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Laughing Water Guest Ranch Story

Our Guest Ranch Story

Thanks for your interest in our Old West Vacations here at the Laughing Water Guest Ranch!

The Laughing Water Ranch provides a personalized vacation run by a professional staff. The ranch has been owned and operated by the Mikita family since 1972 and caters to small groups. The Dude Ranch season runs from May - October.

LW Guest Ranch Owners

Dude Ranchers' Association

We are member of the national Dude Ranchers' Association, Montana Dude Ranchers' Association, and America Outdoors.

The Dude Ranchers' Association is a national association of western dude ranches that strives to maintain the standards and traditions of the old time vacation dude ranch. Some of these standards guarantee a visitor his/her horse for the entire vacation, restrictions on the use of the facility by non-vacationing guests, monitoring truth in advertising, and promoting safe horse riding programs and instruction.

Dude Ranching History
(contributed by The Dude Ranchers' Association, Cody, WY)

Dude [guest] Ranching evolved in the late 1800's, in part to meet the need for safe, comfortable accommodations for the torrent of visitors streaming to the "wonders of the West" from the cities of the East and from Europe. History has it that the first fee was the handsome sum of ten dollars for a week of accommodations, meals, a good horse to ride, and the pleasant company of the ranch family and crew. This basic package is still the hallmark of the Western dude ranch. There are now over 100 members in The Dude Ranchers' Association which has worked since its inception to preserve this special way of life and the wonderful environment in which it takes place.

E-mail: Cowboy@lwranch.com

Telephone: (800) 847-5095

© Laughing Water Ranch

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Horseback riding in MontanaOur riding program is geared to your needs. You can ride in our corral or ride the mountain trails that surround our guest ranch. If you are a return guest you can reserve your favorite horse.

Fawn Our ranch is bordered on three sides by national forest land. Check our weekly activities schedule for a list of the events to enjoy on or near your own Kootenai National Forest.

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