Song of Wyoming

February 4th, 2012

Who doesn’t love a cowboy singing and strumming his guitar? Well, OK, maybe not everybody, but when you’re inWyoming, on the T-Cross, it fits, and is a simply perfect way to spend an evening with new friends!

Every Monday night, Dick Fredrickson serenades you while you dine on yet another fabulous meal created by the T-Cross chefs. After dessert, everybody retires to the Ranch Room, a fire is lit in the big fireplace, and you relax on the buffalo-robed sofa to hear some more wonderful music which tell the stories of the West. Dick is multi-talented and plays both guitar and banjo! He sings purdy too, and although he has yet to be able to sing hardly any of my requests, one song he always does goes straight to my heart. In fact, I never get to the end of the song without getting all teary eyed, and whenever I hear the song when I’m somewhere other than Wyoming on the T Cross, it surely does make me homesick for the ranch.

The song was written by Kent Lewis and the lyrics are below; but, you really need to come to the T Cross and hear it sung by Dick to get the full impact. Once you hear it, it will tug at your heart, bring you fond memories of your days and nights at the T Cross and you’ll wish you were there again.

Well I’m weary and tired, I’ve done my days ridin’

Nighttime is rollin’ my way

The sky’s all on fire and the light’s slowly fading

Peaceful and still ends the day

Out on the trail night birds are callin’

Singin’ their wild melody

Down in the canyon cottonwood whispers

A Song of Wyoming for me

Well, I’ve wandered around the town and the city

Tried to figure the how and the why

Well, I’ve stopped all my schemin’

I’m just drift’n and dream’n

Watching the river roll by

Here comes that big ole prairie moon risin’

Shinin’ down bright as can be

Up on the hill there’s a coyote singin’

A Song of Wyoming for me

Now it’s whiskey and tobacco and bitter black coffee

A lonesome old doggie am I

But wakin’ up on the range

Lord I feel like an angel

Free like I almost could fly

Drift like a cloud out over the badlands

Sing like a bird in the tree

The wind in the sage sounds like heaven singin’

A Song of Wyoming for me

Words and music by Kent Lewis

Thanks to Awesome Wrangler/Photographer Kel, and fellow dude Tedd Kidd for the photos!

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Dude or Guest?

August 11th, 2011

Tags: Dude Ranches, New York Times

So just what is the difference between a guest ranch and a dude ranch? The New York Times Travel site sheds a little light on the question.

“A century ago, it was common courtesy in the West for ranches to feed and lodge travelers who stopped by on their treks across the great empty spaces. Gradually it became acceptable to accept a few dollars from guests, and by the 1920s, a ranch visit was a full-fledged vacation.

“When you make your ranch reservations, it’s wise to know the difference between a ‘dude ranch’ and a ‘guest ranch.’ A dude ranch typically requires a 1-week minimum stay, and they give you the entire package: riding, fishing, trips to the rodeo, and family-style meals. Dude ranchers look down their noses at “guest” ranches, which will take guests staying just 1 night and charge extra for activities such as riding.

“The dude ranch is the fabled Western experience come to life: daily rides by horseback, cowboy coffee beneath an expansive blue sky, campfire sing-alongs, and homemade food served in rustic lodges. Accommodations are usually in a comfortable cabin or lodge. You need not have any riding experience before your visit; ranch hands are trained to assist even the greenest of greenhorns.”

At the T Cross Ranch, we definitely offer the entire dude ranch package: all-skill-level riding, premier fly fishing, Friday night Dubois rodeo, square dancing at the Rustic Pine Lodge, and delicious homestyle ranch meals–to name a few.

Join the ride at the T Cross Dude Ranch by visiting our website to book your next stay.

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A Cowboy’s Tune: Amarillo By Morning

May 30th, 2011

Tags: Amarillo By Morning, Cowboy singer, Cowboy songs, George Strait

Monday evenings present a very special treat at the T Cross Ranch. Cowboy singer Dick Fredrickson adds flavor to your meal with songs of times past and frontiers long gone.

Below is a beautiful example, Amarillo By Morning, originally written by Terry Stafford and Paul Fraser. George Strait made it famous in the ’80s. Enjoy.

