Elkhorn Ranch Arizona
Elkhorn Ranch Arizona
Currently recruiting for the season from October 5th, 2026 to May 2nd, 2027.
We are a winter season guest ranch (Nov-April) in the rugged Baboquivari Mountains southwest of Tucson, AZ that provides personalized horseback riding, hiking & comfortable living for about 32 guests. The Millers have owned and operated Elkhorn continuously since 1945. We hire about 20 people for seasonal jobs from October 5, 2026 through May 2, 2027.
Rural ranching country about 50 miles from Tucson, Arizona at the base of the Baboquivari Mountains in the heart of the Sonoran Desert. Ranch headquarters located at the end of a 7 mile dirt road. Great hiking, horseback riding and birding right at the ranch. City life and many outdoor adventures within a couple of hours drive into Tucson and the surrounding region.
- Location
- Arizona
- Season
- Spring, Fall, and Winter
- Staff size
- 22
- Housing
- Whether included in the compensation package or provided at a cost, housing is provided for staff.
- Housing details
- Private furnished room, shared bathroom, linens provided
- Family housing available
- No
- Single occupancy housing available
- Yes
- Pet friendly
- Yes
- Meals
- Provided
- Cell phone service
- Some, ask for details
- Internet access
- Good
About Elkhorn Ranch Arizona
WINTER SEASON JOBS AT ELKHORN RANCH IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA
Join a family owned and operated business in its 81th season. You'll live and work in an exceptionally beautiful rural location on the eastern slopes of the Baboquivari Mountains, about 50 miles southwest of Tucson, Arizona. The crew gathers in October to open the ranch – a time for getting to know the fellow crew, our family, and the ways of the ranch. Guests arrive in mid-November and the season ends in late April or early May. You'll have your own private furnished room with linens provided as well as all meals ~ no commute, no rent! Enjoying the outdoors and rural living is important – if you need city life, we're not the place for you.
The first generation of Millers opened their first guest ranch in Montana in 1922 and launched the Arizona Elkhorn Ranch in 1945. The ranch is owned and operated by Miller family members. Conservation and sustainable grazing practices are cornerstones of our operation, and we take pride in our herd of over a hundred ranch raised and trained horses. We work closely with ranching neighbors through an organization called Altar Valley Conservation Alliance.
What is special about Elkhorn Ranch? We think it is our personalized approach ~ whether on rides, in our cabins, or in the dining room. Plus we have a beautiful setting and friendly horses and a wonderful cadre of returning guests of all ages. We do our best to apply the same personalized touch to working with our crew. We strive to work closely with our crew to model the family-style hospitality that is the essence of traditional guest ranching. We aim for an environment that's all about friendly horses, friendly people, and beautiful country.
Elkhorn Ranch offers an unusual privilege in that we allow crew to have pets on the ranch, but you must tell us about your pets during the application process and you must abide by our pet policy. (Unfortunately, our insurance company has required that we do not permit certain dog breeds—Akita, American Staffordshire terrier, Bullmastiff, Chow Chow, Doberman pinscher, German Shepard, Husky, Malamute, Pit Bull, Press Canario, Rottweiler, and Wolf hybrid—on the ranch.) Pets must be declared at time of hiring and are allowed subject to meeting the requirements of the pet policy.
The Employee Experience
It is quiet here, well away from town. If you need daily Starbucks, we're not the place for you. If you can go weeks without driving your car, you'll be right at home. If you like the outdoors, hiking, peace, and quiet – you'll love it. If you seek a horseback guiding position, you'll find rugged and scenic country, good horses to learn from and teach, and traditional western cowboy culture.
Our crew ranges in age from 20ish to 50ish. As a winter operation, the crew does not tend to be a college student crowd -- though we always have people in their early 20s on the crew. The social dynamics vary year-to-year depending on the crowd, but the nearest bar is a solid hour away and evenings are often quiet. People make their own fun -- movie nights, campfires, games, puzzles. The crew are welcome to attend all ranch social functions, and usually, there's some sort of ranch supported crew social function about once a month.
