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Sundance Trail Guest Ranch

So you want to work on a Dude Ranch?

Sundance Trail has a special feeling - The feeling is “home.” We are a small guest ranch near Red Feather Lakes (37 miles northwest of Fort Collins). We border Roosevelt National Forest and sit at 8000 feet and welcome up to 24 guests a week into our home.

Clowning around at Sundance Trail Ranch

Being small allows us to give each guest our personal attention, to make their vacation meet or exceed their expectations, whether it’s the riding, the food, the lodging, the service or any the other activities here on the ranch. Our guests feel right at home here – but spoiled at the same time. That is why a dude ranch vacation is often the best family vacation they will ever experience. That is our goal to make this happen for every person/family that comes to our ranch.

Since we hold this high expectation for the quality of service that our guests receive, we have high expectations for our employees. We are looking for employees that are warm, outgoing, and have strong communication and interpersonal skills. They must not be afraid of long hours and hard work. All positions require employees that are organized, willing to take initiative and pay close attention to detail. Employees must get along well with others, work well as part of a team, and must have a "can do" attitude. We hire happy people!

Our Jobs

Summer Dude Ranch Kitchen Staff

Don’t listen to those wranglers! YOU are the most important part of our ranch!

Some of the most important memories that we want to create for our guests are meal memories. We eat in the dining room, in the back yard, and on the trail. We serve “hearty western fare family style,” which can include lots of vegetables and salads as well as meat and potatoes. Because Ellen and Dan are both RN’s we see many guests who have therapeutic diets or allergies.

The kitchen staff is a group of five people who have high energy and good humor. Psychosis is not an obstacle to working in the kitchen, although active drinking problems will get you sent on your way. Kitchen and housekeeping staff typically works forty-five hours per week over six days.

Summer Kitchen Staff responsibilities include:

Preparing hearty western meals for 20-25 hungry guests and 10 – 16 hungry staff (about 40 total).
Serving meals family style; in dining room, on front porch, at picnic tables, and on the trail.
Baking enormous amounts of desserts and cookies daily.
Preparing therapeutic and/or special diets (with management support) as needed.
Managing and maintains food and supplies inventories (shops for groceries).
Regularly reviewing and assuring compliance with all Health Department Safety Standards and rules.
Maintaining a spotless clean kitchen, including washing dishes, pots, and pans.
Helping little kids get eggs from the hen-house.
Helping wranglers, maintenance persons, and managers do whatever needs to get done to provide guests with a safe and delightful ranch experience.
Telling endless jokes and humorous stories.

There are five staff that share these kitchen duties:

Kitchen Manager/THE Cook (the Boss)
Breakfast Cook/Prep Cook
Dining Room Steward/Dishwasher
Kangaroo #1/Housekeeper/Dishwasher/Other skill #1
Kangaroo #2/ Housekeeper/Dishwasher/Other skill #2

Click here for detailed job descriptions and requirements.

Room and Board

Lodging is provided in bunkhouse style. Small refrigerators are provided for personal food/beverage items. The ranch provides linens and towels. Laundry facilities are available at no charge. Sundance Trail has limited satellite WI-FI if you choose to bring a laptop. (email and web surfing are okay; music, video and games are not) Cell phone service is spotty, but most staff can find a location that works. Short long-distance calls may be made on the main ranch line.

Sometimes a staff person may elect to sleep in a small camper instead of the bunkhouse, this may be negotiated prior to accepting a position.

Food is plentiful and delicious, and we encourage all staff to eat with our guests. Meals are served family style. This is a time of fellowship and of course story-telling.

Perks

Compensation consists of hourly pay and tips as well as the value of lodging and meals. Actual amounts will depend upon position and how delighted the guests are each week. Paychecks are distributed every two weeks.

Horseback at Sundance Trail Ranch

Working at a guest ranch can be hard work, but it’s also a great deal of fun. You will have the opportunity to meet people from across the country and around the world.

Getting Here and Getting Around

We encourage staff to bring a vehicle. It is not necessary but gives you the freedom to get off the ranch on your days off. There is some gorgeous country to see and explore while you are here. Ranch vehicles are for ranch purposes only.

If you fly, we will gladly arrange to pick you up at Denver International Airport.

For Fun

view from a hike Staff may join in on any ranch activity, it may be an assigned duty, or on their days off, or after chores are completed. These activities may include: Horseback riding, hiking, biking, rock-climbing, Frisbee disc golf, fishing, riflery, archery to name a few. Maybe you want to try white-water rafting, climbing a fourteener or visit Rocky Mountain National Park while you are here . And don't forget the rodeo! There are many opportunities.

How to Apply

Apply Now

On the employment pages of our website you will find detailed job descriptions, expectations and our application. You will find lots more about the culture of of Sundance Trail on our Secret Staff Page. The password is 9702241222 which is our phone number and is printed right there on the page!

If you believe this is the place for you, please submit your application by email, fax, snailmail or pony express.

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