
The
Ranch
Located just 1.5 hours south of the
city of Calgary, along Highway #2, in the heart of
ranch country, lies Willow Lane Ranch. This is where the rolling foothills
meet the Rocky Mountains and the stress of city life just seems to fade
away.
Come join your hosts on a real working cattle and horse ranch and
learn all about western Canadian hospitality.
The
Experience
Keith and LeAnne Lane
look forward to the arrival
of each guest knowing that your
experiences will go a long way to telling
the story of Canada's proud cowboy heritage.
This is not a dude ranch, where
trail riding is the main objective, but a working ranch.
These
folks are cowboys ... they know the country; they know cattle; they
understand the Cow Horse and they are willing to share this knowledge,
experience & way of life with you.
The
Lane's have opened the gates of their ranch to visitors, inviting guests
to ride along with them, while they perform their daily chores. You can
count on personalized service, gentle horses and a complete supply of tack;
riding boots are required, slickers are recommended.
Visitors
marvel at the vastness, the stark beauty and the diversity of landscape
that Willow Lane offers. For those who have never experienced farm or ranch
life or are wanting to reacquaint themselves with their roots
this
is time spent as they say
back to the future
a time of
rejuvenation, a time of re-discovery.
Deadlines, traffic & voice mail are all very far away.
Western
Hospitality
First and foremost, you will feel the genuine
warmth and hospitality of your hosts Keith & LeAnne. Born and raised
in the steeped cowboy ways of southern Alberta, Keith's family has ranched
in the area for several generations. LeAnne's family has provided stock
to rodeos including the world famous Calgary Stampede
for more than 50
years. The Lane's
know the country, family histories, settlement patterns and origins of folklore.
Stories of cowboy life past, present and future are easily told. In addition,
Keith and LeAnne will explain about the quiet and quaint places to discover
within the region
those hidden places that are neither mapped nor
written about.
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Western
Traditions
What
is it, you may ask? It
is
a way of life
built by men and women willing to live in an often
harsh environment away from the mainstream of society. What counts out
here on the range is mother nature - the seasons, the weather and
neighbours . The men and women of both the new and old west depend on each
other - they come together when the looming disaster of a wind-whipped
prairie fire threatens a homestead. When work is to be done requiring more
hands then normally needed, such as during spring branding, neighbours
just seem to show up to help! And they celebrate together too - it may be
a son or daughters' wedding and anniversary or a passing of a loved one.
Guests soon begin to feel the difference ... realizing they are
experiencing something authentic, something special.
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Wake up to a new
beginning
Each morning guests are greeted by LeAnne who serves a hearty ranch-style
breakfast. Wake up to the smell of coffee brewing, hear the bacon and
eggs sizzling in the kitchen. Come down to breakfast with the Lane family
- the warmth of easy conversation and laughter will draw you close around
the table.Meals are always a
highlight at Willow Lane. The ranch raised beef,
fresh produce, and scrumptious
home-made baking always keeps guests anticipating their next meal. Don't
expect to diet here! Seems the fresh air, ranch activities, and different
pace (relaxation) take the appetite to a new dimension.
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Accommodation
The ranch house feels warm and inviting and features a large front
porch with views across the powerful prairie landscape. Inside you will
delight in memorabilia and pictures attractively located throughout the
ranchhouse.Accommodation for
eight (8) is within the main ranch house Guest quarters are upstairs on
a private floor. There are 2 spacious double bedrooms that share a bathroom;
a third large bedroom, with ensuite, can accommodate 4 persons. Each room
looks out and over the bold and beautiful landscape.
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A cozy restored log
cabin with private bath located not far from the main ranch house is the
perfect setting for a romantic getaway. A queen bed, full bathroom,
small fridge, table and chairs make this a perfect hideaway. Gazing past the cabin,
views of gentle rolling hills, thickly carpeted in prairie grasses, span
the horizon. Visitors are known to marvel at the vastness, the stark
beauty, and the diversity of this land that appears surprisingly
unaffected by civilization.
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Our Guests speak their minds ... see
our
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