One of the biggest differences between Elkhorn Ranch AZ and many seasonal jobs is the long season. In comparison to summer seasons, we are barely hitting our stride in mid-January after the crew has been here for about 3 months. We often say that our season is more of a marathon in comparison to the sprint of a summer season. Some people find this very difficult, particularly if they work back to back seasons without any break in between.
We aim to treat our crew well here. We take maintenance of crew housing seriously, do our best to have plenty of good food available, and strive to be fair and supportive when issues and challenges come up. We encourage people to value each others' privacy (which can be difficult in close quarters). We aim to treat people like adults and trust that they will behave accordingly. Most of all, we strive to work closely with our crew to model the family-style hospitality that is the essence of traditional guest ranching.
Ideal Candidate
An ideal Elkhorn Ranch crew candidate could range in age from 18 to 50ish. As a winter season place, we don't work well for people actively enrolled in school ~ though some people have accomplished flexible online coursework. Here are some qualities that we think suit our operation...
Work and life experience in hospitality and outdoor recreation, livestock-oriented agriculture and/or horse-related outdoor recreation
A true commitment to working the entire season
Genuine enjoyment of rural living ~ if you need city life to be happy, we're not the place for you
Physical and emotional wellness
Ranch life is physically demanding, with long days and at least some heavy lifting for all jobs. Must be willing and able to lift a minimum of 50 pounds (think of a saddle, 50-pound bag of flour, heavy cast iron skillets, team lifting furniture, etc.)
If you have medical challenges, keep in mind that town (Tucson) is 50 miles away so it can be challenging to get care
Hobbies or interests that you can enjoy living out here ~ outdoor activities, interest in the natural world, music, art, reading
Overall, you're a team player who has demonstrated your ability to get along with other people both during work and off-hours;
Be punctual, reliable, and get the assigned job done;
Keep a positive attitude with guests and co-workers; and
Be willing to help out occasionally in areas outside your usual job
For some jobs, we require that you have an active driver's license approved by our insurance company
Room and Board
Housing and food (aka room and board) are a valuable addition to your compensation (equivalent to approximately $5 per hour) ~ enjoy no rent, no utilities, and no grocery shopping! You will receive a paycheck every other week via direct deposit. There is no direct tipping at Elkhorn Ranch, rather a service charge is automatically added to guests’ bills. These funds are distributed as part of each regular paycheck and the remainder is distributed to all crew present at the end of the season as a final bonus.
You will have your own private room plus bed linens and towels and and share a bathroom with 1 or 2 people. Some rooms require walking outside briefly to a separate building with a bathroom and shower.
Washers and dryers for crew use are located in the kitchen area and the maintenance shop area. Laundry machine use and detergent are free. Clothes lines are readily available or the dryers take $.75 per load.
The crew dining room is separate from the guest room, and has an attached TV / video room. A designated crew internet account provides WIFI around the crew dining room via Starlink.
You'll have three meals per day. You can order your favorite breakfast classic ~ eggs any style, bacon or sausage, pancakes, etc. Lunch and supper are balanced and bountiful. Crew eat the same meals as guests, plus leftovers. Thursday night margaritas and steaks are a highlight!
Please note that if you work in the kitchen / dining room areas, you will often be working during crew meals. You will have meals, but you’ll need to adapt your eating schedule to your job!
The Elkhorn kitchen works hard to accommodate crew and guest food allergies and preferences. We cannot promise crew a vegan menu on a daily basis. We are happy to talk with you about your individual needs and will give you an honest answer about our ability to meet your needs.
