The Difference
We sometimes get asked "What makes Marble Mountain different from other dude ranches?" I think I'll address that question for today's blog entry. Two fundamental differences between us and other Dude Ranches are: "owner involvement" and secondly "product diversity."
OWNER INVOLVEMENT
Our family is directly involved in every aspect of Marble Mountain Ranch operations. While we do have employees, we still have family placed at some level in every operational aspect of the ranch. For example, Heidi is the lead chef but she has sous chefs assisting in the kitchen. Rafting guides number between 5-6 with current operations, but every trip leaving the ranch has at least myself, or one of my children (now adults) as a piece of the guiding equation. Wrangling also incorporates non family cowboys/cowgirls, but I am wrangling on every pack trip and on most rides leaving the ranch. This means that we have more control over risk management, quality control and guest relations. It also means we will never be able to expand to that 200 guest capacity operation you find in some locations.
PRODUCT DIVERSITY
I'll put it out on the table now that if you only want to ride horses on your vacation, you might be happier at another ranch. If you want a riding opportunity each day but also are interested in rafting, kayaking, fishing, sporting clays, hiking and group activities such as Karaoke, ranch crafting, and camp fire activities, then come here. Yes, we have a great riding program with lessons, beginner rides, advanced rides, and wilderness pack trips, but our signature is in offering "mixed activity days" to meet interests of whole families. Sometimes we use the cliche of "saddle/paddle" vacations or "raft and ride" vacations in our descriptions of Marble Mountain Ranch vacations. The truly amazing thing about this product diversity is that we are able to do it all "in house." We do not hand-off to a third party outfitter for the rafting, or drive you three hours one way to get to a kayak trip. It is done by our in-house staff and done without the long shuttles.
Of course there are other subtle differences and unique points to our operation, but these two points lay the foundation for our style and form our guarantee of quality and personal service.
I'll end tonight's blog entry with a visual of me, one of the owners, at work in the office. Happy trails, Doug
OWNER INVOLVEMENT
Our family is directly involved in every aspect of Marble Mountain Ranch operations. While we do have employees, we still have family placed at some level in every operational aspect of the ranch. For example, Heidi is the lead chef but she has sous chefs assisting in the kitchen. Rafting guides number between 5-6 with current operations, but every trip leaving the ranch has at least myself, or one of my children (now adults) as a piece of the guiding equation. Wrangling also incorporates non family cowboys/cowgirls, but I am wrangling on every pack trip and on most rides leaving the ranch. This means that we have more control over risk management, quality control and guest relations. It also means we will never be able to expand to that 200 guest capacity operation you find in some locations.
PRODUCT DIVERSITY
I'll put it out on the table now that if you only want to ride horses on your vacation, you might be happier at another ranch. If you want a riding opportunity each day but also are interested in rafting, kayaking, fishing, sporting clays, hiking and group activities such as Karaoke, ranch crafting, and camp fire activities, then come here. Yes, we have a great riding program with lessons, beginner rides, advanced rides, and wilderness pack trips, but our signature is in offering "mixed activity days" to meet interests of whole families. Sometimes we use the cliche of "saddle/paddle" vacations or "raft and ride" vacations in our descriptions of Marble Mountain Ranch vacations. The truly amazing thing about this product diversity is that we are able to do it all "in house." We do not hand-off to a third party outfitter for the rafting, or drive you three hours one way to get to a kayak trip. It is done by our in-house staff and done without the long shuttles.
Of course there are other subtle differences and unique points to our operation, but these two points lay the foundation for our style and form our guarantee of quality and personal service.
I'll end tonight's blog entry with a visual of me, one of the owners, at work in the office. Happy trails, Doug
Comments