Kay El Bar Guest Ranch

Kay El Bar Guest Ranch

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Kay El Bar is an authentic, intimate western dude ranch just over an hour northwest of Phoenix in Wickenburg, Arizona. Discover abandoned gold mines along the rocky mountain trails or ride through the sandy Hassayampa Riverbed. Create memories that will warm your soul and last a lifetime. Become a part of the Kay El Bar family.

Unique Features: The small size, with a maximum of 25 guests, is part of the laid-back charm. Authentic adobe-walled buildings and cowboy décor help transport you to a quiet place, apart from the rush of modern life. The friendly staff make it easy to become part of the Kay El Bar family.

Accommodations: An authentic Western guest ranch with modern accommodations for a limited number of guests. Established in 1926, the Kay El Bar’s original large adobe brick buildings and Spanish architecture are a picture postcard and offer inviting quarters for approximately 25 guests. Comfortable and charming, each guest room has a private modern bath, hand-painted Monterey furniture, and a collection of western artwork and décor. Larger family quarters are also available.

As Suite As It Gets: When money is no object, go for the Homestead House. It has the original thick-walled adobe ranch style and is a two-bedroom, two-bath cottage. Spacious and comfortable, with its own living room and fireplace, it’s perfect for families, two couples or small groups. It can sleep up to seven persons.

Dining: Delicious home-cooked meals await at the Kay El Bar. Breakfast, lunch and dinner include plenty of choices and are served plated, buffet or family-style in the dining room, on the patio, or on the trail. Three meals daily tempt every cowpoke’s appetite, and we never skip dessert. Fresh-baked cookies are available all day.

Activities: Life at the Kay El Bar centers around our horses and riding program, which offers a well-trained string of horses for every experience level. Try your hand at sport shooting or explore the desert via fat tire electric bike. Enjoy a hike through the nearby desert terrain where there is a variety of vegetation, including the incredible giant saguaro, prickly pear and barrel cactus. Or choose to take it easy by the pool, in the hot tub or in the hammocks under our majestic 100-year-old trees.

Spa & Fitness: There is no on-site spa or fitness center, but with all of the amazing outdoor activities and fresh air, you won’t need them.

Location: The ranch is nestled in the foothills of the Bradshaw Mountains on the banks of the Hassayampa River in the spectacular Sonoran Desert. The climate here includes bi-seasonal rainfall, making it one of the lushest deserts, with giant cacti, short trees and a great variety of shrubbery and animal life. You may want to head down the road to the historic downtown of Wickenburg. Tourism led to the development of guest ranches, with as many at 14 operating in the 1950s and 1960s when Wickenburg was billed as the “Dude Ranch Capitol of the World.”

Closest Airport: The nearest major airport is Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX/KPHX). The airport has international and domestic flights and is 69 miles from the center of Wickenburg, AZ. Another airport is Prescott Municipal Airport, Ernest A. Love Field (PRC/KPRC), which has domestic flights and is 70 miles from Wickenburg, AZ.

Children’s Programs: No. Although the ranch welcomes children, there are no supervised children’s programs. Trail riding starts with children 5 years and older. Each child is assessed for individual ability.

Pet Friendly: No. Pets are not allowed at this property.

Weddings: Yes. The ranch is a great place for a wedding!

Meetings: Yes. Kay El Bar Guest Ranch is the perfect location for a team-building retreat for your employees, or an employee plus family getaway. At its small size, a full ranch buyout is possible, and they can accommodate up to 25 guests. Varied packages can include lodging, meals and ranch activities. There is a pool on the premises and golf courses nearby.

Extra Info: There’s a social hour every evening in the lodge; it’s a great way to swap stories and mingle with fellow guests and wranglers. In addition to the stunning landscape, you may also spot some of the local wildlife. Keep a lookout for the desert tortoise, jackrabbit, or banded gecko. You may even catch a glimpse of a coyote or Gila monster.

www.kayelbar.com