Deer Valley Ranch Colorado Review

This place was awesome. Check out the 360 photos I posted if you want a good view around the place. Definitely coming back with my family.

Deer Valley is one of the prettiest places to stay in Chaffee County. Beautiful rooms! Perfect sunsets! Wonderful hospitality!

Beautiful views and excellent staff. The director provided great recommendations for fun activities for our family with 2 young kids. Kaylie was awesome at planning the itinerary and also accommodating to our needs and making our stay so memorable. Totally recommend rock climbing with Brett and Carol.. our first time rock climbing outdoors was AMAZING! They even motivated my 5year old to climb all the way up and keep wanting to go again. They were very safe and made it all fun and games. Alpine was a great Cabin.We will be coming back here soon. Thank you to the team for the great experience and memorable trip.

Beautiful. Great staff, fun horseback riding, but very expensive. I highly recommend. Very very nice people. Family owned and operated. The high cost is the only downside.

Location is wonderful and beautiful. Food is astronomical. Rooms are nice and spacious and comfy. I go every year.

Loved our time at Deer Valley Ranch! The scenery was nothing short of amazing. Dave and Shannon are amazing people, who employ a first-rate staff!

I love everything about Deer Valley. The beautiful mountains, Christian staff, family environment, fishing, square dancing, skit night, hiking and the FOOD! Wow. I grew up going as a little girl and now 25 years later very little has changed. There are not many places that do not have keys to the cabins! There is always something to do and something for everyone. My four year old son loved the kids' activities and the freedom of running around with his cousins. DVR is an amazing place. It just gets in your heart and soul. You never want to leave, and when you do you are already planning your next trip back.

Stayed in shavano cabin which is large. Plenty if activities and great food!

Stopped by for a horseback ride with my son we have never rode horses before but they paired us up with the best horses. Such an amazing ride and beautiful views. Thank you Emily and Virginia. From jeremy and landon.

I was there for work. I don't know anything about the accommodations.

Two thumbs up. Great staff, lots of activities, comfortable beds.

The most family friendly place I have found on this earth. Three generations of our family come here each year.
This is our 4th year to spend a summer week at Deer Valley Ranch. We just finished the Western Dance last night (attended by kids from 4 yrs - who were taken to a fun time of their own after the first square dance, through teens who had a blast according to our 3, all the way to a lady in her 90's who has been coming here for over 30 years.)
We ride horses each day if we want. The Teens are on a rock climbing outing right now. The food is 6 on a scale of 1 to 5 according to our 3 teen girls, who will be college freshman, high school senior, & high school sophomore, & a 10 year old boy. Also 4 adults give the food a 6. The ranch ride was great today, the hay ride for teens is tonight, the family soft ball game is tomorrow, the white water rafting trip will be Thursday, ...
Mr. John Wolmington runs a superb family dude ranch - with a Christian flare!
Thanks, John & all your warm, friendly staff.

Best.vacation.ever! My husband and I took our three boys (ages 12,9 and 7) and they all agreed this was the best place we have ever vacationed! On day #2 at the ranch my youngest said, "This is the best day of my life" and we all wholeheartedly agreed. From the horseback riding to whitewater rafting to the numerous children and teen activities to the GREAT food and the best staff I have ever seen, Deer Valley Ranch is absolutely unbeatable. We will be back!

Mostly giving this place a so-so review because the quality of the rooms, etc. were absolutely not worth what we paid. My husband and I and two of our friends were going to share a room for Labor Day weekend, and they gave us a room in the "Lodge". Upon check-in, we learned that our room did not actually lock, which was very concerning. Also, be warned, these are very bare-bones rooms with essentially beds and a bathroom (not a typical hotel room with a fridge or TV). The amenities offered at the camp itself were pretty minimal as well or cost extra. At this point, we were not willing to pay extra for any of the activities. I will say though that the staff are very kind and helpful. They did allow us to change rooms to one that actually locked, and did their best to be accommodating. Overall though, would not recommend this based on value for your money.

