By Susie Morgan
“Nothing quite compares to experiencing Georgia O’Keeffe landscapes from the saddle of a horse.”
The rides vary in terrain and difficulty and length, all of which can take you over ridges, on top of mesas, through streams, and immerse you in the landscapes Georgia O’Keeffe studied, painted, and made famous. You’ll pass the dead Juniper that she painted in the 1930s – the dead tree still stands and looks exactly like her painting from 80+ years ago. Nature’s colors of rust, tan, white, and brown that layer the surrounding hills and mesas are stunning.
Wranglers Jeff and Bri point out famous landmarks as painted by Ms. O’Keeffe, and offer a wealth of Ghost Ranch history for riders – geographic, historic, flora and fauna. When you return to the Ghost Ranch stables, inside the barn there is an O’Keeffe book on hand of photos and correlated paintings for the rider to recall the day’s sights and see the reality next to the painting. Nothing quite compares to experiencing Georgia O’Keeffe landscapes from the saddle of a horse.
The Wranglers are very experienced and work to match each horse with the rider’s skill, and keep a watchful eye on trail because safety is the top priority. Today, we pass an old-looking, roof-sagging log cabin only to learn that this was built specifically for the City Slickers movie set in 1991. So it is not old at all, but it blends with the historic scenery made famous by Georgia O’Keeffe. Enough movies have been shot here that there is even a movie tour for movie buffs.
It was Arthur Pack that initially introduced Georgia O’Keeffe to the Burro House where she preferred to stay, and which Mr. Pack then sold her by the end of her summer visit in 1939. Arthur Pack launched Nature Magazine, which sold for 35 cents a copy in 1941. He had traveled the USA extensively before settling with his family in New Mexico at the now-famous Ghost Ranch in 1936. The foresight of this visionary naturalist saved Ghost Ranch for generations to come by gifting the ranch to Presbyterian Church USA. By donating the Ranch to a not-for-profit, the Ranch was saved from development and from a single person buying it and closing out the public.
Today, Ghost Ranch is an education and retreat center hosting over 300 retreats per year including arts, writing, sustainability, health and wellness, peace and justice, archaeology, paleontology and interfaith spirituality. Although few of the programs are religious, many visitors feel a strong connection to creation once they step out of their cars.
Archaeology and paleontology study programs have been in place for 45 years and are still ongoing. Ghost Ranch is a world-renowned site for Triassic Paleontology studying the Chinle foundation layer and for dinosaur discoveries. Visitors can tour the archaeology and paleontology museums and dig sites, and even register for the week-long exploration and participate in these studies.
Daily passes for Culture and Adventure tours are also available Tuesday through Saturday. Culture includes a history tour or the O’Keeffe landscape tour. The adventure tour includes varied hikes, canoe/kayaking on the lake, archery, and other activities.
Ghost Ranch also caters weddings for those seeking an unforgettable wedding destination.
Lodging for as many as 350 people is available year-round with ongoing renovations to the lodging rooms during the past couple of years. Over 65 people from the surrounding communities are employed full-time at Ghost Ranch in addition to part-time staff and volunteers.
For me, the horseback ride was superb – a ride that even long-time locals might find inspiring and maybe even a chance to reconnect with your inner-self.
For reservations for Retreats, Culture/Adventure Day Passes, or Horseback Rides, go to Ghost Ranch or call 505.685.1000. Toll-free: 877.804.4678.
Ghost Ranch is self-funding, so both volunteers and donations are needed. To donate, click here. To Volunteer, click here.
Photos by Susie Morgan and Jamie Clifford, courtesy of Ghost Ranch.
Article originally featured on SantaFe.com – June 29, 2015