Employee Perks
- Beautiful sunrises
- Beautiful sunsets and star-filled night sky
- Lots of time in the saddle for horseback guides on good horses! And the opportunity to ride during your free time for all crew as the guest schedule allows
- Weekly margaritas and steak dinner
- Great hiking just out your door
- Lots of birds – start your life list
- Reduced rates with the massage therapist that comes out to the ranch
- Amazing library of books and videos, puzzles and games – plus a swimming pool, tennis / pickleball / basketball court, and pingpong
- Participate in creative workshops offered periodically during your free time ~ photography, music, art
- Good internet provided by Starlink
- Financial assistance for medical insurance your 2nd year and beyond
Getting Here and Getting Around
Most of the crew prefer having their own vehicle. During our long season, it can be refreshing to be able to leave the ranch on your day off. We certainly have had many people work here who do not have cars, and we are happy to help purchase occasional staples for the crew on the weekly town run. That said, it can be very difficult to feel dependent on the ranch or fellow employees for transportation. If you have medical or other needs that require frequent town visits, you definitely should have your own wheels.
If you do choose to be here without your own vehicle, we are happy to pick you up at the Tucson airport or elsewhere in Tucson.
Tucson is a big biking community, but at the ranch, you'll be in a rural environment that is not suitable for road bikes. The ranch road is ok for mountain biking, but we discourage mountain biking on the ranch trails due to conflicts with the horse program. If you're an avid biker, there are many places you can go on your day off.
For Fun
The Sonoran Desert is the land of saguaros ~ the iconic cacti with arms. The winter sunshine sure feels good! At Elkhorn you are in the heart of it.
Elkhorn is known for its individualized horseback riding program and ranch-raised horses. If you are a horseback guide, you’ll get lots of saddle time on good horses in rugged, interesting country. All the crew have the chance to ride in their free time and this is a great place to learn.
Tucson was designated a City of Gastronomy in 2015 due to its 4,000+ year of agricultural history in the region, the confluence of cultures, the huge breadth of food-related businesses, festivals, activism, and research that exist here today. There’s LOTS to do! Our family favorite is the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
Reaching activities off the ranch does take some driving time ~ but you can always hike right from the door of your room, spend time at the pool, or join a horseback ride.
Current Job Openings
During pre-season opening, work with other crew to do floor to ceiling cleaning (including refinishing floors) of ranch buildings and common areas, which includes strenuous physical work in hot weather and significant amounts of lifting and bending
Staff the ranch office which includes: handling phone and email communications, handling radio communications with horseback and hiking guides (which can involve assisting with emergency situation logistics), taking reservations and preparing invoices, stocking and tidying the ranch store, tidying the cloths and boot lending, cleaning the office, filing and other general office work, and generally providing information and assistance to ranch guests and crew.
Produce and update guests lists that are providing to the different ranch departments to guide day-to-day ranch operations and guide the personalized vacation experience that Elkhorn provides and update the ranch database with new information gathered during guests' visits
Provide general administrative assistance as needed
Be prepared to participate in cross-training for other departments and work in a different role as needed
Communicate questions and problems promptly
Maintain tidiness and cleanliness of work areas, storage areas and tools and supplies
Maintain personal tidiness and cleanliness and abide by attire requirements during work and off hours
Get along with immediate co-workers, and other staff with whom you share living and dining space
Read and respect information provided in Crew Handbook and Workplace Notes
Two years of work in hospitality or other settings where customer service is a top priority
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, attention to detail, and proficiency using computers and working with various software programs
A clean driver's license that is acceptable to the ranch insurance program
Available to work complete guest ranch season, including weekends and holidays
Willingness to live and work at remote location and get along with co-workers during work time and off-work time
Responsible for morning baking as defined by menus and ranch recipes; this includes fresh breakfast bread, three varieties of cookies for lunch, whole wheat, white and cinnamon raisin bread used for breakfast toast as needed
Prep ingredients for and execute short-order breakfast for crew and guests
Perform prep duties to support lunch and dinner
Execute all three meals as defined by menus on the head cook's day off (and vice versa)
Practice and monitor kitchen and food safety according to ranch guidance, based on Pima County regulations
Keep track of supplies and add items to town list for weekly town run
Communicate questions and problems promptly
Maintain tidiness and cleanliness of work areas, storage areas and tools and supplies
Maintain personal tidiness and cleanliness and abide by attire requirements during work and off hours
Get along with immediate co-workers, and other staff with whom you share living and dining space
