Located adjacent to the Hill Country State Natural Area, Rancho Cortez is both a dude ranch and a cowboy fitness farm sitting on 250 acres of beautiful Texas Hill Country property in Bandera. Recognized as the Cowboy Capital of the World, the location attracted owners Larry and Mary Cortez after residing in places throughout California, Louisiana, and even East Texas. They opened their ranch in 2002.
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Rancho Cortez: Bandera’s Response to the Need to Unplug
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Photo: Facebook/Rancho Cortez
Guests can stay for a few hours or a few days. They can accommodate approximately 90 people in anything from western-themed cabins to bunkhouse-style accommodations, lending the property nicely to kid’s camps, retreats, and family reunions. But the real experience at Rancho Cortez begins on arrival. Visitors make their way past Longhorn cattle on Hay Hollar Road, and miraculously, cell phones no longer appear to get reception just past the front gate (which employees have said is a unique draw).
Photo: Facebook/Rancho Cortez
Amongst the rolling hills, guests of the ranch find themselves in awe. In an article by Texas Highways, Larry Cortez identified, “Many of our guests are living in cities, and the kids don’t have the chance to get out and run around and be kids. We want people to come out and see a little bit of what Texas is about, outside the traffic.” With no set itinerary, but plenty to do, families and friends won’t have a shortage of ranch-like atmosphere. Horseback rides, trail rides, indoor and outdoor pools, plenty of animals to see and be around, hiking, hot tubbing, and so much more await guests.
Photo: Facebook/Rancho Cortez
An actual dinner bell calls visitors to meal time, and the trail ride is a leisurely one-hour tour of the ranch property. But, the opportunity to see the Texas Hill Country like never before is the true ticket to appreciating a stay at Rancho Cortez. Green hills, rugged limestone pathways, and beautiful blue sky reaching down to almost touch the earth (on a clear day, of course) – it will take years off your appearance and put some fresh air into your lungs.
Photo: Pexels
Irresistible meals are never lacking at the property and keeping busy, getting fit, and enjoying the Hill Country fresh air requires a full stomach. The ranch’s generous cooks prepare feasts of Texas barbecue, delicious comfort foods, and country meals consisting of cornbread, beans, roast chicken and apple cobbler. Using the freshest, highest-quality ingredients, they put care into their cooking and preparation, ensuring each guest is not only accommodated but also satisfied. Sunset hikes, a stunning Hill Country venue, and s’mores by a campfire top off an eventful day at Rancho Cortez, with its owner happily regaling his guests with stories about the traditional Texas cowboy. It’s a unique piece of property managed by cowboys – cow people – at heart, and they’ll do their utmost to get you back in the saddle again.
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