Cowboy core is cool again, according to travel trends predictions for 2025. Skyscanner.com found that 44 percent of all American travelers are fans of cowboy core; for younger travelers (ages 18-24) it jumps to 63 percent. CondeNastTraveler.com points to a current “global fascination with all things cowboy.”
With best-in-class agriculture and veterinary programs at Colorado State University (CSU) in Fort Collins, plus the 10th anniversary of a heralded university-affiliated bison reintroduction program, Fort Collins is steeped in authentic Western heritage. Add to that the recent announcement of the Professional Bull Riders’ (PBR) Last Cowboy Standing stop at CSU’s Canvas Stadium in July, and authentic wild west-inspired experiences across Northern Colorado, and you’ve got the makings of a true cowboycation.
Fort Collins is located approximately 45 minutes from Greeley and 50 minutes from Cheyenne, Wyoming, also making it the perfect (affordable) basecamp for The Greeley Stampede (June 25 – July 6, 2025) and Cheyenne Frontier Days (July 18-27, 2025).
Last Cowboy Standing
The PBR’s preeminently popular Last Cowboy Standing event is moving to Fort Collins this summer. The event, slated for July 21 and 22 at CSU’s Canvas Stadium, features 40 of the world’s best bull riders competing for big prize money. The Fort Collins Last Cowboy Standing stop also features country music performances from Grammy Award winner Tim McGraw and multi-platinum artist Jon Pardi. Purchase tickets at CSURams.com or PBR.com.
Bison Turn 10
In November 2015, 10 foundation bison forming the Laramie Foothills Bison Conservation Herd were released at Soapstone Prairie Natural Area. It was the first herd established using assisted reproductive technologies and the only known university program (CSU) utilizing Yellowstone bison or their genetics; Yellowstone bison are most closely related to the animals that originally roamed the nation’s grasslands.
Beyond the reintroduction, the conservation herd has another notable purpose. Following its creation, the Colorado State bison program partnered with the InterTribal Buffalo Council and has since donated 127 bison to 11 Tribal Nations. The program is part of a nationwide effort to reintroduce American bison – the country’s national mammal – to their native habitat after nearly 150 years of absence due to extinction. The InterTribal Buffalo Council is composed of 83 Native Nations, almost all located west of the Mississippi River, that collectively manage approximately 30,000 bison on 1 million acres of Tribal land. Visit Soapstone Prairie Natural Area from March – November for a chance to see the herd.
Horseback Rides
The Tattered Saddle experience is anything but typical because you get to choose your brand of adventure. Located in Livermore, just 35 minutes from downtown Fort Collins, the Tattered Saddle’s Stables at Gordon Creek host everything from a beginner trail ride to sunset rides, advanced options, and a “Scratch-and-Ride” experience that allows participants to “be a cowboy for a day.” Premium touches and reliable guides ensure every experience is memorable “for all the right reasons.” The Tattered Saddle also offers western riding lessons and horse training.
Tried-and-True Dude Ranches
Sundance Trail Guest Ranch is the smallest guest ranch in the Colorado Dude and Guest Ranch Association and they’re proud of that distinction. It allows for a relaxed, intimate atmosphere and time to connect with each guest. Sundance Trail is open year-round with seasonal activity options and a variety of cozy guest cabins and suites. Activities range from horses (of course), to rock climbing, disc golf, tomahawk throwing, guided hikes, target shooting and archery, campfires and so much more. In the winter, enjoy horseback riding, hiking or snowshoeing, relaxing by the fire and playing in the snow.
Cherokee Park Ranch is a family-owned, all-inclusive Colorado dude ranch that has been welcoming guests to the Rocky Mountain wilderness in Livermore since 1886. With historic accommodations in the 120-year-old log lodge suites and six outlying cabins, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time. The ranch’s peaceful mountain setting allows for complete relaxation and the nearby river provides a soothing soundtrack. Spot elk, mule deer, coyotes and bald eagles from your front porch, and explore the surrounding peaks and valleys on daily adventures ranging from rafting to roping to horseback rides, fly fishing, hiking and more.
Family-owned Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch lets you channel your inner cowboy at this authentic dude ranch in the foothills west of Loveland. Horseback ride on the 3,200-acre property year-round (weather dependent). See eagles soar above the red cliffs while mule deer seek the cool shade of the ponderosa forest. Other amenities include skeet shooting, tennis, pickleball, volleyball, horseshoes, ping-pong, billiards, shuffleboard, foursquare, flyfishing, an outdoor heated pool (seasonal) and basketball.
Authentic Western Experiences in Red Feather Lakes
Red Feather Lakes, located in the mountains northwest of Fort Collins with a population estimated at around 740, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2023. The rustic hamlet of Red Feather Lakes Village is surrounded by the 612,000-acre Roosevelt National Forest and boasts a trading post, a tavern and a handful of boutique shops and restaurants. The area is also home to: the authentic, “all-American western luxury guest ranch and fly fishing lodge” Rawah Ranch; six fully furnished lakefront cabin rentals (and the Tavern) at Marr’s Mountain Cabins; and lodging, camping, horseback riding, fishing, hiking and more at Beaver Meadows Ranch Resort.
Local Hat Makers
Greeley Hat Works, the official hat-maker for the hit television series “Yellowstone,” creates handcrafted cowboy hats using the same traditional Parisienne hat-making tools the company opened with back in 1909. Hatmaker Trent Johnson, the fourth owner of Greeley Hat Works and a former apprentice at the shop, is a passionate artist and entrepreneur. Johnson has made it his mission to provide exceptional hats for the everyman (and woman). From rodeo cowboys to ranchers, U.S. presidents to dignitaries and celebrities, Greeley Hat Works is renowned for its high-quality products and impeccable service.
Located in nearby in Ault, Colorado, Hamblen Hats is worth the drive. Hatmaker Travis Hamblen started the business out of a mobile trailer and opened a storefront a few years ago. Hamblen’s hats carry the Flying H brand, which stands for “heritage, hope and history.” The company builds custom hats, carries stock hats that can be custom fit or designed, and offers cleaning and refurbishing for old favorites.
Cowboy Cuisine
Originally opened by the Nelson brothers – Willard and Vern – as a small roadside diner, sporting goods store and filling station in 1946, Vern’s Place earned a reputation for neighborly service and homestyle food. A series of owners claimed Vern’s Place over the decades following, with Harvey and Dinah Kittle making the greatest impact over their 33 years. In 2023, local restauranteurs Alan and Jackie Jantzen purchased Vern’s Place and have turned personal history – in high school, Alan picked up a cinnamon roll and bottle of pop before heading into the Poudre Canyon for a little fishing – into a continued commitment of hard work, community focus and great grub.
