 - 8:00.

 

Tuesday

Breakfast8:00 a.m.9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.Team PenningLunch12:30 p.m.

Cattle Drive1:30 p.m.Afternoon Ride3:00 p.m.

Supper at the Lodge6:00 p.m

7:00 - 8:30 p.m.Pioneer Games+Blk Powder Pistol+Kids Painting
 

Wednesday

Breakfast8:00 a.m.9:00 a.m.Whitewater RaftingLunch12:30 p.m.
Tubing1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Supper Ride (20 guest max)5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Thursday

Breakfast8:00 a.m.

BIG Cattle Drive10:30 a.m.Lunch on the Drive12:30 p.m.Drive cattle back home1:30 p.m.

Supper at the Lodge6:00 p.m.

Kids' Rodeo6:45 p.m.

Square Dance8:00 p.m.

Friday

Breakfast8:00 a.m.Guest Checkout by10:00 a.m.

 

Horseback Riding - All seasons

Horseback riding, of course, is the main ranch activity that is done all months we are open. We have 5 trails ranging from 1 to 2 hours long in duration not counting saddling and grooming. You generally ride twice a day, once before and once after lunch. You will be given a horse that fits your skills at the start of the week. Our trail rides are all on the ranch and have views most other horse trails only dream of having. The river ride is the flat trail and from there the other trails go on up to 200 feet and up to 1000 feet above the lodge area. Our Arabian horses are great mountain trail horses.

Whitewater Rafting & Tubing - Summer only

In the summer only there is a raft trip Wednesday morning. The beginning Whitewater trip is for ages 5 and Up. This trip has class levels from I to III with float water in between and is a great starter section.  On Wednesday afternoon we offer a tubing trip for ages 5 and up for a relaxing water excursion.

Pioneer Games - Summer for sure and sometimes low season

Pioneer games are sort of like being on the Little House on the Prairie. Families really enjoy this competition. We do these games on Tuesday evenings.

Black Powder Shooting - Summer only

During the summer right after Pioneer games when the kids go paint a horse, the adults 18 and older can shoot the black powder pistol at some balloons.

Kids Rodeo - Summer only

During the Summer right before the Square Dance on Thursday, the kids get to do a Rodeo! Weather permitting.

Horse Painting - Summer and sometimes low season weather permitting

In the Summer on Tuesday after Pioneer Games the kids paint a horse.

Square Dancing - Summer but sometimes low season too

The Square Dance on Thursday night during the Summer gets everyone together for a load of fun. Sometimes when we have enough folks during the other seasons, we have a square dance then too.

Cattle Drives - All seasons

We have several ranch cattle drives with 6-10 guests each just like the old ranch hand days. Everyone during the summer high season gets to do 1 cattle drive and if there is room sometimes you can go more than once. Cattle drives in the summer are Monday afternoon & Tuesday afternoon and we do the Big Cattle Drive on Thurdays in the summer with a lunch stop on the trail.

Non summer Cattle drives start about mid March and are done until January 1st. We usually need at least 4 guests for a cattle drive during the low season.

The Big Cattle Drive overnight is a non summer package listed in detail on the rates page.

Team Penning - Summer only

Our dude ranch offers team penning on Tuesday morning. Team Penning is one of our most popular events. Everyone enjoys this rodeo game of pushing cows into the box.

The pace goes from walking right up to galloping for those that have enough skill. Kids as well as senior citizens get right in with the cows and ride them into the box and then take them out for another round.

Team Penning is a summer activity because the ground needs to be dry.

Low Season Activities

During the non-summer months (March, April, May & September, October, November) you can expect Horseback trail rides and cattle drives to be the main activities.  Some other activities you can do on your own is fishing, hiking, horseshoes, napping on the porch, playing in the game room (pool, air hockey, foosball) or reading a book. The low season months are typically laid back, relaxing times with horses and cattle. Most evenings we have a campfire with smores. If you're interested in a more high paced atmosphere join us for a summer trip! We are also open during Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays.