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you can sense the love and care that went into preparing each one. The decor is unique and joyful, a true home away from home. The light flls the room as you experience a morning sunrise or an evening sunset. Either way, it adds a romantic glow over The Hideaway for its guest to embrace.

The Hideaway features a Cowboy swimming hole and four stocked fshing ponds for guest enjoyment and you can even get a cane fshing pole at the offce/general store. Guests may enjoy horseback rides, led by Trail Boss Jason. Hay rides, archery, hiking trails, wagon rides, and for the full country/ western experience - Friday night chuck wagon dinner is prepared by Chief Cook Jason. You can also enjoy Cowboy coffee and cobbler by the campfre. “We will do as much or as little as our guests want, some people just want to be left alone while other are looking for adventure!” explains Traci. In fact, Traci is even learning to play the guitar to further enhance the experience and to entertain her guests.

“We now have a new facility for group events – weddings, corporate meetings, reunions, birthdays, graduation parties, etc., called Cantina Del Sol,” explains Traci. The Cantina is rustic but colorful with a cheerful presence about it, perfect for gatherings and country weddings. As you enter the beautifully and uniquely painted door with a colorful Spanish theme it makes you feel like you are entering a secret place far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday living. The decor is as country as you can get with packed dirt foors, cedar stays and tin siding. The inside is tastefully decorated with a colorful Spanish fair. There are hay bales to sit on as well as Spanish style stools. You will fnd a catering service area for your convenience set up like an Old West bar and it is also equipped with a PA system and stage area for live music. For colder months there is a wood-burning stove nestled in the corner to keep you warm. During warmer months, the Cantina opens up as windows swing out and pop open to allow the cool breeze and country air to captivate you in this charming, but rustic setting. The Cantina also features a covered outdoor area with picnic tables and grill area for overfow of larger groups. All is conveniently located next to the fully-equipped Cowboy chuck wagon. “We recognized the need for this type of facility and experience right here in the ‘Cowboy Capital of the World' so that was part of our motivation for designing and offering the Cantina,” concludes Jason.

To emphasize on offering the best wedding setting possible, The Hideaway plans to add a Cowboy pergola for their couples to utilize. Jason already has plans at hand to build the pergola and has just the right spot in mind. Jason says, “I've already picked out the perfect wedding site on the ranch. It's a beautiful location where the trees will frame the view of the cedar post pergola complete with uniquely crafted stone benches overlooking the perfect sunset.”

“Buffalo Gulch” is the name of The Hideaway's fctitious

Old West town. Right in the heart of the ranch you will fnd the beginnings of this Old West town displaying a general store, jail, and saddle shop. “Buffalo Gulch is a work in progress, we add new and creative features to it whenever we can and are always looking for unique ways to bring a true cowboy experience to our guests. We want them to have a little ‘step-back-in-time’ experience,” states Jason. “We hope to add a chapel in the future to our little town,” gleans Traci. Another addition Jason and Traci plan to add to The Hideaway is a food section to the offce/general store area. “Since we are located in the middle of nowhere, we want to offer some food and snack items to our visitors,” says Traci. The Hideaway is always looking for ways to add adventure to your stay. They have created a fun activity for the kids to enjoy that come to visit on family vacation, the “Bank Robbery Scavenger Hunt”. This activity keeps the kids entertained for hours as they search the ranch for clues to solve a mystery. Upon completing this challenge, kids receive a shiny silver deputy badge for their efforts in cracking the case - a real favorite with the kids! “The kids have so much fun with this that we have decided to add a similar, more sophisticated adventure for the adults,” says Traci. They plan to add a geocaching challenge in the near future. (Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment.)

“People come to us from the major metro areas, although several have visited from the UK, Demark, Germany, Japan, Europe, Great Britain, Russia and China. Most people from other cultures come to us looking for a real Texas Cowboy experience and that's what we give them! A man from China, who visited, couldn't wait to ride a horse,” Traci states giggling.