When you hear the world “ranch” you most likely think of a place far out west, where hundreds of horses and cattle graze on acres of untouched land, and cowboys ride out to move their bovine charges from one place to another.
While dairy barns are more common than ranches here in Pennsylvania, the state is also home to Malibu Dude Ranch, an 800 acre piece of the west tucked away in the Pocono Mountains. Guests at the ranch can enjoy horseback riding, fishing, boating, shooting, and a taste of the ‘cowboy’ lifestyle.
If you’ve always dreamed of going on a cattle drive, you can experience that, too at Malibu! In the fall of 2013, the ranch began offering cattle driving on the weekends. Cowboys young and old can help move Malibu’s herd of cattle across the ranch, fulfilling their western dreams.
Even if you don’t want to spend your days in the saddle, there’s lots to do at this Pennsylvania ranch. Marksmen can test their aim on the shooting range, or do some skeet shooting to practice hitting a moving target. If shooting is not your cup of tea, you can take a rowboat out onto the lake and go fishing for the day, or just enjoy the peace and quiet of the water.
No authentic western experience would be complete without a rodeo! Malibu Dude Ranch hosts rodeos during long holiday weekends throughout the year, and guests staying at the ranch can join in on the fun and compete in the events. The Malibu Championship Rodeo series is also held at the ranch; watch the website for updated 2014 dates.
Pennsylvania is a diverse state where you can find just about any type of equestrian pursuit – even a dude ranch. If you dream of riding the range, you don’t have to leave the east coast to do it! Check out Malibu Dude Ranch, and embrace the spirit of the west in Eastern PA.