When you need to get away, where you stay depends greatly on what you hope to get from your experience. If you want to be pampered and feel like you’re in the lap of luxury, you visit a swanky hotel. If you want to really escape from the real world for a while, you make the trek out to a secluded cabin in the middle of nowhere.
Located near Chadron in the stunning Pine Ridge of western Nebraska, RuJoDen Ranch offers a unique type of getaway that's totally off-grid and totally relaxing. The ranch contains sheepwagons: the tiny, portable, caravan-type buildings that used to be the refuge of ranchers and shepherds out in remote areas.
You can rent one of these tiny Sheepwagon Hideouts and have your very own western adventure. To keep the experience authentic, your parking spot will be no less than one mile from your cabin. You'll have to pack in everything you'll need for your stay, including food and drinking water.
For those who can't carry all of their supplies, the ranchers can haul them to the wagon. You can also opt to purchase your food and water from the hosts and have it waiting for you upon your arrival.
The wagons are far from luxury accommodations - and that's exactly the point. It's all about the back-to-nature experience without the distractions of modern life.
The wagons are a diminutive 6.5 feet wide and 11.5 feet long, providing just enough space for two. There's no electricity or running water, which isn't as inconvenient as you might expect (short-term, anyway).
Each wagon features a bed, a dining area, some storage space, and a wood-burning stove.
A nearby stock water tank contains water for washing and bathing. Linens, cookware, eating utensils, lanterns, a sun shower, and a porta-potty are all provided.
Once you've arrived, you can use the complete isolation to relax, unplug, unwind, and get away from absolutely everything. A secluded sheep wagon is the perfect home base for a hunting expedition. To maintain the exclusivity of the experience and ensure that hunters have the best time possible, hunting parties are restricted to one per season for turkey and deer.
Catch and release fly fishing is also available on the property. Your hosts can even help you learn this lost art if it's your first time.
One thing every visitor is sure to enjoy is the pristine setting. The owners are dedicated to range management and environmental education. They can provide nature walks and education on historical range management techniques during your stay if you want to learn more about how these historic lands are being protected and preserved.
Walk some of the well-established nature trails or just gaze out at the pristine countryside all around you. There are plenty of lthings to see here, including wildlife and some of Nebraska's finest scenery. The owners also have a fascinating collection of antique horse-drawn farm machinery. Peruse the implements to take a little walk through Nebraska's past.
For more information, including contact information to book your own stay, visit the Sheepwagon Hideouts website.
It doesn’t get much more remote than this. Have you ever stayed in this unique off-grid ranch setting? We’d love to hear all about it!
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