THE INTERVIEW
MSSD: Let’s start with a little
background on how you came to
own the ranch. Was it a dream
since you were a child?
Independence Reins at
Stagecoach Trails
Guest Ranch
Arriving at Stagecoach Trails Guest Ranch is a bit like arriving home from a long trip.
Dan and Carrie and family greet you at the entrance, take your bags and show you to
your room. No ne ed to formally check in or take care of any other details, all that can be
done later. As you walk past the pastures and horses, one begins to sense just how special
this place is. Carrie points up to the dinner bell and advises to keep an ear out for the
day's home cooked meals, each freshly prepared by their family members working in the
kitchen. Forgot a toothbrush? No problem, just stroll to the gift shop which works on the
honor system. If your in the mood for a soft drink or a beer, just take. Guest rooms are
spacious and well appointed. And the riding is spectacular, as well as the evening's star
kissed skies. It takes a day or two before you realize that you are at an award winning
dude ranch which also offers full service activities to the disabled. At Stagecoach, all are
able.
Welcome home.
-Kris Costa
Visit Stagecoach Trails Guest Ranch's website http://www.stagecoachtrailsranch.com
or call them Toll Free: 866-444-4471 ~ Local: 928-727-8270 for more information.
SCR: My dream started 45 years
ago, when I was about 10 years
old. I love to read books and
I also love horses. My favorite
stories while growing up were
Trixie Belden mysteries. Trixie
Belden is very similar to Nancy Drew except her mysteries
revolved around horses. One of
my favorite Trixie adventures is
called “The Mystery in Arizona”.
Trixie, Honey and their siblings
visit an Arizona dude ranch,
solving a mystery while they are
there. I think I read that story
about a hundred times (no exaggeration!) and I told myself and
anyone who would listen to me
“when I grow up, I am going to
own a dude ranch just like Trixie
Belden stayed at!” (That book sits
proudly on display in our lodge
as a reminder of where my dream
began.)
My family’s dream started 21
years ago when we took our fi st
dude ranch vacation together in
Colorado. I thought this would
be a perfect time to see what
dude ranches were all about
since I had not been at one yet.
Unfortunately we had to leave
our oldest daughter Amy behind
because there weren’t any accessible ranches available. Amy has
Cerebral Palsy, is also mentally
challenged and is in a wheelchair.
It was very difficult to bring her
on family vacations because of
the accessibility issues and dude
ranches were no exception. We
had such a wonderful time at the
ranch. We decided during our
visit that this was defin tely something our family wanted to do
together. I knew Amy was a big
part of our decision in determining that this was the new life we
wanted.