Summer Ranch Jobs in Colorado's Rocky Mountains
Family owned and operated for over 40 years, Drowsy Water Ranch is an award-winning dude ranch. We take pride in providing great programing from our herd of over 120 horses, to our counseled, outdoor-focused children's programs, to our hearty and healthy meals. Our goal is to make each guest feel part of the family and to give them an unforgettable western vacation experience.
A two-hour drive from Denver, Drowsy Water Ranch sits at the base of the Continental Divide near Granby.
About Drowsy Water Ranch
Family owned and operated for over forty years, we see our staff as an extension of the family. Each week, we welcome 50-60 guests that stay with us for an all-inclusive week at a genuine western ranch. Our guests are mostly families that come from all over the U.S. and the world to enjoy our quaint ranch's focus on family and outdoor fun. We have our own private valley and a full schedule of activities to entertain our guests. We have top-notch horseback riding with a herd of over 120 horses and a complete horse program that teaches western riding. We have counseled activities for children from infants thru 13 years old, guided hikes and mountain bikes, a raft trip, a zip line, and fishing. We serve three hearty meals each day, have daily housekeeping service, and nightly entertainment.
We expect our staff to work as hard as we do, from early morning round-up or breakfast service to late-night entertainment clean-up; our staff is crucial in providing a quality experience to our guests. A vacation at Drowsy Water is truly magical for our guests; we get letters all the time from guests saying it was their best vacation ever. Our staff's hard work and genuine interest in the ranch and its guests are what make the magic possible.
The Employee Experience
Each summer, we hire around 25 staff members that live and work on the ranch. Throughout the summer, staff members have the opportunity to meet incredible people from all over the world, spend time outdoors in Colorado's Rocky Mountains, and learn the value of hard work, teamwork, and friendships. We, the owners, all live and work on the ranch as well and are never going to ask a staff member to do anything we can't or won't do. We value hard work here at Drowsy Water Ranch, and we all are willing to work until a job is done, not until a certain time. We also value service and are willing to give our guests more than they expect.
Staff enjoy spending time outside, exploring our area, and getting to know other staff and guests throughout the summer. We encourage staff to take part in the horseback riding program and to enjoy the mountains around us. We are secluded in our private mountain valley that sits on about 600 acres, but we are only about 10 miles from the closest town and only about a two-hour drive to Denver so you can get almost anything you need without too much hassle.
At the end of each summer, we have staff that wants to come back again the next summer. The staff that wants to come back are those that like to work hard, enjoy the outdoors, and enjoy going above and beyond to provide outstanding service for guests.
Ideal Candidate
Self-motivated individuals that enjoy leading and motivating others with hard work and a positive attitude are the most successful employees at Drowsy Water. We look for individuals that enjoy the rewards of hard work and working as a team and are willing to do more than is expected on a daily basis.
Staff live and work with each other for around four months. In that time, they form relationships that often last a lifetime. Staff members that get the most out of working at DWR are those that take an interest in our guests. Spending time with other staff is great, but spending time, even free time, with the guests is often more rewarding in the long run.
While we have some internet and cell phone coverage, we find that staff who prefer spending time outdoors and exploring our beautiful surrounding mountains are those that get the most out of their time at DWR.
Room and Board
Staff accommodations are bunkhouse or dormitory-type rooms. Typically, 2-3 people per room (male and female separate) with shared bathrooms. Bedding is provided for those that are flying in and don't have room to bring their own. We do provide staff laundry services free of charge weekly.
Staff meals are typically the same as our guests and are provided 3 times daily in a separate staff dining room. Snacks and refreshments are always available. Special dietary needs can be accommodated.
Employee Perks
Along with working in a beautiful location and meeting great people from around the world our staff are compensated with an hourly wage plus an equal share of ranch gratuities. Many of the positions work an average of 35-55 hours per week depending on position and we do pay overtime. Our staff also save during the summer by having low costs for housing, food, commuting, and laundry facilities.
We have quick access to some of the best hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding in the state.
Getting Here and Getting Around
The majority of our staff either drive themselves to the ranch, fly into Denver and take a shuttle, or ride AMTRAK to Granby, Colorado. Granby is the closest town to the ranch and has a grocery store, gas stations, restaurants, etc. Denver is the closest major city and is about a two hour drive. If you do not drive yourself to the ranch and need anything from town, you are more than welcome to ride along with the "town run" which is daily or to carpool with other staff members.
For Fun
Along with all the ranch activities and amenities (horseback riding, rafting, pool, hot tub etc) we recommend staff enjoy the beautiful area and surrounding areas on their time off. We have thousands of places to hike, mountain bike and fish in the area including Winter Park, Grand Lake and Rocky Mountain National Park.
How to Apply
- Do you enjoy people and like to serve people?
- Do you value hard work?
- Are you flexible and willing to learn?
- Do you want to help give our guests the best vacation ever?
If you answer the above questions YES, and if you feel you are an honest, friendly, and hard working person, then we'd like to hear from you!
Please complete and submit our online application.