Flying U Ranch
Flying U Ranch
4.7
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.7
117 reviews
Excellent
93
Very good
18
Average
2
Poor
2
Terrible
2
Dan F
8 contributions
Jul 2020
While the ranch and the unguided riding are the heart of the Flying U, there is so much more to do. We are a family with young children and had a blast on green lake.
Kids loved the hay rides, afternoon tubing, kayaks and boat cruise. Nightly campfires and friendly guests and amazing staff made the trip. John seems to really enjoy the lakefront aspect, making sure all the kids get a chance on the tube. My kids loved all the wildlife, catching frogs and garter snakes, as well as the horses wandering around the ranch and ready for a pet. Lot's of deer on the ranch as well.
With varying levels of riding ability the wranglers picked the right horse for everyone. Our 3 year old had fun pony rides we could guide him around the ranch on. The 7 and 8 year olds are first time riders who had calm, steady horses. Adult riders all received horses to suit their abilities. Thanks Wendy, Dave and Steve.
The food was great, plentiful and healthy. Our 3 year old is a bit of a picky eater and the kitchen staff accomodated his tastes. Accommodation is rustic but comfortable.
The coolest part of the Flying U is the ranch itself, that kind of history can't be recreated. The old log cabins, the saloon, the games room, movie theatre, stagecoaches and horses everywhere feel like you're living in an old western movie.
We felt safe with the Covid protocols in place. Indoors masks were required while getting to your table. Once at your table the seating was spaced out and you were served in your family bubble.
A real ranch experience that my family won't ever forget. Highly recommended.
Kids loved the hay rides, afternoon tubing, kayaks and boat cruise. Nightly campfires and friendly guests and amazing staff made the trip. John seems to really enjoy the lakefront aspect, making sure all the kids get a chance on the tube. My kids loved all the wildlife, catching frogs and garter snakes, as well as the horses wandering around the ranch and ready for a pet. Lot's of deer on the ranch as well.
With varying levels of riding ability the wranglers picked the right horse for everyone. Our 3 year old had fun pony rides we could guide him around the ranch on. The 7 and 8 year olds are first time riders who had calm, steady horses. Adult riders all received horses to suit their abilities. Thanks Wendy, Dave and Steve.
The food was great, plentiful and healthy. Our 3 year old is a bit of a picky eater and the kitchen staff accomodated his tastes. Accommodation is rustic but comfortable.
The coolest part of the Flying U is the ranch itself, that kind of history can't be recreated. The old log cabins, the saloon, the games room, movie theatre, stagecoaches and horses everywhere feel like you're living in an old western movie.
We felt safe with the Covid protocols in place. Indoors masks were required while getting to your table. Once at your table the seating was spaced out and you were served in your family bubble.
A real ranch experience that my family won't ever forget. Highly recommended.
Written July 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BCFamily
Coquitlam, Canada12 contributions
Jun 2020 • Family
Accommodation
The accommodation is basic, don’t go to the Flying U expecting luxury as you aren’t going to get it. It’s rustic with a capital R. Unless you’re staying in one of the lodges, showers, washroom etc are all shared and with COVID-19 it does mean joining a queue.
Food
The food is wholesome and plentiful, lots of fruit and veg to go with each meal. My only negative point would be that there’s a bit too much salt at times for my preference.
Staff
Everyone is super friendly and helpful with some real characters. Wendy, Dave, Tim and Jasmine in the barn are awesome and really do their best. Stacey in the lodge is quite honestly an inspiration and I don’t think I’ve met a more friendly and positive person. She is a diamond.
The Barn and Riding
This is the whole point of being at the barn for almost everyone. Wendy etc do their best with what they have but from my observation despite it being the draw of the ranch it gets the least investment. If the ranch doesn’t get some real dollars into caring for the horses they will lose their competitive advantage. In the time I was there 3 horses were injured (including a puncture wound) because the proper investment hasn’t been made into the corral fencing.
The barn team are obviously doing their best with what they have and go above and beyond the with the tools they have. Without Wendy, I’m pretty sure things would fall apart.
COVID-19
The ranch has protocols in place the biggest issues are that some guests don’t follow them and some of the staff seem hesitant to enforce spacing and mask wearing indoors, I know people are on holiday but this is non-negotiable right now. Ariel, is definitely on top of things but she’s fighting a losing battle. I think the ranch is still experimenting with the best way of doing things so I’m sure this will be sorted soon.
Overall
We had an awesome time at the ranch and will go back for sure. As an experienced equestrian with an academic background in equine management there’s a number of changes I’d like to see made to the barn area. Happy to discuss with the owner if he wants to go from strength to strength.
The accommodation is basic, don’t go to the Flying U expecting luxury as you aren’t going to get it. It’s rustic with a capital R. Unless you’re staying in one of the lodges, showers, washroom etc are all shared and with COVID-19 it does mean joining a queue.
