C Lazy U, Colorado’s Original Luxury Guest Ranch, Offers Unbeatable Western Getaways and Superior Service
GRANBY, Colo. – Celebrating its 92nd year, C Lazy U is Colorado’s original, and premier, luxury guest ranch getaway. Located at the headwaters of the Colorado River and in the shadow of Rocky Mountain National Park, C Lazy U is one of the few remaining places where guests can experience a vacation far from the stresses of everyday life and filled with the rich traditions of the American West.
“Whether they come for adventure, or a relaxing western getaway, guests at C Lazy U never seem to want to leave,” says Connie Dorsey, general manager of C lazy U. “Year after year, families return to the ranch, some, the same week every year for more than 25 years. Even several of our staff members were once guests of the ranch who realized they too wanted to stay forever.”
C Lazy U features a collection of 38 rustically-elegant cabin accommodations, fine dining, a full-service “Lazy U” spa, and 8,500 acres of adventurous activities. No matter the season, guests are never short of experiences, most of which are included within the price of their stays.
Location & Access
Conveniently located in Grand County Colo., approximately two hours from Denver, the Ranch is easily accessible via daily flights to Denver International Airport from every major market. C Lazy U is also near both Grand County and McElroy Field airports, offering even easier access via charter or private aircraft, and within minutes from Winter Park and SolVista Ski Resorts, Grand Lake and Rocky Mountain National Park.
Accommodations & In-room Amenities
C Lazy U offers a selection of 38 rustically-elegant cabin accommodations, for parties ranging from one to 11, scattered across the hillsides and all within walking distance of the Main Lodge. All guest rooms boast beautifully-crafted western and southwestern style furnishings, and most feature stone fireplaces, refrigerators, sitting rooms, balconies, and some, a jetted tub.
C Lazy U has recently undergone a property-wide renovation, adding Simmons Beautyrest Beverly Hills Black Edition mattresses, fine linens and plush robes, updated décor, new window treatments, Aveda bath products and iHome docking stations to all cabins. Additionally, approximately half of C Lazy U’s cabins have been completely remodeled in the past two years, and included special touches such as custom wood cabinetry and detailing, all-new finishes and more. No matter which cabin guests select, each will enjoy daily housekeeping service, nightly bed turndown, coffee, tea and cocoa service in your room.
For large families, C Lazy U also offers a luxurious private vacation home, Midnight Trail Lodge, which sleeps up to 11. Midnight Trail Lodge includes a private golf cart for transport to and from the Ranch House, only 200 yards away, as well as a gourmet kitchen, collection of master suites, private yard and fire pit, state-of-the-art sound system, private hot tub and three-car garage.
Activities
Warmer weather activities at C Lazy U include horseback riding, swimming in the ranch’s outdoor pool, relaxing in the hot tub, tennis on the competition-quality Laykold tennis courts, bicycling, yoga, trap shooting, archery, hunting, hiking, fishing and paddle boating on the ranch’s pond, Orvis-endorsed fly fishing in its private stream, horseshoes, basketball, volleyball, bocce ball and zip lining. Winter is also a popular time to visit C Lazy U, with activities like snow tubing, horseback riding, hockey and ice skating on the ranch’s Zamboni-groomed pond, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, horse-drawn sleigh-rides and cross-country skiing.
Throughout the year, guests are also treated to special educational and enrichment activities, including dessert-making workshops with the Ranch’s expert pastry chefs, wine and food pairing classes and more. If guests choose to venture offsite, a variety of nearby activities are also available, including golfing, white water rafting, hot air ballooning, visits to Rocky Mountain National Park and skiing at nearby Winter Park and SolVista Resorts.
Children’s Program
An unmatched daily children’s program is the cornerstone of C Lazy U’s family vacation offering, designed to help teach children and teens skills that build confidence and independence. The program revolves around horseback riding every day – kids ages three-five are given pony rides, while older kids are taken on guided trail rides and given lessons in horsemanship according to their ages and skill levels. Between rides, children enjoy activities such as archery, scavenger hunts, fishing, cookouts, and hay rides in the summer, and tubing and more in the winter. Teens enjoy off-site camping and hiking excursions, white water rafting and a local rodeo. Counselors are available all day to play with and supervise children, even during the youngests’ naptime.
The C Lazy U children’s program provides a perfect balance of family time – parents and children spend time together during breakfast and after dinner, while the remainder of the day, kids enjoy supervised social activities and meet new friends, and parents can truly relax, feeling secure that their children are happily occupied. If parents choose, however, they can opt their children out of the program at any time for some additional family adventure.
Spa
C Lazy U recently introduced the new “Lazy U” Spa, a stunning collection of four treatment tents, a sunny relaxation lounge and more, resting in the meadow along the banks of Willow Creek. Guests enjoy traditional treatments such as massages, facials, manicures and pedicures, as well as signature treatments such as the “Cowboy Soak,” a relaxing moonlit soak in deep copper tubs overlooking the creek, complete with champagne and strawberries. Massage tents feature glass floors overlooking the rushing waters of the creek below for the ultimate in relaxation, and a myriad of wraps and scrubs made from scratch in the Ranch’s kitchen offer an all-natural spa experience.
