Tucked outside the city limits of both San Antonio and Austin in the Hill Country of Texas sits a family-run dude ranch that has been sharing their Old West traditions with guests from around the world for the last 50 years. Our Mayan Dude Ranch vacations in Bandera, Texas are some of the best families memories we’ve made in Texas.
If you’ve ever watched the movie City Slickers, you might what it feels like going on one of our family dude vacations. In truth, we aren’t quite the prototype of cowboys and rodeos…. but the kids and I love the ranch lifestyle, so I’m constantly looking for a kid-friendly dude ranch near me to visit. And my husband? Well, he stays prepared for whatever adventure I throw at him! So we packed up our best cowboy gear and got ready to visit a highly rated Texas dude ranch all-inclusive with the perfect mix of luxury and rugged Bandera ranch appeal.
Family Dude Ranch Vacations
In researching various ranch vacations, I wondered what is a dude ranch in particular. There are so many variations all over the country, so it’s important to know the difference between a luxury dude ranch and a working dude ranch. Daily activities and experiences will also vary depending on the area of the country and time of year you visit a guest ranch.
A dude ranch is an establishment orientated towards visitors and is considered a type of agrotourism. Also called a guest ranch, dude ranches can be 100% operational (or “working dude ranches”) or strictly cater to luxury dude ranch guests. Daily activities are scheduled, meals are often included and guests stay on property to be fully immersed in Old West traditions.
My brother lives in San Antonio, Texas. The first time we visited him from Southern California, the weather was absolutely magical. I knew we had to take the kids to the best dude ranches in Texas for family vacations. Mayan Dude Ranch was at the top of the list for working dude ranches in Texas!
Dude Ranch Texas Style
The Mayan Dude Ranch is one of the best dude ranches in Texas for families according to all the reviews out there. Operated by the Hicks Family for the last 50 years, this Texas ranch is quintessential for a dude ranch Texas style experience: lots of open space, horseback riding, and BEEF!! Oh my goodness, so much great food. (Don’t come here on diet mode!)
Sitting on 348 acres, it’s not hard to understand why Mayan Ranch is one of the best dude ranches for families. Their property stretches from the lowlands of the Medina River – which is beautiful for swimming – to high up in the hills that offer stunning panoramic views.
As soon as we started looking for a dude ranch near San Antonio, we learned about this special place in the Texas Hill Country. This was our first time driving through Hill Country and, although I was a little nervous, we got there safely without any incident. We’re West coast people, so the random confederate flags were a shock but everyone my family ran into was kind and respectful. It’s an even shorter drive if you’re looking for a dude ranch near Austin.
Mayan Dude Ranch
Upon checking into the Mayan Dude Ranch in Bandera, we immediately felt their “horsepitality”. It wasn’t long before we were introduced to the Hicks family tree, who married who, how many kids everyone had and just how much the family loves their Texas home. This loving and welcoming atmosphere put me at ease right away and my kids loved every second; absolutely one of the best dude ranches in Texas for families.
Accommodations at the Mayan Dude Ranch include brick cabins scattered throughout the property and a two-story lodge right next to the main house. We stayed in a cabin with two bedrooms (one with bunk beds!) tucked among trees and deer visiting us early in the morning. My brother’s cabin was a studio and a short walk away. It was lovely. The many accommodation options make this dude ranch for families an obvious choice.
The cabins are definitely rustic, but well suited for our expectations and needs. The was a heater and an old TV set, but the true beauty of the ranch was just outside the doors – on the land and in the daily program of activities – so we weren’t actually in the room very often at all.
Mayan Ranch
What you actually do on your family dude vacation will depend greatly on the time of year. There’s plenty to do at Mayan Ranch all year long, including a pool and river to swim in. When we visited, it was entirely too cold to swim in the pool… but we did adventure along the Medina River one afternoon (where my little guy jumped right in!). The water is crystal clear; truly so beautiful and clean. In warmer months I heard you could drift downriver in inner tubes!
Each day starts with a delicious Cowboy breakfast cooked on the open range, followed by so many activities to fill your time with endless fun. Some of those activities include horseback riding, hayrides, roping, fishing, hiking through the gorgeous cedar hills, fossil hunting, country dance lessons, bonfire and marshmallow roasts for the colder months… and so much more!
There is so much to do at this dude ranch for kids, but here are some of my tips to get the most out of Texas ranch vacation:
- Pick up the daily schedule the night before to plan your day!
- There are typically at least two horse rides available each day taking the rider high up into the hills or along the river. Sign up at the front desk! My daughter didn’t miss a single ride.
- If you eat meat, do NOT miss their famous steak buffet meal. It was seriously so, so good.
- The themed dinners are delicious too. Be sure to stay after dinner for the games and entertainment.
- The main lodge playroom has all sorts of board games and ping pong for families to hang out together.
- A short walk from the corral is Hicksville, a fun playground for the kids and a great place for photo opps.
- My kids loved the Dinosaur walk to learn about the fossils and tracks on their property.
- Lastly, be sure to visit their website for room rates and special offerings! These family-friendly dude ranch vacations aren’t cheap, so you’ll want to find a good deal.
So Many Horses
If you take a kid to a dude ranch, they’re gonna expect plenty of horseback riding. And the Mayan Dude Ranch, our kids got plenty of those. During your stay, each guest gets two 50-minute rides a day – one of the morning and one in the afternoon. Also, it wouldn’t be a lie to say that the horses at this Bandera ranch were some of the most beautiful horses we’ve ever ridden. They’re so strong and healthy!
My horse-obsessed child was so happy to start each day with a ride and never skipped a chance to get back on. The guides were very kind, chatting with her and answering all her questions.
A Dude Ranch for Kids
All in all, the Mayan is definitely a dude ranch for kids that is bucket list worthy. If you’re traveling to Texas, it’s a great dude ranch near Austin and San Antonio (I would even drive to it from Houston, too!) that focuses on family memories and cowboy adventure.
