Nine Reasons to Love Winter at Rocking Horse Ranch in New York

This past week, we had the chance to visit one of our favorite resorts in the Northeast, Rocking Horse Ranch. Located just outside Poughkeepsie in the Hudson Valley of New York, Rocking Horse Ranch is a 500 acre resort that is home to over 120 horses (dubbed “The Best Herd in the World”), the Big Splash Indoor Waterpark and outdoor Eldorado Hot Springs, Winter Fun Park, Main Lodge filled with activities and spaces to relax, the Longhorn Dining Room, and a beautiful lake (that is filled with activities in the summer). We had so much fun when we visited in the summer, we knew we wanted to return and check out the resort during the winter. 

The team at Rocking Horse Ranch was kind enough to invite us back and let us bring some friends along for the adventure! Once again, we were greeted by friendly, inviting staff; a warm, clean, safe resort; and a day filled with fun activities and great memories.

Lodging Options: Rocking Horse ranch offers 113 rooms in the Main Lodge and adjacent Oklahoma Building. Main Lodge rooms, designed as a traditional hotel, have either two queen beds to sleep four guests or two queen beds and a bunk bed to sleep six guests, all with spacious sitting areas and well appointed bathrooms. Oklahoma Building rooms, designed as a walkout motel style, include single and double queen beds with bunk beds and sitting areas and full bathrooms, as well as a few suites with separate sleeping areas and two full bathrooms.  We recommend staying in the Main Lodge’s Texas Wing during winter months to be near the indoor pool and waterpark (no need to go outside!) as well as many other resort amenities and staying in the Oklahoma Building (especially if you’re traveling with younger children) for less noise and easier access to the playground and outdoor spaces. See all of the room types and set ups here. 

Meals: Each night stay at Rocking Horse Ranch includes a three course dinner on the night of arrival and a breakfast buffet and lunch buffet the next day in the Longhorn Dining Room. Guests can make timed dinner reservations upon arrival. There’s a wide variety of salads and fruits available at each meal, as well as several main dishes at the buffets, and the resort is great at accommodating dietary restrictions and allergies. Ice cream is ALWAYS a big hit at lunch and dinner, too!

This week on the blog, we’re sharing nine reasons to love Rocking Horse Ranch in the winter, but the list of daily activities goes much longer than nine. Check the daily itinerary here and see the resort map here. Note that all activities and meals are included in the price of a stay; the only additional charges are arcade games and alcoholic beverages. 

Nine Reasons to Love Winter at Rocking Horse Ranch:

1. Winter Fun Park: The summertime mountain tubing turns into a two lane, 500 foot snow tubing chute in the winter. The adjacent ski hill is great for beginners learning to ski (there’s also a smaller baby hill with a pulley for the toddler beginner crew). Both the snow tube and ski hills, open through mid March, use a “magic carpet” conveyor lift to get to the top- super easy and safe for everyone. There’s also a small ice skating rink open through the end of March. The best part? ALL equipment (skates! skis! boots! tubes!) are included. 
2. Laser tag: Warm up and burn energy INSIDE at the Galactic Heroes laser tag game in the arena behind the ice skating rink. 
3. Arts and Crafts: Rocking Horse Ranch offers daily arts and crafts activities- a great way to create a keepsake souvenir of your adventures home. Check the daily itinerary for times and locations. 

4. The horses: Guests are guaranteed an hour-long trail ride on one of over 100 horses. There are usually four or five scheduled rides each day, and guests can choose from “gentle”, “intermediate” and “advanced” rides. The resort also offers “pony rides” throughout the day for guests under 48 inches. Guests who wish to experience multiple rides can try the ‘stand by” line for second or third rides. Be sure to bring closed toed shoes and long pants, and sign up for a time when you check in. Guests who don’t want to ride can still see and visit with the horses during the daily horse parade- check the daily schedule for times. And be sure to stop be and see the Scottish Highland Cows, miniature donkeys, and Nigerian Dwarf Goats in the Highland Cattle exhibit outdoors near the stable and rifle range.
5. The “Chef’s Tasting” each afternoon: We remember this feast fondly from our summer visit- tons of snacks like cheese and crackers, veggies and homemade dips, freshly made guacamole and salsa and chips, flatbread pizzas as well as a special feature each day (we had chili!) Plus there’s a popcorn machine, Shirley Temples and a featured drink for the adults. There’s also a drink and pastry buffet in the Main Lodge which offers hot drinks, chilled water, and freshly made pastry treats throughout the day.
6. Friendly competitions: Test your trivia knowledge with daily competitions like movie trivia, Guess the Logo, Riddle Me This, and Wagon Wheel of Fortune. Guests can win all sorts of resort souvenirs. Check the daily itinerary for times and locations (usually in the Main Lodge). 

7. Big Splash Indoor Waterpark and Eldorado Hot Springs: What’s better after a morning outside on the slopes or trails than relaxing in a warm pool?! The waterpark includes an obstacle course, indoor water slide, and zero entry space with water features for the toddler crowd. The main pool is four feet deep at the deepest section and there are plenty of lounge chairs for spectators. The Eldorado Hot Springs, for guests ages six and older, is accessible from indoors so guests can stay warm the whole time, while enjoying fresh air. 
8. Indoor games: The rifle and shooting range are open all day with trained staff to teach guests how to shoot. The building is located in front of the Blacksmith Shop. The lower level of the Main Lodge is home to a two lane mini bowling alley, tons of arcade games, and table games like foosball, ping pong, and life size Connect4. 
9. Nightly entertainment: There’s nightly karaoke and shows with local magicians, comedians, and musicians in the Silverado Saloon in the Main Lodge. 

A special note: Guests can save 15% when they book a future stay before departing the resort. We highly recommend visiting Rocking Horse ranch in winter AND summer. We know two families who have done this for years and make a visit to Rocking Horse Ranch an annual event- they recommended we check out the resort and we’re so grateful we did. 

Disclosure: Our group was hosted by Rocking Horse ranch; all opinions expressed are my own.