Food
The food is wholesome and plentiful, lots of fruit and veg to go with each meal. My only negative point would be that there’s a bit too much salt at times for my preference.
Staff
Everyone is super friendly and helpful with some real characters. Wendy, Dave, Tim and Jasmine in the barn are awesome and really do their best. Stacey in the lodge is quite honestly an inspiration and I don’t think I’ve met a more friendly and positive person. She is a diamond.
The Barn and Riding
This is the whole point of being at the barn for almost everyone. Wendy etc do their best with what they have but from my observation despite it being the draw of the ranch it gets the least investment. If the ranch doesn’t get some real dollars into caring for the horses they will lose their competitive advantage. In the time I was there 3 horses were injured (including a puncture wound) because the proper investment hasn’t been made into the corral fencing.
The barn team are obviously doing their best with what they have and go above and beyond the with the tools they have. Without Wendy, I’m pretty sure things would fall apart.
COVID-19
The ranch has protocols in place the biggest issues are that some guests don’t follow them and some of the staff seem hesitant to enforce spacing and mask wearing indoors, I know people are on holiday but this is non-negotiable right now. Ariel, is definitely on top of things but she’s fighting a losing battle. I think the ranch is still experimenting with the best way of doing things so I’m sure this will be sorted soon.
Overall
We had an awesome time at the ranch and will go back for sure. As an experienced equestrian with an academic background in equine management there’s a number of changes I’d like to see made to the barn area. Happy to discuss with the owner if he wants to go from strength to strength.
Written June 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tracey_O68
Surrey, Canada76 contributions
Sept 2020 • Friends
We were a group of 7 ladies. 3 of us stayed at the ranch 40 yrs ago in elementary school. It was so cool to go back and see the changes, and how some things had not changed.
The wranglers were wonderful to deal with. Amely did a great job in matching the horses with riders. We had very mixed group when it came to our riding skills. The horses were great! We've requested our same ones for next year's trip. YES we enjoyed it so much that we have already booked for next September.
We stayed in the Lake House. It is needing some TLC. We had a night of rain and I woke up in the morning to a large puddle in front of the front door. Water was running down the logs above the door. We would have liked to sit out on the porch in the rain, but were unable to because the roof is full of holes. There are multiple light fixtures with no bulbs. Something simple to fix.
The food was good and all of the staff did a great job with serving it. I'm sure the covid protocols they've implemented have not made it easy.
Arial was a pleasure to deal with. Busy girl that was all over the place.
We are do looking forward to going back next year!
The wranglers were wonderful to deal with. Amely did a great job in matching the horses with riders. We had very mixed group when it came to our riding skills. The horses were great! We've requested our same ones for next year's trip. YES we enjoyed it so much that we have already booked for next September.
We stayed in the Lake House. It is needing some TLC. We had a night of rain and I woke up in the morning to a large puddle in front of the front door. Water was running down the logs above the door. We would have liked to sit out on the porch in the rain, but were unable to because the roof is full of holes. There are multiple light fixtures with no bulbs. Something simple to fix.
The food was good and all of the staff did a great job with serving it. I'm sure the covid protocols they've implemented have not made it easy.
Arial was a pleasure to deal with. Busy girl that was all over the place.
We are do looking forward to going back next year!
Written September 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linda W
Victoria, Canada11 contributions
Jun 2020
I went with 6 girlfriends (all in our 60's) and we all had the best time. I was unsure about going there due to COVID, but I was very impressed with all the measures that were in place to keep us safe. The owner and staff have really worked hard - from rearranging the tables in the lodge to keep our 'bubble group' away from others, to using disinfectant foggers in the washrooms and cabins. There are also a few new improvements around the ranch, including new mattresses in every cabin! They are very comfortable - I no longer need to haul my memory foam mattress with me when I go. The food was better than ever - thanks Kim. So happy to have some great chats with Steve. We all had a fabulous experience!
Written June 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
horse lover
victoria, bc8 contributions
Jul 2020
Been going to the Flying U numerous times over the past 15 years. The riding every year is the highlight of my summer. The accommodations and food are rustic and appropriate for ranch life. Wendy and her wrangler crew were amazing in spite of the working conditions they faced. Management clearly has significant problems this year as it was obvious the staff was nervous and browbeaten. This was NOT as a result of the COVID challenges. I hope management changes their ways or it will have serious consequences on the normally chill and horsy vibe of the place.