We did an hour ride from here. Great staff, beautiful scenery and great time!

Amazing location, beautiful everything surrounding it, an incredible, hardworking staff and delicious food!

The cabin that we stayed in was well equipped and there was plenty of room for us to spread out. There was a bad smell outside our cabin like a septic tank was leaking or overflowing and the deck and deck furniture really needed updating. The chairs looked like an adult or even larger child could fall straight through. My sister and I went on a trail ride and the young lady wranglers leading the ride did an awesome job. Scenery in that area is beautiful and it is relatively quiet there. No wifi or television in the cabins, so it's a good escape from social media. The one hot tub that was filled and working did not look clean.

Such a peaceful place. The folks that run it are very welcomeing

Was actually there working, but it was beautiful. Every staff member I spoke with was friendly and knowledgeable, the animals well cared for, everything was very impressive. Highly recommended.

Our family has vacationed through four generations and over 40 years at Deer Valley Ranch. It has been the location for many wonderful family memories over the years. Unfortunately, our most recent experience did not nearly live up to those in the past. Here are 10 reasons we do not plan to return to Deer Valley: 1) change in structure to pay per person, not cabin, and requiring guests to eat all meals on site as part of the cost - this actually resulted in less quality family time than when we were able to share meals in each other s' cabins; 2) lack of hospitality - from check-in to check-out, there was a general lack of service that even average guests expect; sometimes this was rudeness and blaming guests for mistakes made by their office or staff, and other times this presented as a feeling that staff and owners were too busy to be bothered to attend to the guests; 3) disorganization - there were dozens of errors made by the staff from beginning (i.e. booking) to end. These included not being signed up for events such as horseback riding, even though emails and phone confirmations were made weeks prior, incorrect billing, no replies to email communication they asked for to reserve activities in advance; 4) lack of sensitivity and accommodations for the elderly, those who are pregnant, small children, and persons with physical disabilities. This was extremely disappointing for a camp that advertises a Christian mission. The much anticipated Wrangler's Breakfast was held in a rocky, uneven spot where persons with any type of physical challenge were endangered of falling (unlike the prior spot in a more flat meadow). Guests who had to walk a distance on this dangerous ground included an elderly woman in her 90's, several pregnant women and a few with small children/babies, other elderly folks, and persons with visual and physical impairments; 5) poor communication among staff - on several occasions, guests had made prior arrangements for meals or activities with a certain staff member, but that information was never communicated to other appropriate staffers, resulting in mix-ups for which the guests were "blamed". There were no apologies made even though the staff later acknowledged that error was on their part; 6) meals - under the previous ownership, meals were a delight to look forward to, but not required as part of the paid plan. Items were home-baked with great attention to detail and presentation, served by happy helpers. Meals on this trip were disappointing at best - little was original, home-made, or tasty. While guests tried not to complain, the comparison between then and now was striking. Servers were over-worked, some of the food was soggy, under-cooked or overcooked. Teens remarked that they "had better food at church camp" this summer; 7) upkeep - most of the ranch and the accommodations (cabin and lodge) look just like they did 40 years ago. The little Western town for small children to play in was a safety hazard, with holes in the flooring into which small feet could slip through. Many of the cabins are outdated. The carpeting in several places has not been replaced for decades. While there is a new tennis/volleyball/basketball court with flooring, most of the ranch seems tired and untended to; 8) overpriced - One might excuse some of the other shortcomings if the cost was not so high (an average family of 4 - 5 may spend nearly $1,000 per night to stay on the ranch, with meals included), and pay additionally for activities such as horseback riding, white water rafting, fishing etc... 9) Christian mission - we missed being led in prayer before meals. Sunday church did not focus us on the Lord. The spirit that made us love this ranch seems to have evaporated into a poorly run corporation; 10) understaffed - it was obvious that the college students working were severely overworked, particularly in housekeeping and dining services - not nearly the number of staff in prior years. Overall, this was a sad experience, not reflective of the Deer Valley we have loved.