Read and respect information provided in Crew Handbook and Workplace Notes
Two years of culinary and/or hospitality work and/or relevant educational experience
Available to work complete guest ranch season, including weekends and holidays
Willingness to live and work at remote location and get along with co-workers during work time and off-work time
Coordinate with ranch owner to execute rotational menu concepts that embrace ranch traditions and new concepts and allow adaptation to meet dietary preferences
Advise and coordinate with breakfast cook / baker and coordinate with front of house staff
Establish and monitor prep plans on a weekly and daily basis, that respond to guest and crew dietary preferences, leftover utilization opportunities, weather, and guest ages
Execute lunch and supper daily for guests and crew, and all three meals on the breakfast cook / baker's day off
Practice and monitor kitchen and food safety according to ranch guidance, based on Pima County regulations
Coordinate closely with ranch office to plan purchasing and keep track of supplies and add items to town list for weekly town run (note that the office conducts a weekly supply inventory and executes all purchasing)
Communicate questions and problems to ranch office promptly
Maintain tidiness and cleanliness of work areas, storage areas and tools and supplies
Maintain personal tidiness and cleanliness and abide by attire requirements during work and off hours
Get along with immediate co-workers, and other staff with whom you share living and dining space
Read and respect information provided in Crew Handbook and Workplace Notes
Three years of work cooking in professional food and beverage setting
Supervisory experience ideal, but not required
Available to work complete guest ranch season, including weekends and holidays
Willingness to live and work at remote location and get along with co-workers during work time and off-work time
During pre-season opening, work with team outdoor grounds-keeping which includes strenuous physical work in hot weather and significant amounts of lifting and bending; and do portions of normal kitchen assistant role
Ring meal bells according to ranch schedule
For each meal in crew room: check that buffet and table clean and stocked with necessary tableware, napkins, condiments; assist cook or chef with setting up buffet in crew room; and clean up following meals
Perform daily and weekly kitchen cleaning and hand washing of pots according to schedule provided by ranch
Supply storage area organization, cleaning and rotation
Serve from buffet according to weekly schedule and/or when needed
Assist breakfast cook or chef as needed with food prep or projects occasionally or at high production times such as holidays
Keep track of supplies and add items to town list for weekly town run
Learn and practice food and kitchen safety guidance provided by ranch, including handwashing and glove wearing
Communicate questions and problems to Person in Charge of Kitchen and/or Miller family promptly
Maintain tidiness and cleanliness of work areas, storage areas and tools and supplies
Maintain personal tidiness and cleanliness and abide by attire requirements during work and off hours
Get along with immediate co-workers, and other staff with whom you share living and dining space
Read and respect information provided in Crew Handbook and Workplace Notes
1 year work experience and willingness to work hard and learn
Available to work complete guest ranch season, including weekends and holidays
Willingness to live and work at remote location and get along with co-workers during work time and off-work time
During pre-season opening, work with other crew to do floor to ceiling cleaning (including refinishing floors) of ranch buildings and common areas, which includes strenuous physical work in hot weather and significant amounts of lifting and bending
Set up dining room buffet and tables, serve guests, and clean up for breakfast, lunch and supper shifts according to timing and work checklists provided by ranch
Complete kitchen, dining room, and outdoor furniture cleaning (including kitchen bathroom) and prep chores according to timing and work checklists provided by ranch
Check all furnishings, lighting, and fireplaces in guest dining room and outdoor patio eating area, ensuring they are tidy and set up correctly for each meal and according to the weather each day
Rotate between serving roles according to schedule provided by ranch
Learn guests’ first names and any special needs (provided by ranch office or informed upon arrival) and provide for the special needs throughout guests’ visits
Learn and practice food and kitchen safety guidance provided by ranch, including handwashing and glove wearing
Be prepared to participate in cross-training for other departments and work in a different role as needed
Communicate questions and problems promptly
Maintain tidiness and cleanliness of work areas, storage areas and tools and supplies
Maintain personal tidiness and cleanliness and abide by attire requirements during work and off hours
Get along with immediate co-workers, and other staff with whom you share living and dining space
Read and respect information provided in Crew Handbook and Workplace Notes
One year of work in hospitality
Available to work complete guest ranch season, including weekends and holidays
Willingness to live and work at remote location and get along with co-workers during work time and off-work time
During pre-season opening, work with other crew to do floor to ceiling cleaning (including refinishing floors) of ranch buildings and common areas, which includes strenuous physical work in hot weather and significant amounts of lifting and bending.