Amarillo By Morning

Amarillo by morning
Up from San Antone
Everything that I got
Is just what I got on
When that sun is high
In that Texas sky
I’ll be buckin’ it at County Fair
Amarillo by morning
Amarillo, I’ll be there

They took my saddle in Houston
Broke my leg in Santa Fe
Lost my wife and a girlfriend
Somewhere along the way
I’ll be looking for 8 when they pull that gate
And I hope that judge aint blind

Amarillo by morning
Amarillo’s on my mind

Amarillo by morning
Up from San Antone
Everything that I got
Is just what I got on
I aint got a dime
But what I got is mine
I aint rich but Lord I’m free
Amarillo by morning
Amarillo’s where I’ll be

Amarillo by morning
Amarillo’s where I’ll be

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Summer of Fun: Memories of the T Cross

January 29th, 2011

Tags: country dancing, moose, prank war, sunrise, waitresses, wranglers

A week at the T Cross is a memorable experience: horse riding, cookouts by the river, moose in the willows, sunset reflecting off the Absaroka peaks. After six days, many guests dread the trip home and the return to everyday life.

For a lucky few, the T Cross is much more than a week-long vacation; it becomes a second home for four months. This blog post celebrates the T Cross summer from the eyes of four of your favorite wranglers, waitresses, and cabin girls. What do they find memorable? What makes them return year after year?

“There were so many moments that were favorites; it is hard to pick just one. I really enjoyed wrangling every morning. It was incredible to watch the sun come up from the back of a horse.”~ Brady (Wrangler)

“One of my favorite moments was when we first started to do the dances in the lodge after the wagon rides. Then it got even more fun when we started to learn more steps and how to throw our partners around.

“Another favorite moment was when we would go out to wrangle horses in the morning and we would see some moose and immediately we were on the chase every morning. It was great!”~Clancey (Wrangler)

My favorite was definitely our country dance nights! I was surprised how much the guests enjoyed it. Also, we had a pretty epic prank war against the wranglers. Priceless.”~ Katie (Waitress, Cabin Girl)

“One of my favorite memories was when the crew got together and played baseball. So fun! (Especially when everyone was surprised at how far Dylan could hit the ball.)”~Lori (Waitress, Assistant Cook)

So when you visit the T Cross this summer, make sure to add baseball, dancing, and sunrise at the corrals to your agenda. We’ll be waiting for you.

Also, feel free to share your favorite T Cross memory on this blog post. We would love to reminisce with you.

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Independence Day in the Wild West

June 3rd, 2010

Tags: 4th of July, Independence Day, Parade

Our nation declared its independence July 4, 1776. In the beginning, our country consisted of 13 small colonies joined together in the pursuit of freedom. In the following century our nation’s borders expanded, land was explored, and the beauty of our country unfolded mile after mile.

Building Cabins in 1924

By the late 1800s guest ranches were welcoming visitors from the Eastern shores of the U.S. and many European nations. The T Cross Ranch opened its cabin doors in 1918 and is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places. For many, the West helps us rediscover the roots of our country. Its endless sky and tree-filled vistas take us back to the time when men and women worked and struggled, lived and died by the land.

Today, freedom can be experienced and enjoyed as it was before the automobile, telephone, and Internet–at least, if you spend a little time on the T Cross. And Independence Day is the perfect time to merge yesterday and today. The annual 4th of July Parade in Dubois brings locals and guests together to celebrate. The classic Dubois rodeo and fireworks only sweeten the day.

Past guests Raimund & Bianca, Carina, and Anika share their special experience with us.

“It was the first time that my three young horse-loving girls and I spent a week at T Cross Ranch. We loved the friendly and pleasant family atmosphere, and we felt right at home with only 20 other guests. Compared to large ranches we loved the personal attention we received from the hosts, Gretchen and Mark, as well as their staff. The wranglers took great care of us and the horses all day.

Hermit Butte

“The scenery on our half-day or full-day rides was simply breathtaking. We felt absorbed by nature and wished we could have spent more time at the ranch. During the 4^th of July week, we were lucky enough to be invited to participate in the 4^th of July Parade in Dubois, followed by a cookout in the town park. The local rodeo on Friday night was also a great experience.

“The week went by much too fast for all of us. Even though we chose to ride every day, there was plenty of diversion with the rodeo, parade, games on horseback (barrel racing, pole bending, and team penning) and the pleasant camaraderie of the other guests. When we look at the pictures we took, only one thought comes to mind: we wish we could be there again!”

Although July 4th falls on a Sunday this year, we welcome you to join us this summer at the T Cross Ranch–celebrate our nation’s heritage and history with your friends and family in the beauty of West.