What should I know to best prepare for my visit to the YL Ranch?

Here are a few things to make sure you prepare for an amazing experience at the YL! We received solace and were rejuvenated with every visit to the ranch while we were living in Rwanda. Consider this your home when you’re here. Explore, hike, bike, relax, picnic, fish, and play tennis, whatever makes you happy. That atmosphere is what the YL Ranch strives to foster. If you want to hang out and learn more about the ranch, we’ll give you a tour of the main house. If you want to know about cycling in Africa, we’re happy to share our stories.

You are guaranteed a cozy, rustic, clean place to lay your head. You have our commitment to give you what you need to explore your wild or find your peace.  We want you to have the experience to tell your friends about. It won’t be “normal.” It will be the “special.”

To make sure you have the best time possible, please note, the ranch sits at 6,700’, and the air is dry. Please make sure you are well hydrated coming into your stay and drink copious amounts of water while you’re here to help acclimate quickly. 

What should I bring or know when I visit the YL Ranch?

• FOOD! If you are staying in one of our self-contained cabins, you MUST bring your own food. We have basic cooking items, i.e., oil, salt and pepper, coffee, and dry creamer, but the nearest grocery store is in Baggs, WY,  20 miles from the ranch, and hours are limited.
• If you’ve arranged an all-inclusive, we will discuss the menu with you before your trip.
• Alcohol – Same thing….Baggs, WY is your closest option
• GPS – If you’re hiking or biking, we have routes on GPS we’re happy to share with you. You need to bring your own bike if cycling.
• If you’re staying with us in the winter months, it’s Wyoming…boots, puffy jackets, gloves, hats, etc. It can get quite cold, -20 and lower.
• Sense of adventure
• Ability to unplug and relax (we do have internet throughout the property, but we do not have televisions in any of the cabins…you’re here to RELAX!!). There are hammocks around the property. Try one!
• Sunscreen – the UV factor is high here
• Mosquito repellent – we have a river running through our property
• Summer months do equal rattlesnake sightings. They are great about giving you warnings if you’re close. However, watch your step.
• Dress in layers. The evenings and early mornings, even in August, are cool. You will want a jacket or sweater, especially if you want to enjoy one of the Rim Cookouts with us!
• A windbreaker/rain jacket is also good to have, although it doesn’t rain much from June – August
• A good attitude….some of the cabins are almost 100 years old. Things do break. We are here to make sure everything is working upon your arrival.
• Licenses/Tags – If you’re fishing and hunting, make sure you have the proper licenses and tags. We really like our Game Warden, she’s super awesome, and we want her to think the same about our guests and us!
• To know what the weather might be like during your stay, check out our weather station at Weather Underground:  https://www.wunderground.com/weather/us/wy/savery
• Dogs are welcome as long as we know ahead of time, and they “play nice in the sandbox.” We have a dog, Shaka, on the property. He is a neutered African Sighthound who will be the best friend of whoever pets him the most. We also have three cats on the property that are great mousers but are also quite friendly. 
• Snowshoes! The snowshoe hiking around the ranch is phenomenal in winter.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW

• Jock and Kimberly are here to make sure you have a great time. We may be reached in the cabin labeled (YL Office) to the left of the Main House.
• We have deer, moose, skunks, marmots, gophers, and bears, which come through the property. Do NOT leave food in your car!
• We are at 6,700’ of elevation DRINK lots and lots of water. If you’re drinking alcohol, you’ll need even more water.
• This ranch is under renovation. Be careful where you step, and please do not let children play near well holes.
• We are on septic, so PLEASE limit the TP you put in the toilet and absolutely no flushing of feminine hygiene products.
• No fireworks – includes sparklers
• No smoking except in the designated area by the Main House
• No fires in any pit (except for the one Saturday at the cookout monitored by us)
• High-speed internet is available for free throughout the property
• Please be conscious of your water use. We are on a well system
• We have a generator in the event the electricity goes out, which it does from time to time. Please turn off lights when not in the rooms
• If you’d like to hike, we have plenty of trials we can show you, or you can download them on GPS. Trials are from 1.2 miles easy to 6 miles difficult
• We have a badminton net on the lawn of the main house. Feel free to enjoy!
• You can swim in the Savery Creek running through our property, but do so at your own risk. We recommend wearing tennis shoes as it’s quite rocky.
• NO smoking in any of the cabins. Should you decide to smoke in a cabin, you will be charged a $250 cleaning fee.
• Well behaved animals are welcome but not on the beds or furniture, please
• Please note all activities on the YL Ranch property and your stay on the property is at your own risk. The YL Ranch is not responsible for any injuries to our guests. Please be aware of animals, snakes, and any other hazards noted above.