The Thoughtful Travel Podcast · Tuesday, July 28, 2026
Russell True reports a drastic decline in Western dude ranches, with an estimated 80% loss in states like Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado over the last 30-40 years. His organization, the Ranch Preservation Foundation, is working to preserve these ranches, which are vital for maintaining open space, ecosystems, and the culture of the West, while also providing local jobs and unique visitor experiences.
“When I first got into the Dude Ranching business, there were maybe 120 dude ranches in the state of Wyoming, maybe 100 in Montana, maybe 100 in Colorado.”
“And today, there's maybe 30 ranches in Wyoming, maybe 20 in Montana, maybe 20 in Colorado. So we've lost probably 80% of the dude ranches in those states.”
“The ranches are important to the landscape. They preserve open space. They preserve the ecosystems. They preserve the history and the culture of the West.”