This place is wonderful! The one thing that sets Deer Valley Ranch apart from other vacation destinations is the staff. Somehow, they have figured out the secret sauce for finding and hiring a world class team, year after year. The staff is always very friendly, helpful and informative.
The food here is fantastic, with each meal being served in a warm, family setting. They have a robust menu, and can accommodate special diets. One of the best parts of the day is gathering in the dining room to share meals with other guests and staff.
The programming is also a highlight, from horse rides to paddle boarding, square dancing and rock climbing. If you are the adventurous type, they have lots of options to choose from. If you are more interested in relaxing while on vacation, the view from the swimming pools/hot tubs and the main deck are unparalleled.
Deer valley ranch should absolutely be first on your list when considering a vacation!

I have been coming to Deer Valley since I was an infant. Now my own children are old enough to ride horses, hike mountains, feed Chipmunks by hand, and fall in love with Deer Valley I'm their own right. It might be my favorite place in the world, stress melts away in the pine air and stunning views

This place absorbs the stress out of you like a sponge, even while climbing a 14,000 foot mountain. It is the only place on earth that when my children were young they could safely roam so freely. Our entire family, including grandchildren, are headed there this July for the 19th year. They do not want to go anywhere else.

Loved it. Went up in the off season to help my folks. Love the rustic old timey feel!

Installed some baseboard heat in one of the houses, views are beautiful!

Retreat was spiritual and amazing. Staff and amenities were top of the line.

This is my 3rd visit to Deer Valley. 1st since under new mgmt, friendly staff, great food, very clean, and easy access to all the area has to offer. I would recommend to families, couples, or even if your are seeking some solitude. This is the place to be.

Our family has come here many times. The owners and staff are people of good character. There are many activities for people of all ages and you can follow the programs as much or little as you like. The food is high variety and consistently fantastic. You can rent a cabin or stay in the lodge for a more hotel-like experience. If you are looking for a clean, friendly place to stay while exploring this beautiful area, I would highly recommend DVR.

First off, this is not a 3-star hotel, and you should only stay here if you are a child at summer camp or a parent with your children. My friends and I stayed here over the Labor Day weekend, thinking we would be staying at a pretty nice place with a lot of outdoor activities (which you would expect for $200/night), which was confirmed when I talked to one of the owners/managers on the phone before booking.
However, not so fast. When we checked into our room, there wasn't even a key (and they had no way to lock it), the beds were so janky that my wife actually checked for bed bugs, and there were absolutely no amenities. Also, there were almost no outdoor activities, outside of using the pool and corn hole; if you want to go paddleboarding, you can rent their 2 paddleboards and drive 45 minutes (Google says there's a pond just down the street, but it doesn't exist anymore). If we had paid $50-100/night, we wouldn't have been so upset, but this experience was unacceptable for the money we paid. The primary redeeming quality is that the owners were nice, even though we felt misled initially.

Wonderful staff, beautiful setting, and great food. The cabins were accommodating and comfy. I had a blast and am certainly looking forward to returning in the spring!

This place is ah-mazing. Nestle's in the mountains south west of Buena Vista. It is super close to a free shooting range, two fishing lakes, and the Mount Princeton Hot Springs. Views of the granite and the white capped mountains are unbelievable. And to top it off, the food was delicious and the staff was knowledgeable about the area. If was back in the area, and needed a place to stay, this is the place.

The cabins are quirky, adorable, and clean. Facilities are very well taken care of. Do be aware that there is very little internet capable cell service and the wifi in the lounge, well it technically exists, download everything you need before your trip. :)

I would not trust their horses. I got a concussion from a horse that spooked and 3 1/2 years later I am still really struggling. Their program was not safe. My son fell off. I know another family who came off a horse as well that week. Do NOT trust the horse program unless you want to risk your life. I am blessed that I am alive and can walk. That is about it. We should have sued them.