Complete daily and weekly housekeeping services for up to 20 guest cabins and ranch and crew common spaces according to standards provided by ranch
Complete evening bed turn-down service
Complete more extensive changeover cleaning according to standards provided by ranch between guest visits
Provide laundry service for guests upon request within time parameters provided by ranch
Complete ranch and dining room laundry according to schedule provided by ranch
Be prepared to participate in cross-training for other departments and work in a different role as needed
Communicate questions and problems promptly
Maintain tidiness and cleanliness of work areas, storage areas and tools and supplies
Maintain personal tidiness and cleanliness and abide by attire requirements during work and off hours
Get along with immediate co-workers, and other staff with whom you share living and dining space
Read and respect information provided in Crew Handbook and Workplace Notes
One year of work in hospitality
Available to work complete guest ranch season, including weekends and holidays
Willingness to live and work at remote location and get along with co-workers during work time and off-work time
During the first few weeks of pre-season opening, work with team to clear trails, which can include strenuous physical work in hot weather and significant amounts of time working on foot leading horse, and horseshoeing (with instruction and mentoring provided)
Learn ranch trails, pastures and place names for use during morning wrangle, guiding guest rides and ranch work
Learn saddle horse names and gain familiarity with their traits and personalities
Work as team to gather horses during the morning wrangle calmly and safely in timely fashion
Catch saddle horses with assigned bridle and the guest’s assigned saddle, and guide horse, and observe for health or lameness concerns, brush, saddle and check tack in time for ride departures
Check tack again, adjust cinch and assist guests with mounting (from mounting block) and containing their gear (cameras, water bottles, jackets), provide coaching or brief instruction as appropriate, and maintain control of horse from ground until guest is settled in saddle and ready to assume control ~ request help from co-workers for difficult mounting situations
Lead and maintain control of guest rides to assigned location at gait appropriate to terrain and instructions; provide guests with instruction as needed and upon request, with particular attention on guests’ first day riding; and contribute to guests’ enjoyment of their riding experience
Take responsibility for horse and guest safety and any first aid or emergency situation, and use radio communication to ranch office to request support as appropriate
Monitor and assist with guests’ dismount after ride, unsaddling, brushing and returning horses to corral
Take responsibility for riding horses assigned to you to the best of your ability and ask questions and seek help developing the horses’ and your own skills
Work as a team and as assigned on daily barnyard or ranch chores such as barnyard cleaning, feeding, doctoring, tack repair, horseshoeing, trail or fence work etc.