Riding Program
The Ranch’s signature offering is its renowned horseback riding and horsemanship program. With more than 175 horses, each guest has access to a horse perfectly suited to his or her individual personality and riding ability, and is paired with them exclusively for the duration of the stay. The 12,000-sq. ft. heated indoor riding arena provides year-round riding enjoyment, and miles of trails careen throughout the Ranch’s 8,500 acres.
The Ranch’s expert wranglers guide twice-daily mountain trail rides, and offer world-class horsemanship lessons focusing on everything from loping to cattle pushing. Riders can choose from slow, medium or advanced instructional riding tours, or concentrate on their skills in a one-on-one riding lesson. The pinnacle of the week is the Ranch’s “Shodeo,” which includes horseback riding competitions and equestrian-skill events, with a special focus on the children and their newly acquired skills.
Dining
Meals at C Lazy U are served family-style in the rustically elegant dining room, allowing guests to become acquainted with one another, and share stories of their adventures. The daily-changing menus highlight regional specialties, including aged western beef and Rocky Mountain trout, complimented by mouthwatering desserts and an extensive wine list, as well as after-dinner drinks and fireside entertainment.
Meals offer a balance of family and adult-time, with families sharing breakfast, but children enjoying the company of their peers and counselors at lunch and dinner, except for the weekly family lunch cookout. Following dinner each night, children and adults meet in the Patio House for ice cream and shared stories – a favorite of all ages.
Meetings, Reunions & Retreats
C Lazy U is a favorite for family reunions, business retreats, meetings and more, offering an accessible location, yet removed from the unwanted distractions found at urban convention sites. Groups can customize their guest ranch retreat around specific desires and objectives; however, standard packages include group activities, speaking engagements, A/V presentations, themed breaks, picnics, barbecues and other innovative programs to complete the perfect group getaway. Additional team-building activities are also available, including a ropes course, group horsemanship clinics, teepee building challenges, and games like Amazing Race, relays and scavenger hunts. The Ranch can accommodate groups of up to 75 in a variety of indoor and outdoor meeting spaces, and groups of 40 or more can book C Lazy U exclusively.
Weddings
C Lazy U offers an unparalleled wedding experience. An on-site wedding coordinator is available to assist brides and grooms in organizing weddings of 50-80 people, and buyouts are encouraged. A variety of scenic backdrops are available for the ceremony, including the “Woodsie” reservoir overlook, the Ranch’s private pond, the stunning meadow, or at the Ranch’s Lodge or Patio House. Following the celebration, C Lazy U’s secluded honeymoon cabin or luxury “glamping” tent is the perfect place to end the night.
Legacy
C Lazy U, Colorado’s original luxury guest ranch, has been family-owned since its inception, and is one of the few remaining places where guests can experience the traditions of the American West from the moment they arrive. Even the Ranch’s staff is a comprised of many seasonal students who visited the Ranch as a child.
C Lazy U is composed of two ranches founded in the late 1800s that were eventually combined and renamed C Lazy U in 1946. The name was born from the shape of the Willow Creek which passed through the Ranch – its many twists and turns appeared to spell a “C” with a “U” on its side. The Ranch’s historic barn, built in 1925, still stands today, along with several other structures from that era including the Meadow House, Ranch House, Aspen House, Mare’s Nest and Bird’s Nest.
Superior Service
Throughout its long history, C Lazy U was the only guest ranch in North America to attain both the celebrated AAA Five-Diamond and Forbes Five-Star ratings. However, due to changes in the grading system that would require C Lazy U to incorporate certain commercial aspects that would jeopardize its unique western atmosphere in order to maintain the rating – such as adding televisions to every room – the Ranch opted out as a rated resort. C Lazy U is proud of its Five-Star, Five-Diamond legacy, and continues to honor its exceptional standards with superior service in every department.
Sustainability
The Ranch has implemented a variety of sustainable elements into its operations, including a recycling program; an on-ranch lumber mill, utilizing on-site beetle-kill wood for cabin renovations, new construction and more; a green water system within its spa; reusable water bottles provided to guests to refill at the Ranch’s numerous natural spring fountains, and much more.
Real Estate
The Ranch offers a limited number of ranch membership opportunities, allowing owners to enjoy all the amenities and services as C Lazy guests, year after year. 35-acre Ranch estate lots and predesigned 2,700 sq. ft. Chimney Rock Cabins are scattered amongst the Ranch’s 8,500 acres, and range in price from $925,000 to 1.95 million. A limited number of re-sale homes are also available, ranging in price from $3.9 to $6.95 million.
About C Lazy U
Known for its superior service, C Lazy U is Colorado’s premier luxury guest ranch getaway. Located in Grand County and easily accessible from Denver, C Lazy U is one of the few remaining places where guests can experience a vacation far from the stresses of everyday life and filled with the rich traditions of the American West. C Lazy U features a collection of 38 rustically-elegant cabin accommodations, fine dining, a full-service “Lazy U” spa, and 8,500 acres of adventure. Limitless family activities include horseback riding, a second-to-none children’s program, swimming, tennis, bicycling, hiking, fishing, hunting, yoga, a zip line and ropes course, trap shooting, archery, snow tubing, ice hockey and skating on a Zamboni-groomed pond, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and more. For those who visit C Lazy U and never want to leave, private ownership opportunities are also available. For additional information, visit www.clazyu.com, or call (970) 887-3344.
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