Glamping at Westgate River Ranch Resort in Florida

Go glamping at Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo in central Florida for a unique experience in the great outdoors. We all know Florida as a place where dreams come true; however, few realize that can include dreams of being a cowgirl—or a pioneer—for the weekend.

Draped in oaks and sprinkled with cattle, Westgate River Ranch Resort is a longstanding institution in Central Florida that has always flown under the radar compared to the Disney parks an hour north. Nevertheless, it’s arguably equally thrilling. At the 1,700-acre River Ranch, designed primarily for families and groups, you can participate in a variety of outdoor activities, including:

• Horseback riding
• Fishing
• Hay rides
• Skeet shooting
• Archery
• Visiting the petting farm
• Swamp buggy and airboat rides
• Bungee jumping
• Riding a mechanical bull

Located on land once used by cracker cowboys for cattle drives, River Ranch was established in the 1960s and has evolved over the years. It changed ownership a few times before Westgate Resorts purchased it in 2001. Since then, it has grown into the largest dude ranch east of the Mississippi, featuring a full-service marina, adventure park, restaurant, saloon, airstrip, chapel, pool, and even the longest-running rodeo in Florida—highlighting the River Ranch experience every Saturday night.

The ranch is undeniably situated in a remote area—the closest tiny town, Lake Wales, is about half an hour away. However, everything you need for an adventure in the Florida wilderness is available on the property. The Village Shops serve as a sort of town center, housing a general store, post office, fitness center, and even a Western boutique where you can buy cowboy boots and hats to complete your look.

With numerous available activities, your visit can be as action-packed or as serene as you prefer. Yet, make sure to take time to relax in the peaceful outdoor setting, particularly at sunset when the countryside glows. This experience is best enjoyed by a campfire with s’mores in hand. Moreover, the level of access to creature comforts is up to you, with accommodations ranging from primitive or platform tent camping to RV sites, lodge rooms and suites, cabins, and cottages.

Unique Glamping Options

The primary attraction, however, is glamping. River Ranch offers several glamping options, including a modern take on pioneer life, featuring the Luxe Conestoga Wagon. This accommodation is essentially a standalone rustic-chic room, designed to resemble the covered wagons used during the 1700s and 1800s for transporting heavy loads by horse.

The wagons provide comfort for today’s traveler while retaining a dose of prairie life, offering unobstructed views of wide-open spaces and ceaseless sunshine. Importantly, while historical travelers may not have enjoyed morning coffee and pastry deliveries or an outdoor ice trough refilled daily (not to mention luxury linens and walk-in showers), you certainly will.

Additional unique glamping options include:

• Glamping tents with the comforts of a basic hotel room, but under a permanent canvas tent with nearby shared bathrooms.
• Luxury glamping tents featuring private ensuite bathrooms.
• Luxe Teepees, inspired by the traditional dwelling places of groups indigenous to the Great Plains.

Basic camping at River Ranch has its charms. However, opting for Luxe accommodations comes with additional perks, such as an assigned golf cart (while others are on a first-come, first-served basis), VIP rodeo tickets, inclusion of all resort activities, and even a nightly campfire lit by staff, complete with a s’mores kit containing everything needed for a mouthwatering dessert.

Whether you choose to visit River Ranch for full-on adventure, peaceful nights under the stars, or to reconnect with family and friends in a well-appointed version of the great outdoors—all while creating fond memories—you’ll leave with a newfound urge to tip your hat and say, “Howdy.”