Observe and report issues with horses, guests or ranch infrastructure (fencing, gates, water, trails, etc.) as soon as possible
Read and respect information provided in Crew Handbook and Workplace Notes, including:
Maintain tidiness and cleanliness of work areas, storage areas, tools and supplies
Keep tools and supplies in WORKING ORDER AND DO NOT LOSE
Maintain personal tidiness and cleanliness and abide by attire requirements during work and off hours
Get along with immediate co-workers, and other staff with whom you share living and dining space
Minimum of three years of professional work and/or relevant western horseback riding experience in livestock agriculture or horse related recreation
Professional guiding experience strongly preferred
Horseshoeing training and/or entry level work experience preferred
Available to work complete guest ranch season, including weekends and holidays
Willingness to live and work at remote location and get along with co-workers during work time and off-work time
Life and/or professional experience with hospitality and/or outdoor recreation
Life and/or professional experience with gardening/landscaping and construction trades
Brings significant curiosity to the job and invests in learning about and sharing information about the Sonoran Desert and the ranch environment
Ability and willingness to drive guests for airport runs and do errands in Tucson and must have a clean driving record and maintain a clean record during the period of employment
Ability to use and maintain hand tools (rakes, shovels, clippers) and vehicles proficiently and safely ~ proficiency with mechanical tools optional, but ideal
General comfort and competency outdoors coupled with physical strength and stamina and dexterity and ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions, stoop and bend, and lift heavy objects repeatedly and overhead
Ability to be flexible, adaptable, and willing to work independently, as well as with the overall ranch team
Ability to learn quickly and willingness to work in all departments (except horseback guiding) occasionally and/or to fill unexpected gaps
Tidy and clean work habits and care about work tools and work environment
Friendly, professional, positive attitude, and team-oriented
Genuine dedication to hospitality and caring for people and the environment where they live and work
Minimum of two years of professional work in hospitality with an outdoor recreation focus and/or minimum of two years of professional work in landscaping, groundskeeping, and/or construction trades
Valid drivers’ license, approved for addition to the Elkhorn Ranch insurance policy by ranch insurance agent
Available to fulfill seasonal commitment from October 2024 through early May 2025 which includes working on weekends and holidays and working 6 days a week with one regularly scheduled day off
Willingness to live and work at remote location and get along with co-workers during work time and off-work time
HOSPITALITY
Guest Services Coordinator
Position Summary
The guest services coordinator works primarily in the office providing friendly and personalized customer service to guests and crew. The ranch office fills many roles at Elkhorn: Communication hub for the ranch operation; reception, concierge and help desk for guests; the ranch store and clothing and boot lending area; and business office for the ranch operation. This role involves producing many work products to guide ranch operations, as well as being a front line contact with guests. In general, the function of the ranch office is to do the work necessary to provide the personalized hospitality that is core of the Elkhorn experience. In addition, this person needs to be adaptable and willing to occasionally work in other departments to cover shifts and/or help with unexpected situations, including driving guests or doing errands in Tucson.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)
HOSPITALITY ~ Food and Beverage
Breakfast Cook / Baker
Position Summary
The breakfast cook / baker bakes fresh breakfast bread and cookies daily, prepares short-order breakfast for all ranch guests and crew, performs prep duties related to all meals, and covers the head cook’s day off for all three meals. This position works from the early morning through lunch, with the exception of the head cook’s day off when all three meals are covered.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)
Head Cook
Position Summary
The head cook executes all aspects of the culinary program for the ranch, with primary focus on lunch and supper meals. During parts of the day they will serve as person in charge of the kitchen. This position is responsible for coordination with ranch owners to execute menus and coordinate presentation with front of house staff. The chef executes lunch and supper for guests and crew on a daily basis as well as executing all three meals on the breakfast cook / baker's day off (and vice versa).
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)
Must be able to start work October 1, 2026 and the position goes until May 2, 2027.
