Red Horse Mountain Ranch
Red Horse Mountain Ranch
Currently recruiting for the season from July 1st, 2026 to October 3rd, 2026.
Glad you are visiting our employment page! The team at Red Horse Mountain Ranch is the #1 reason our guests choose us to visit. We hope you can join our world class crew in the Idaho mountains this summer.
Idaho has mountains? Yes! The ranch is in a private mountain valley near Lake Coeur d Alene. We are 1.5 hour drive from the Spokane International Airport, 1 hour from the city of Coeur d’Alene, ID, and 15 minutes from the small lake town of Harrison.
- Location
- Idaho
- Season
- Summer and Fall
- Staff size
- 30-38
- Housing
- Whether included in the compensation package or provided at a cost, housing is provided for staff.
- Housing details
- On-Site Housing in a dorm style house. Most are 2 people per room, with some exceptions.
- Family housing available
- No
- Single occupancy housing available
- No
- Pet friendly
- No
- Meals
- Provided
- Cell phone service
- Some, ask for details
- Internet access
- Intermittent
About Red Horse Mountain Ranch
Red Horse Mountain Ranch is a 600 acre dude ranch in northern Idaho, surrounded by endless mountains and wooded public land our team gets to explore. The ranch is one of the last rare spots, kept secluded and safe in a mountain valley, and we want to share that with our team. We have 38 team members in the summer and 10 in the off-season, about 50 guests per week, and a herd of about 105 horses.
The Ranch's Purpose, Mission, Vision, and Core Values
We hope to help people connect to the simple joys of life by fostering authentic and memorable life moments during their time here. We hope people leave the ranch holding a clearer understanding of what is important to them.
No matter our roles here, we are all about the people, have positive attitudes, push ourselves, and are proud of this place!
Basic Requirements For All Positions
Red Horse Mountain Ranch is currently accepting applicants who value learning new things and hard work, like to laugh, and are not grumpy! Other requirements are: a current and valid driver’s license, being able to lift 50 pounds, working a 45-50 hour work week, being drug-free, being authorized to work in the USA, and being at least 21 years of age.
Time Frame
July - October - with potential for longer
Meet the Team
Full-Time Team: https://redhorsemountainranch.com/the-ranch/staff/
Seasonal Team: https://www.facebook.com/redhorsemountainranch
Our Reviews
See what our guests say about us: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Ho...
The Employee Experience
What is it like to work here? I hope you like to read...bear with me...
We like to have fun and get stuff done. There are lots of people from different places who bring unique talents, ideas, and skills to the team. There are cowboys and cowgirls, avid hunters and fly fishers, hikers, outdoor enthusiasts, post college gap year(s) people, and front porch guitar pickers living and working here. We like to hear laughter coming from the kitchen and witness a good ol' practical joke go down. We have department meetings and all ranch meetings to improve communication and solve problems that come up. We like to be well-staffed and everyone busy working on things that matter. Coworkers forge friendships that last a lifetime and create memories they will cherish their whole lives. We like things clean, organized, and world-class.
Our guests are awesome and they think we are the best! We share REALLY good food together as we exchange stories and laughs. We encourage the folks who are having a bad day and enjoy teaching others the hobbies we have mastered. We have fun at the lake, explore the endless public land Idaho offers, and learn how to be better horseback riders and outdoorsy people. You will see managers and seasonal employees alike jump in and help where needed because no task is below anyone here.
Our goal is for our team to have a great experience while they work here. Although we are not perfect, we work hard to have a happy team who feels appreciated so they enjoy the summers they spend with us.
Ideal Candidate
We are ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE and have each other's backs. Approachable, hospitable, and curious because everyone has a story to tell. Ask "how will you impact someone's day today?" because people always remember how you made them feel.
We have a POSITIVE ATTITUDE because it changes the day for others and well... it's just more fun that way! We all have hard stuff to deal with, but there is a lot of good happening around you if you are looking for it. Lifting folks up, not putting them down is how we do things.
Expect to PUSH YOURSELF and achieve more of your potential so get ready to have some grit in your grin! We are capable of more than we think, so we get the feedback, own the mistakes, and bring solutions not problems to the table.
