The story of The Hideout Lodge & Guest Ranch consists of many tales and experiences that when melded together create “Your Experience”.  These stories try to put into words the type of experience that you can expect while vacationing here in Shell, Wyoming.

The story of The Hideout Staff, our secret…

Our staff comes from different walks of life, background and education. They all have their stories as to why they love to work for The Hideout and why they believe that this is the best valley to raise kids and start families. They all share a genuine passion for the West, hospitality, horses, ranching, the outdoors and being a part of offering you the best and most unique guest ranch vacation ever. We want The Hideout Guest Ranch to be the best dude ranch to work at, as we believe that a happy and passionate staff is part of ensuring an exceptional guest experience.

What sets us aside from most other guest ranches is that we employ our key staff year-around. Read more about our culture by clicking on www.thehideout.com/people.html

 

The Story of our Guests

Many of our guests come to The Hideout looking for an experience that blends Equestrian activities, the remote outdoors, an authentic ranch experience and upscale pampering.

Guests arrive from around the world and return frequently.  They have many stories to share about The Hideout, but they will all agree that the reason they return is “The Hideout Story”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Story of our Horses

Horses are the heart of any Guest Ranch. We believe that our horses are as good as they get at a dude ranch. Whether you ride every day or are swinging in to the saddle for the first time, we have the horse that is right for you. Natural Horsemanship is a standard practice, which means we handle our horses in a gentle manner, designed to keep their stress and ours to an absolute minimum. Our key wranglers are also trainers and during the off-season, when not riding with guests, they start our colts, train and fine-tune our guest ranch horses and offer clinics and trainings at The Hideout Guest Ranch.

 

The Story of The Hideout Adventures

David and Paula Flitner founded The Hideout Adventures in 1992. They have nurtured it over the years and it has grown and expanded to what The Hideout is now. Paula and David are still an integral part of the ranch, however they have handed over the reins to family members Peter and Marijn and The Hideout staff.

The Hideout started out as an upscale working cattle guest ranch. Over the years other adventures and an excellent equestrian program where added, however we remain loyal to our commitment to offer the best working cattle ranch experience out West.

During the summer season we keep the guest count between 15 to 25 people, as we feel this maximizes the guest experience.  With a string of 85 horses we assure excellent mounts at all times for our guests. Our horses are bred and raised for this challenging terrain, keep our guests safely mounted for a day of herding cattle or fun and exciting trail rides. Other activities like overnight stays, fly-fishing, trap shooting, hiking and riding lessons are also available. In conjunction with an excellent equestrian training & clinic program, The Hideout is excited to offer a unique Fly-Fishing & Fishing program, starting in the 2010 season.
Please see our Fly-Fishing link on this website.

 
 The Flitner Ranch Story

In addition to our recreational permits and private lands The Hideout Guest Ranch shares close to 300,000 acres of private, BLM (Bureau of Land Management) and National Forest permits with the Flitner Ranch. Nestled alongside of the Big Horn Mountains, four generations of the Flitner family have worked the ranch and resided here since 1906.  The 100 year-old Flitner Ranch remains an oasis of peace and solitude in this fast-paced world. Paula and David Flitner expanded the ranch to its currents size, encompassing over a quarter million acres. This property offers incredible diverse terrain and spectacular views in all directions.

There are 1,300 head of Black Angus mother cows with calves, 400 head of yearlings, offering our guests plenty of opportunities to experience riding with real cowboy wranglers in a safe environment. Today the Flitner Ranch is managed by David’s son Greg and his family.

 

The Story of Shell and The Big Horn Basin. 

The Hideout is located in Shell, Wyoming, (population 50, elevation 4200 feet) in the beautiful Shell Valley of the Big Horn Basin at the entrance of the dramatic Shell Canyon. It is only 110 miles east of Yellowstone National Park, and 60 miles east of Cody, Wyoming. The nearest town is across the Big Horn Mountains, approximately a one-and-a-half hour drive. The story of Shell starts millions and millions of years ago and the many exposed formations are a visible testimonial of this history. Shell is a popular destination for paleontologists from around the globe digging for rare species of dinosaur remains and other fossils.

 

The Story of The Big HornMountains & National Park and Cloud Peak Wilderness

At 4,100 feet in the high-desert valley of salt sage, cactus, and prehistoric dinosaur discoveries, we climb the rocky canyons of Shell Creek, White Creek, and Trapper Creek, through wide-open range, to an elevation of over 10,000 feet in the Bighorn National Forest and Cloud Peak Wilderness Area, which measures close to 13,067 feet. The green alpine meadows and pine forests are home to the majestic elk and mule deer. Crystal-clear mountain lakes and streams harbor native trout. With this as your back yard, The Hideout Guest Ranch is the perfect spot for your next vacation.

 

The Culinary Story of The Hideout

The Hideout started out offering good Western fare, but over the years has become more and more known for offering an excellent culinary experience.

Our culinary-schooled chefs prepare delicious, enticing gourmet dinners which are the perfect end to a perfect day. Chris Dalin, The Hideout’s executive chef, was schooled at Le Cordon Bleu. He is a native to both Wyoming and the local community and has worked at The Hideout for several years. Rob Howe, the executive chef at our nearby Trapper Creek Lodge, is also a culinary schooled chef. Rob trained in Colorado, California and New York. Both of our chefs are best friends and are constantly challenging each other to come up with new and innovative dining experiences.