Kitchen Assistant
Position Summary
The Kitchen Assistant takes care of the crew dining room and performs daily and weekly kitchen cleaning and organizing chores, including washing pots and other kitchen tools that require hand washing.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)
Server
Position Summary
Two servers provide dining room service for ranch guests during breakfast, lunch, and supper daily, in addition to performing related back of house cleaning and prep chores, including washing dishes and pots. Shifts are scheduled around meal times with set-up time before the meal and cleaning and side work time after.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)
HOSPITALITY ~ Housekeeping
Housekeeper
Position Summary
Housekeepers provide daily housekeeping and laundry service for 20 guest cabins and ranch and crew common spaces. During the morning shift, all cabins and common areas are cleaned according to ranch procedures. Typical tasks for the afternoon shift include laundry and changing over unoccupied cabins. The evening shift involves visiting cabins during guest dinner to turn on lights, turn down beds, and the like.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)
LAND AND LIVESTOCK
Horseback Guide
Horseback guides care for a herd of 100+ saddlehorses and breeding stock, guide horseback rides for ranch guests, and do barnyard and ranch work to support the overall guest and ranch operation. Horseshoeing and developing horses for guest use is part of the job as well. This is a great job for someone who appreciates interesting, rugged country and the opportunity to spend many hours in the saddle. This is NOT an entry-level guiding job. We have a 250 pound weight limit for all riders ~ guides must not push this limit. Guides wear western attire consisting of a cowboy hat, tucked in button down or snap shirt, jeans in good repair, and western style cowboy boots (with smooth sole, heel, and no laces).
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)
PHYSICAL PLANT & EQUIPMENT
Hiking Guide / Grounds / Floater
The hiking guide is responsible organizing and leading guest hikes ranging from less than an hour to all day, for people of all ages and abilities. The hiking guide carries first aid supplies, extra provisions, and a radio to provide for a safe and pleasurable experience. The guide decides upon routes and pace to fit the hiking experience to the group.
The hiking guide role is usually not full-time, so the this role also supports the maintenance/grounds work load of the ranch and serves as a floater to fill shifts in different departments or in unexpected circumstances. In the maintenance/grounds areas, tasks would include (but not be limited to): hauling garbage, filling woodboxes, groundskeeping, and/or other tasks depending on the person's skillset. Floater duties would include: guest driving, other town driving and errands, kitchen chores, covering the office, and other duties as assigned.
This is a great job for someone who enjoys the outdoors and time with people and who likes learning new things and helping out wherever needed. There is not a uniform but there are attire guidelines for all of our crew that will be reviewed during the interview process.
Attributes of an Ideal Candidate
Qualifications
How to Apply
An overview of our hiring and job offer process:
Active recruiting takes place beginning in June and July and continues until all positions are filled.
Returning crew confirm their plans in July.
For the best chance of success, try to apply by August 1st.
All applications are reviewed.
Additional information is gathered on a smaller sub-set via interviews, reference checks, and requests for supplemental materials.
Note that background checks may be performed prior to a job offer and/or a conditional job offer may be made, pending a clean background check. In either case, you would be notified prior to the background and asked to complete a Consumer Report Authorization Form.
Job offers will include a copy of the Elkhorn Ranch employee manual and handbook for review prior to accepting the offered job. Please note that this manual includes a policy concerning drug and alcohol use and does allow for testing when circumstances warrant.
Job offers for people who wish to bring a pet would include the pet policy.
If we do not have a position available for you, we do our best to let you know within a reasonable time frame. If you would like to know the status of your application, we prefer that you check in by email.
Mid-season hires:
If jobs become open during the guest season, we look at applications held in our files. We may also post openings again on CoolWorks. If you see a job advertised mid-season that interests you, please contact us to let us know of your interest. We keep applications on file until May 1st.
To apply:
Complete the online application form available by clicking on Apply Here below.
We strongly encourage you to provide a resume ~ you can attach it to your application.
Professional references are required. Make sure that contact information is up to date. If we can't reach people we will quickly give up on your application.
Please use the CoolWorks communication forum to send any additional supplemental materials.
Please note that it is very important to let us know the dates when you will be available. We expect crew to arrive in early October 2026 (or on negotiated date for mid-season hires) and the seasonal commitment runs through the beginning of May 2027.
Contact Info
- Miller Family
- office@elkhornranch.com
- (520) 822-1040
- elkhornranch.com