We are PROUD OF THIS PLACE and are excited to be here. We represent the ranch well and contribute to the good of the ranch.
Room and Board
We do provide housing (woohoo!) and meals! It is the same meals (and pastries!) the guests get, so you'll be eating well. Food coma well. The only meals we do not provide are during the Thursday wine dinner, Saturday lunch/dinner, and Sunday breakfast/lunch. (The chefs need a day off too!) We have a leftover fridge for those days the kitchen is closed. You can also go out to eat with your new awesome friends from work or cook a meal in the employee housing.
Here is what the housing is like:
It is a long ranch-style co-ed dorm with a men's wing and a women’s wing coming off the middle common area. Each wing has its own laundry room and communal bathroom. The bathrooms are similar to something you would see in a college dorm. Down the wings, doors open to Narnia. I mean, 12x12 foot rooms. There are 2 beds (a bunk bed situation), a window, closet, 2 dressers, and a desk for doing studious things like chemistry if you want?? You will have one roommate in this room.
The common area the men and women share has a living room, full kitchen, dining area, and a porch. There is a cleaning schedule, TV, land phone (Yikes, a what!?), internet, and parking. There is no cell phone reception (Gasp!), but most people can use WiFi calling. You will have to do a 10-15 minute (scenic may I add) walk to work each day. No pets, illegal drugs, or overnight guests are allowed. Camping is allowed in certain locations near the housing. We expect it to be a respectful and safe place for everyone living down there.
Employee Perks
One of the nicest perks that may set us apart from most other places is that our team members get 2 days off a week here. We do work 45- 50 hour work weeks, so we like taking 2 days off to rest and make the most out of living in such a cool area.
Other perks include access to the ranch activities like horseback riding, kayaking, sporting clays, archery, hiking, challenge course, zip lines, pottery, and mountain biking in your free time, 2 employee t-shirts and hat, a free CPR and first aid class, 2 paid weeks of training in May, free delicious food and desserts, and free on-site housing with a porch in a remote mountain valley. Family members get discounts on vacations here and we love it when parents come for a visit for the day too! Every employee gets 2 free meals to share with friends or family that visit them.
If you ask our team (which I just did), they would want me to mention the live band at saloon night and our campfires. They also think the incredible amount of quality memories and friends you make while here is the best perk of all!
Getting Here and Getting Around
First things first - don't listen to Siri! She's a gem, we know; and whatever we did before her, I don't know. But, she may lead you into the wilderness never to be seen again if you ask her to take you here.
Hop onto our website for directions first to confirm your travel route. There should be some gravel in your route, but not snow, clouds, or sheer panic.
Spokane is the nearest airport which is an hour and a half away. If a team member decides to fly here instead of drive they will use a rideshare company to get to Coeur d Alene (1 hour from the ranch) and we can come get them from there!
We recommend driving so you can fully enjoy the area and explore on your days off. You can always bum a ride with others, but in your car, alone, is the only place you can belt out your favorite George Straight song without disturbing the peace this summer.
For Fun
We do not mean to brag, but Idaho is known for its large amount of public land and for the tough gritty people who enjoy life outdoors. Somewhere around 62% of the land in Idaho is for public use! No trouble finding places to explore here.
This area is like no other place you have been. It is cowboy and lake life coming together. An outdoor enthusiasts dream. We have mountains, endless backroads, lots of pine trees, hike and bike trails, lakes, rivers, zip lines, mountain biking, fishing...every outdoor activity you can think of (except ocean and desert activities I guess). Many team members do weekend trips over to Glacier National Park during their summer here and also to nearby concert venues like The Gorge in Washington.
Harrison is just 15 minutes from the ranch. It overlooks beautiful Lake Coeur d'Alene and has a population of 250 of us in the winter. We have a famous bike path, great restaurants and bars that have bands on the weekends, a library, a beach, a grocery store, local volunteer EMT and Fire, community buildings, gift shops, churches, a park with music every Saturday, an ice-cream shop, a marina and rentals for lake activities. Other great cities our team goes to visit are Coeur d'Alene and Sandpoint.
