In the countryside surrounding Palomino Pines, it’s crickets-chirping quiet – nothing but open land, grazing horses and whispering wind.
Not what you’d expect at a typical Airbnb. But this Kewaskum guest ranch is not typical. After a weekend escape to the 20-acre property, I’d recommend it to anyone who wants a laid-back, Western-inspired getaway, horseback riding included.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
Palomino Pines is one of the only equine properties open to the public with direct access to more than 40 miles of riding trails in the Kettle Moraine State Forest. The horses were gentle and welcoming, letting me run my hand softly over their velvety muzzles. So were the other animals.
When I arrived, a German shepherd trotted up behind my car. “We have around 100 heartbeats on the ranch: 20 chickens, nine cats, two dogs, two goats and almost 60 horses,” says co-owner Michael Ruch.
The property’s modern rustic lodging offers three private guestrooms (each with a queen-size bed). Part of the relaxed atmosphere is that Ruch, his wife Marielle, and their baby live here, too. Their fridge, stove and TV are all available for guests’ use. Dinner, for me, was grilling some fresh perch and sharing pizza with the other guests – a spontaneous, strangers-turned-friends experience.
Woodside Ranch Resort and Conference Center
MAUSTON
Rent a log cabin at this family-oriented, deep-woods escape. Explore the grounds on a trail ride accompanied by a staff member and available for all skill levels. Nightly stays are also available, with options to add trail or wagon rides.
Riverview Ranch & Resort
GALENA, ILLINOIS
At this “mini dude ranch,” you can book an overnight stay and take a ride in the pasture or indoor arena; you can also enjoy a scheduled campfire activity or rent a boat.
Riding season is year-round, weather permitting. “We use real Western saddles with horns,” says Ruch. Rides are guide-led and include a half-day option that takes you from the trails to the Rusty Spur, a country bar where you can tie your horse to a hitching post and grab a casual meal. In the summer there are horse camps, and year-round, all skill levels can take barrelracing lessons in a heated indoor arena.
In the evening, you might find yourself kicking back in an Adirondack chair in front of the firepit, making s’mores and watching the sun slip toward the horizon. “Fire time is when we turn on the stereo, point out constellations, talk about questionable decisions … the usual,” Ruch says.
Future plans at Palomino Pines include building a “barndominium,” with a community space, and hosting winter sleigh rides. My stay at this little slice of the Old West was a singularly amazing, escape-from-it-all experience, and I can’t wait to return.
Palomino Pines
W727 Mill Rd., Kewaskum
414-307-3430
palominopines.com
