Kay El Bar Guest Ranch

KAY EL BAR GUEST RANCH

Wickenburg, Arizona

LOCATED JUST OUTSIDE THE COWBOY TOWN OF WICKENBURG, ARIZONA

And listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Kay El Bar is an authentic, intimate western dude ranch just over an hour northwest of Phoenix.

Discover abandoned gold mines along the rocky mountain trails or ride through the sandy Hassayampa Riverbed. Create memories that will warm your soul and last a lifetime. Become a part of the Kay El Bar family.

RANCH HISTORY

1909

Eighteen-year-old Romaine Lowdermilk purchased 160 acres of Arizona ranchland from the U.S. Land Office for $1.25 an acre. The working cattle ranch was named KL Bar, in honor of his mother Katherine Lowdermilk. The KL Bar brand was registered this year and the ranch eventually grew to 640 acres.

1914

The first adobe building, the current Homestead House guest casita, was built as the ranch headquarters and a bunk house for the cattle wranglers. A number of adobe brick building were built over the years by the Maricopa Tribe who lived on the nearby reservation. The adobe bricks are 12 to 18 inches thick.

1918

Just nine years after Lowdermilk started the ranch, the first paying guests arrived. Kay El Bar was still a working cattle ranch then, but an enthusiastic newspaperman who had visited the ranch spread the word about the “authentic western experience” and soon paying guests started arriving.

1925

Lowdermilk took a partner, Henry Warbasse, with the goal of developing a full-time dude ranch. The first structure they built was the large adobe lodge, which is still used to house guests. The rafters of the main lodge were taken from the old El Dorado gold mine 16 miles away and brought by horses to the ranch.

Kay El Bar Guest Ranch

1926

Kay El Bar became a full-time guest ranch. Most guests arrived by train at the Wickenburg station, where they were transported by Touring Packard to the ranch.

1970

Romaine Lowdermilk, founder of Kay El Bar Ranch, dies at age 80. He became known as the “Father of the Arizona Dude Ranch,” first establishing Kay El Bar as a guest ranch and later starting other Arizona ranches. He had a second career as one of the first cowboy entertainers.

1975

In recognition of its contribution to the State of Arizona and its historical significance, Kay El Bar was placed on the State Register of Historic Places in 1975.

1979

Kay El Bar was placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1979.

2012

After many years as a guest ranch, Kay El Bar was converted back to a private ranch.

2018

On the 100th anniversary of welcoming the first paying guests, Kay El Bar resumes operation as a guest ranch.

GET BACK TO YOUR ROOTS

Kay

El Bar Guest Ranch

LODGING

An authentic Western guest ranch with modern accommodations. Original adobe brick buildings and Spanish architecture are a picture postcard and offer inviting quarters for approximately 25 guests.

MAIN LODGE ROOMS

Comfortable and charming, each guest room in the lodge has a private modern bath. Choose from king, queen or twin rooms.

HOMESTEAD HOUSE CASA GRANDE

Casa Grande is a spacious accommodation with access by a private entrance, a fireplace and a cozy sitting area. It sleeps up to four.

The Homestead House is ideal for a group of up to seven people. It offers spacious housing with a private entrance and living area.

Kay El Bar Guest Ranch

ADVENTURES

Discover saguaro forests and slot canyons along the rocky mountain trails, and ride through the sandy Hassayampa Riverbed or among giant Saguaros. Create memories that will warm your soul and last a lifetime.

Life at the Kay El Bar centers around our horses and riding program, which offers a well-trained string of horses for every experience level. Try your hand at sport shooting, or explore the desert via guided UTV tour. Enjoy a hike through the nearby desert terrain where there is a variety of vegetation, including the incredible giant saguaro, prickly pear and barrel cactus. Or choose to take it easy by the pool, in the hot tub or in the hammocks under our majestic 100-year-old trees.

HORSEBACK RIDING

RELAXING

GUIDED UTV TOURS

CATTLE WORK HIKING SPORT SHOOTING

ARCHERY

EXPLORE THE SONORAN DESERT

Kay El Bar Guest Ranch

DINING

Each delicious meal is cooked by our professional chefs in our homey ranch kitchen. Meals are served familystyle in the dining room, on the patio and on the trail.

A fresh pot of coffee is ready in the dining room for our early risers, followed by breakfast before the first ride. We serve cowboy-hearty breakfast, including fresh fruit, cereal and homemade specialties of the day.

Lunch can be enjoyed in the dining room or on the patio between morning and afternoon riding and adventures.

There’s a social hour every evening in the lodge; it’s a great way to swap stories and mingle with fellow guests and the wranglers. Dinner is served family style. Savor home-cooked goodness, including garden vegetables and crisp salads and warm rolls; as well as choice meats, fish and poultry.