Written July 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KarenElizabeth0511
Victoria, Canada25 contributions
Aug 2020
This was my first time back since the ownership changed and we had a great time. As usual, beautiful scenery and the wranglers were amazing. The riding really pushes you to your limits and it is amazing to be able to go on these unguided trips. It's truly unique and I've been to other ranches, but always come back! My first horse was a bit testy for my horseback riding level and they were very helpful with tips and set me up with a lovely new horse. Not that I didn't like my first horse, but he was a bit too much horse for me! The food was very good and the accomodations had some nice updates like new mattresses and the cabins were better insulated - the wood stove keeps you nice and warm. The trails were much better marked than on previous visits. Also, nice to have the boat and kayaks by the lake. I'd like to especially thank Dave, the superwrangler, he was just awesome!!
Written September 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
acervartan
Vancouver, Canada1 contribution
This worn-out ranch has seen much better days. Having changed hands a few times, it has not done well under its newest ownership. Poorly maintained facility and trails along with the most decrepit horses you have ever seen. Crusty and mean spirited ranch hands with laughable superiority complexes. They have recently reduced their rates, a sign of a failing business, but it still isn't worth the cash. Combine this with poor communication and inconsistent meals and there isn't much left to recommend. There are better places with much better staff and accommodation both within and outside BC. Do yourself a favour and avoid this feeble horse ranch.
Written September 23, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
yousef a
Kuwait City, Kuwait10 contributions
Jun 2019 • Friends
very bad management. we booked for 2 days of horse back riding, 4 months in advance. the owner cancelled our rides on the second day without a notice ! the sad thing is despite them knowing that one of the horses of our group was not ready for long rides and they told us that they gave the horse some pain killers before the ride so that it can walk, they made this horse go for a long ride regardless on the first day! this act of animal cruelty is unjust. on the second day the owner decided without notice to cancel our rides. despite all of that the owner did not apologize and accused us of riding the horse too hard, although they knew that the horse is not suitable for long rides because of its condition!
very bad experience with this new management, very rude and unprofessional. the horse back riding experience in it self is good but the way we were treated made us feel that we were unwelcomed.
very bad experience with this new management, very rude and unprofessional. the horse back riding experience in it self is good but the way we were treated made us feel that we were unwelcomed.
Written June 17, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
walkertoth
White Rock, Canada21 contributions
Over the phone, they said they accommodate a non beef eater. Upon arriving, almost every meal contained beef, and I was told "we're not a restaurant". Yes, but you are an all inclusive who said it wouldn't be a problem when you were taking our $2000.00 All meals are served stone cold as the guests have to wait outside until a bell is rang to enter the dining room where all the food is already sitting on the table going cold. The few meal items that are brought out hot are served to the staff table first. No matter which table our group sat at, we were fed every single meal AFTER the staff table had been fed. They could learn a lot about customer service. The first night, there was not enough food and the cook said she had been told to cook for 18, well with the staff there was over 26 but don't worry the staff were not the ones to go hungry.
Written September 15, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
saram042
Langley City, Canada1 contribution
Sept 2010 • Couples
We have been coming to the Flying U for almost 10 years, and it is a super relaxing holiday!!
It is a historic, rustic ranch with all the ammenities, you need to have great comfortable time.
It is defenitely not a place to go if you need 5 star service and spa ammenities, but you are at a ranch for pete sake...you can get the 5 star experience anywhere....
The food is good, the staff are friendly and helpful, the horses are safe and in great shape. The Fremlins are back in charge and the new lodge is up and running, after loosing it to a fire a couple of years ago. Nothing like riding all day, unguided, eating dinner, and sitting by a campfire under the cariboo stars sharing stories of your days adventures. You need to try it, you'll be hooked.
It is a historic, rustic ranch with all the ammenities, you need to have great comfortable time.
It is defenitely not a place to go if you need 5 star service and spa ammenities, but you are at a ranch for pete sake...you can get the 5 star experience anywhere....
The food is good, the staff are friendly and helpful, the horses are safe and in great shape. The Fremlins are back in charge and the new lodge is up and running, after loosing it to a fire a couple of years ago. Nothing like riding all day, unguided, eating dinner, and sitting by a campfire under the cariboo stars sharing stories of your days adventures. You need to try it, you'll be hooked.
Written June 19, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
what is the weight restrictions for horseback riding
Written January 8, 2017
It varies between people (athleticism is definitely a factor), but we're confident both rider and horse can be comfortable around 260 lbs. Above that it is recommended the rider speak with us directly. Feel free to contact us via phone or email for more information.
Written January 8, 2017
Hi, my friends and I are thinking about selecting the flying u. We are all horse owners and advanced riders. Can you tell me what the terrain is like and does the ranch and or riding seem remote? We like to get off the grid and are concerned it maybe to populated as when we look at google earth there seem to be many homes around. Would appreciate any info you can provide. Thanks
Kristin
Written September 17, 2015
Victoria G
Kamloops, Canada
There are lots of meadows and lakes, big skies, rolling hills and
with a view of mountains in the distance.
The riding area does seem remote to most people except along the main road approaching the ranch there are houses.
Written September 29, 2015
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