Hunewill Guest Ranch

Hunewill Ranch History

1861- Napoleon Bonaparte Hunewill starts a lumber mill in Buckeye Canyon. He supplies lumber to the town of Bodie hauling the wood across Bridgeport Valley with teams of oxen. Later he moves down into the Bridgeport Valley with his wife Esther and son Frank, raising cattle to supply beef to the miners of Bodie.

1880- Hunewill Ranch House and Hunewill Barn are constructed.

1883-1893 Frank marries Alice and they have four children, three of whom survive: Lucile, Camille, and Stanley.

1931- Stanley and his second wife, LeNore, start taking in guests to offset the financial devastation of the Great Depression. LeNore is certain that people will come to the beautiful Bridgeport Valley to ride, fish, and work cows. She works hard to realize this dream and lives to see it grow from a few guests to over fifty a week.

Today- Stanley and LeNore’s son, Stan, his wife, Jan, and their three children (Jeff, Betsy, & Megan), Jeff and Betsy´s spouses (Denise and Jon) and grandchildren (Blair, Leslie, Tyler, Dalton, Rhiannon, & Aspen) carry on the tradition of western hospitality at the Hunewill Ranch.

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Notes About the Ranch

The elevation at Hunewill Ranch is 6500 feet. Summer temperatures range from 30o nights to 80o-90o days. We recommend that you bring a hat, sunscreen, rain jacket, and a warm jacket for our cool evenings. Dress is informal.

Boots

For your comfort and safety it is required that you and your family ride in cowboy boots. No hiking boots, lace up boots, or tennis shoes are allowed for riding. Although we suggest that you bring your own boots, we have a “boot closet” with limited sizes of used cowboy boots for our guests to use during their stay.

Deposit Requirements for Reservations

Deposit requirements are approximately 50% of your stay. No reservation is confirmed until deposit is received.

Cancellation/Deposit Refund Policy

Deposit refund, less a 25% office fee per deposit, will be made only if we are able to fill the vacant space left by your cancellation. No refund of deposit if cancellation is made with less than 21 days notice to us. Guests concerned with loss of deposit may want to consider purchasing Trip Insurance.

Payment

We accept cash, personal & travelers checks, money orders, and Visa, MasterCard and Discover.

Reductions and Special Rates

-We have reduced rates for non-riding guests. Please call us for these rates.
-We have reduced rates for 3rd adult in a room on a roll-away bed. Please call us for this rate.
-A child 12 years of age or younger, staying in a separate room, will be charged the adult single rate.

Gratuities

The suggested gratuity is 15% but we leave this up to individual preference. Gratuities are divided among the ranch personnel each week.

Children

The minimum riding age for children is 6 years. Younger children who are capable of being led on horseback are led by the babysitter. A babysitter is provided to watch your child while you are riding. This child care is included in your child’s rate.

Waivers & Releases for Non Family Members Under Age 18

Guests bringing a non-family member under the age of 18 must contact our office in advance for appropriate liability waivers and medical releases.

Dogs and Pets

DO NOT bring your dog or other pets.

Guest Laundry Facilities

A coin-operated washer and dryer are available for guest use. Detergent is available for purchase in our gift shop.

Guest Telephone Calls

A pay phone is available for guest use.

Airports

Commercial airlines fly into Reno-Tahoe International Airport in Reno, Nevada. The drive from Reno to Bridgeport, along the scenic eastern Sierra, takes approximately 2 1/2 hours. The ranch does not provide transportation between Reno and Bridgeport. Rental cars are available in Reno. Private planes can land at the Bridgeport Airport.

Gift Shop

Our newly remodeled gift shop offers a selection of Hunewill Ranch t-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, posters and postcards in addition to a selection of western gifts, hats, stuffed horses, and jewelry.

Guests Bringing Private Horses

Please contact us for our policy if you plan to bring & ride your horse. Proof of a current Coggins test and West Nile vaccination are required for all horses coming to the ranch.

Private Riding Lessons

Our wranglers offer private riding lessons for those who wish to increase their riding skills. The cost is $25 per half hour.

Corrals for Rent

The ranch rents out horse corrals in several locations. Ride into the National Forest or Hoover Wilderness and on into Yosemite National Park. Camping available on some sites. Proof of a current Coggins test and West Nile vaccination are required for all horses coming to the ranch.

Hunewill Pond

To book the Hunewill Pond for fishing, contact Ken’s Sporting Goods in Bridgeport at 760-932-7707.

Massage Therapist

We have a licensed massage therapist who offers massages and facials.

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What to Pack…

The elevation at Hunewill Ranch is 6500 feet. Summer temperatures range from 30° nights to 80°- 90° days. Sunscreen and making sure you are hydrated are vital at this altitude. The ranch atmosphere is casual, so choose comfort over style if you are short on packing space. We hope the following checklist will be helpful.

Suggestions for a one week vacation:

- 4 pairs of jeans (2 for riding and 2 for evening/daytime wear)
- Belt
- Shorts & casual skirt if desired (skirt for Square Dancing, but jeans are fine)
- 5 or 6 long sleeved shirts * (we recommend riding in long sleeves at this high altitude)
- Several t-shirts *, comfortable casual tops, etc.
- Bathing suit (especially for kids- we have swim rides)
- Sweatshirt *
- Raingear (check internet for weather conditions)
- Jacket
- 7 pairs of socks and underwear (minimum)
- 1 pair of pantyhose or bike shorts to help prevent chafing when riding
- Sleepwear
- 1 pair of pull-on riding boots (smooth sole with a heel, no lace-up boots, please). We have a “boot closet” with limited sizes of used cowboy boots for out guests to use during their stay.
- 1 pair of walking/hiking shoes
- 1 pair of shoes for evening wear (optional)
- Chaps or Chinks (optional- not necessary)
- Helmet (we provide riding helmets, but if you have your own you may prefer it)
- Hat with a stampede string (this is a string that holds your hat on your head) *
- Chapstick *
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen *
- Band-aids/moleskin *
- Any medications you may need
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Riding gloves (optional)*
- Camera
- Flashlight
- Water bottle (drinking lots of water is important at our altitude)