I chose this ranch by pure chance when I decided to take my trip to Wyoming, and I never thought I would leave a piece of my heart at UXU. My boyfriend and I knew the trip would be beautiful, but not this much. When we arrived at the ranch, we were greeted by John, the owner, who had great charisma and a strong personality. The ranch was nestled among the mountains, and from our room, Cheyenne, which was right in front of the horse corral, there was a dramatic, wonderful, almost cinematic view. The horses were let loose in the evening and grazed freely in the meadow with a view of the mountains; it really felt like we were in the movie Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.

Our room was small but beautiful, super cozy, all wood with every detail carefully attended to. It was a pleasure to sleep in that room, which also had a small patio with wooden rocking chairs. As for the food, it was all-inclusive, with three meals a day at set times. The main lodge was stunning, with every detail meticulously curated; all the photos on the walls were not random but were taken by John, who, besides being the ranch owner, was also a professional photographer. He was so kind to share the history of the ranch with us, and every time we met him, it was an opportunity to hear his stories. For a moment, I felt like I was in the movie The Horse Whisperer.

We also enjoyed the activities a lot. We went rafting (an experience we’ll never forget), and I rode horses as often as I could (though unfortunately never at a fast pace or trot, as the terrain was quite rocky and dangerous for galloping, which was a bit disappointing but unavoidable). We also went to a rodeo in Cody, and we stayed for three nights. If I had known I would have enjoyed it so much, I would have stayed longer. I will definitely return. I will never forget that wonderful view and the feeling of being in the land of grizzlies and wild animals (I always had the sense that there were animals around, even though I couldn’t see them). That place was fascinating, just as John was. Thanks to the entire team for making us feel almost like family; my boyfriend and I thank you. See you soon.

Piero Armenti & Martina Maceratesi, of Milan, Italy