Old MacDonald had a Ranch

Photos macdonaldsranch.com

Though Rawhide has moved 30 miles South (see Rawhide blog of Nov. 7), MacDonald's Ranch has offered an authentic cowboy experience since 1970.  Located on Scottsdale Road between Happy Valley and Dynamite, the ranch was once 36,000 acres.  Though development now surrounds the remaining 1,280 acres in North Scottsdale, groups can still take horseback rides, hayrides and have cowboy cookouts in beautiful desert wilderness.  Activities cater to children, with birthday party specialties in which some children may ride their first pony.  Events can be arranged which include a stagecoach ride complete with holdup by bandits, performances by Earl Grey, the trick pony, or trick riding, gun spinning and trick roping shows.  I have never been able to take a group there because the groups I work with have small budgets, but MacDonald's Ranch does try to help groups find a plan that will work, and they can accommodate groups over 1,000.  Yee-haw!