We usually plan a couple of fun get-togethers as a team that includes lake days, pool parties, campfires, after-work rides, paintball, our annual Ranch Olympics, and a couple other competitive events to gain some bragging rights.
Current Job Openings
Fixing cabin related issues that come up with our guest cabins and lodge
Addressing maintenance issues at the employee housing
Carpentry projects
Chainsaw work - hiking up horse trails in the mountains with chainsaw and other gear.
Long term projects that come up - like building a horse lean-to structure or sanding and staining wood floors
Heavy lifting and moving of furniture and appliances and…you name it!
Taking out trash at various ranch locations and transporting
Handy work
Sanding and staining wood furniture and floors
Tractor work
Fixing flat tires
Oil Changes
Mending fence and digging holes for posts
ATV, Truck, Tractor, and small engine upkeep and maintenance
Manual labor of weeding, mowing, trimming, planting
Operating a riding lawn mower
Driving a landscaping truck and trailer to various locations
Loading and unloading various lawn care machines onto trailers and trucks
Watering plants
Loading brush and transporting
Guest shuttling for mountain bike rides
Loading and unloading mountain bikes
Washing Dishes in Kitchen
Pulling traps for Sporting Clays
Maintenance and repair needs for all departments
Lead Lining Children on Horses
Help children ages 3-6 get on and off their horses
Hold lead rope and walk next to the child on horseback ride
Help child keep their feet in stirrups
Keep child engaged on horse
Participating in our Unreasonable Hospitality Program - We like to go above and beyond in making memorable life moments happen for our guests. It is fun to see what everyone comes up with each week!
Helping in other departments (like dishes or helping the barn with shuttles) because everyone helps each other here. The people who have the best summers at our ranch are the ones who get to know the folks and duties in the other departments because they not only make new friends, but also learn to appreciate the hard work everyone is doing.
Yes, you get 2 days off a week here because we definitely value ME time! Sometimes, though, we may need someone to come in on their day off for some extra help if a fellow teammate is sick or the barn needs help with lead lining on our busy weeks. Extra hours are almost always available for our folks who prefer the 6-7 day work week.
Working one night a week doing things like running karaoke, bar backing, campfire, roping, serving wine dinner, or dishes.
Attending ranch meetings and training sessions so we can improve communication and you are prepared to be a successful team member here.
Doing assigned employee housing chores if you live on the property.
Having a positive attitude and being excellent at figuring out how to tackle the unique projects and problems that come up at a ranch!
Willingness to learn and grow in all aspects of ranch work - whether that is carpentry projects or auto mechanics
Enjoy manual labor jobs and working outdoors in all the elements
Have some knowledge of how to operate tools and a desire to learn more about them
Physically fit and capable of all Ranch Hand duties
Ability to drive large trucks and ATVs
Be able to lift 75+ pounds and work 45-55 hours/week
Work with minimal supervision and use checklists
Comply with our ranch policies and procedures in our ranch manuals and handbooks
Able to demonstrate good communication skills with peers and guests
Willing to help in other departments as needed
Able to laugh and have fun!
Show proof of First Aid / CPR certification or pass certification on arrival
Must be a citizen of The United States of America or possess a current and appropriate working visa
Hold a valid drivers license with a clean driving record
Be at least 21 years of age
Determine proper amounts of food to prepare given our guest counts
Produce high quality dishes in both taste and appearance
Prepare meals to accommodate all special requests and dietary needs
Ensure that the kitchen operates efficiently so that meals are served on time
AM Sous Chef prepares breakfast (both buffet and to-order) and buffet lunch for up to 90 guests and staff
PM Sous Chef prepares appetizers and dinner (both buffet and plated) for up to 90 guests and staff
Fill in for the Kitchen Manager in planning and directing food preparation and managing kitchen team members, when necessary
Train kitchen team members on the preparation and arrangement per the current menu
Be the example of how you want your team members to be
Maintain a positive and professional approach with coworkers and guests, respond professionally to any guest concerns
Ensure proper storage and labeling of food items
Maintain the sanitary condition of the kitchen. This includes washing and storing dishes, sweeping and mopping, taking out garbage, restocking inventory, and general cleaning and organizing.
