Working Farm Bed and Breakfasts: Southwest

By Teresa Opdycke

Visions of the southwest bring to mind vistas of plateaus, red sunsets,plucky horses picking their way through brush and up craggy hillsides, and cattle, lots of cattle.  Open ranges with mountainous backdrops, cowboys, and the bright blue of turquoise set in shining silver call out to the rugged individuals who want to live, if only for a while,  a way of life unique to the southwest.  The two bed & breakfasts both speak to the outdoors in their own ways.  One ranch, an elegant country compound invites outdoor enthusiasts to hunt, fish, and relax while the other serves up tough, raw experiences of cattle ranching.  Both share their daily lives with guests teaching a way of life that often remains undiscovered to city counterparts.   

KNOLLE FARM & RANCH, BED, BARN, AND BREAKFAST
http://www.knolle.com/
13016 FM 70    Sandia, Texas    (361) 547-3934

“For the discriminating outdoor enthusiast,” claims Steve Naiser and Beth Knolle Naiser, the owners of the Knolle Farm & Ranch near Sandia, Texas.  Once, the home of the world’s largest Jersey herd of dairy cows, the farm and ranch evolved into a cow and calf operation and Steve further diversified the agri-business with custom grass seed, planting, and consulting landowners.  As for the bed & breakfast, be prepared to be pleasantly surprised at the true elegance that you’ll find awaiting you. 

The family renovated the white stucco 1930s barn and turned it into the main guest house with enough room for twelve guests.  Two bedrooms, a living room, bathroom, and a fully equipped kitchen entice visitors to sit back and relax.  A huge claw-footed bathtub inspires long bubble baths, letting the soothing water whisk away the wear of the day.  Find yourself sipping a drink while sitting in the enclosed patio with nothing on your mind except savoring the moment. If a more secluded, private spot piques your interest, the bed & breakfast offers the Casita, a small cottage that sits away from the barn.  Two guest rooms round out the accommodations for guests. 

Hunting enthusiasts wishing to partake in early morning hunts with a guide will no doubt find Knolle Farm and Ranch perfect for hunting waterfowl, deer, and more.  A vacation away from the frenetic pace of the city to the sounds of nature gently calling adds to the experience of country life. 

You won’t find fast-food restaurants at every corner in a rural area, so the Knolle Farm delivers much more than you ever imagined.  A varied menu of meats, fresh vegetables, and scrumptious desserts are yours to be enjoyed family style.  Sit down and enjoy dining with the family in a casual, yet elegant repast. Planning to go wandering and need a picnic?  Not a problem.  It seems the folks at Knolle Farm and Ranch have thought of everything. 

One thing to keep in mind is that Knolle Farm and Ranch is more than just a bed & breakfast, it’s a true ranch that runs like any farm or ranch.  There are seasonal tasks and every day chores that must be done.  Guests are always welcomed into the barn to help feed or just watch. If hunting or fishing is not your cup of tea, hiking, walking, canoeing, and wildlife watching is there for anyone who takes the time to be transported into the realms of nature. 

DOUBLE E GUEST RANCH
http://www.doubleeranch.com/index.html
P O Box 280    67 Double E Ranch Road    Gila, New Mexico    (866) 242-3500

The southwest boasts many “dude” ranches, but the Double E Guest Ranch is a far cry from the typical dude ranch.  In fact, it’s not a dude ranch at all but a working 30,000 acre ranch that invites you to join them in round ups, horseback riding in rugged country, or participating in clinics to improve your riding skills.

If you make plans to stay at the Double E Guest Ranch, be prepared to ride and ride hard. This ranch expects you to roll up your sleeves and be a part of the integral workings of an honest-to-goodness ranch.  That means up at the crack of dawn, grooming and tacking horses, participating in round-ups, or spending days on horseback taking in the rocky, sometimes rough terrain that butts up against the 3.3 million acres of Gila National Forest.  The land of the Apaches, Billy the Kidd, and Geronimo inspires respect for the past and amazement at the rustic beauty of pristine wildness. 

Double E Guest Ranch offers guided Gila Wilderness Nature Rides into a national forest where automobiles, roads, and modern conveniences are no where to be seen.  Instead, nature, wild and wonderful, beckons riders to discover the ruins of ancient people, breath-taking landscapes, and glimpses of the creatures that wander and call this remote preserved rugged magnificence home.  

Meals are taken together family style.  Hearty, country cooking rules the kitchen, so don’t look for gourmet meals out here.  After a hard day’s riding whether it’s in a round-up, a clinic, or a full day of experiencing Gila National Forest, you’ll be ready to rock awhile on the porch taking in the depth of the sunset before the night stars gleam larger than you could imagine possible.  Head back to your cabin for a night’s rest before saddling up tomorrow to a whole new day of horses, cattle, riding and southwest natural beauty.    

The southwest offers a new perspective on an old tale to those who yearn to make a connection with nature at its most rugged and sublime.  Common ingredients of cattle, horses, and nature brought together by two very different ranches speak to the desires of people looking for a return to the basics of life.  The excitement of country living is never more apparent than in the southwest.   

Bed and Breakfasts in the Midwest
Bed and Breakfasts in the Northeast
Bed and Breakfasts in the Southeast
Bed and Breakfasts in the Northwest

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