Comply with and enforce sanitation regulation and safety standards
Attend ranch meetings and training sessions so we can improve communication and you can become a successful team member.
Complete assigned employee housing chores in your free time because it is your home for the summer and it “magically” gets messy. This is another key way to have a great summer and be successful here… being a kind and courteous roommate!
Help in other departments (such as Saturday cabin cleaning) because everyone helps each other here. The people who have the best summers at our ranch are the ones who get to know the folks and duties in the other departments. They not only make new friends, but also learn to appreciate the hard work everyone is doing.
Yes, you get 2 days off a week here because we definitely value ME time! Extra hours are almost always available for our folks who prefer the 6-7 day work week.
Participate in our Unreasonable Hospitality Program - This. Is. So. Fun. Your kindness and creativity will shine here! We like to go above and beyond in making memorable life moments happen for our guests. It is fun to see what everyone comes up with each week!
Must be able to work through early October
Physically fit and capable of all Sous Chef duties
Prefer 3 years of experience in food preparation, cooking a variety of food items using a variety of cooking methods
Prefer 1 year experience in cooking for special dietary requirements
Must demonstrate safe cooking practices
Be able to lift 50 pounds and work 45-50 hours/week.
Work with minimal supervision and take directions from ranch leaders
Familiar with or willing to be trained on sharing satellite internet with your roommates!!
Ok with a 10 minute drive to get cell phone reception or having to use a land phone (Gasp! What’s a land phone!?) to make a phone call while on the ranch….training provided.
Able to demonstrate good communication skills and customer relations
Be willing to help in other departments as needed
Be able to laugh and have fun!
Must be a citizen of The United States of America or possess a current and appropriate working visa.
Hold a valid drivers license
Must be at least 21 years of age
Must possess or be able to obtain a valid Idaho Food Handler Permit
Ranch Hand - Maintenance
We are looking to add another Ranch Hand to our team, with the hopes of it being full time! This position is perfect for someone who enjoys manual labor, working outdoors, and wants to learn and grow in all aspects of ranch work.
Although some skills like carpentry and how to use a chainsaw would be preferred, we are all about training the right person who has a great attitude and excellent problem solving skills.
This Ranch Hand position is part of the core team of our ranch, so they would play an important role with the planning, improvement, and future of the ranch. In addition to that they are expected to help lead the seasonal team with the other core team members by being the example of our core values and mission!
Benefits
We are hoping to move this position into a full time role after the summer ends. Full time comes with health insurance, and generous paid time off. You also have the benefit of working with a great team in a very unique and beautiful location! Compensation is based on using the on -site housing with meals. If on site housing is not needed, please note this on your application.
What Your Day Will Look Like:
You Will Be Doing Ranch Maintenance Tasks:
You Will Help Other Departments as Needed
Other Things to Expect
Requirements
Sous Chef
Join our friendly kitchen where you have the freedom to do your job and bring your ideas to the table (literally!).
Week after week, our guests and team members rave about the food at Red Horse Mountain Ranch and our wonderful Chefs make it all happen! They are part of a small team that works closely together to creatively produce really good food.
The main responsibility of the Sous Chef is to provide our guests with nutritional, well-prepared meals in a courteous manner. Our Sous Chef is well versed in a variety of cuisines, cooking methods, and special diets so as to provide our guests with the best culinary experiences possible. They should display attention to detail and take pride in the presentation of all aspects of the meals, plated or buffet, from the main entrée to the smallest condiment. They are able to humbly accept both praise and criticism from staff and guests.
You have to enjoy cooking, teaching, and moving quickly to do well in this role. You will thrive if you bring a great attitude, ready to learn more about world-class hospitality. Led by kind and encouraging managers, you can expect to be held to a high standard as you grow, be on the move, work hard, have a lot of fun, and be proud of the summers you’ve spent with us.
What Your Day Will Look Like:
Prepare the Meals
Lead the Kitchen Team Members
Food Safety and Sanitation
Other Things to Expect
Requirements
Apply today! https://redhorsemountainranch.recruitee.com/o/ranch-sous-chef-5
