USA Vacations

Hotels

Encompassing over a quarter million acres, the 100-year-old Flitner Ranch is one of the largest working cattle ranches in the American West.  Nestled at the base of the Big Horn Mountains in the tiny hamlet of Shell Wyoming is where you’ll find this pristine paradise. Like a sparkling jewel, this lush, high desert valley rests beneath azure blue skies; rolling hills unfold amid brilliant, painted hills and the world weary guest is offered unparalleled sanctuary in an authentic western setting.  Here is your chance to live the Cowboy Dreams of your childhood.

The Hideout is not your typical dude ranch… Third and fourth-generation Flitners’ along with dedicated staff, operate The Hideout guest ranch, the historic Trapper Creek Lodge & Guesthouse, the remote mountainside Snowshoe Lodge and the secluded Upper Hideout. Though we are an adult-oriented, upscale guest ranch where Guests come from around the world to actively participate in the daily cattle operations, families with older children can be accommodated, allowing you to create right of passage and a life long tradition to share among your family's’ generations.   

Western-style log cabins, built in 1992, are decorated with quality furnishings in warm colors. Emerald green lawns surround these five duplex cabins, which are connected to the main lodge, othercabins, the hot-tub, and swimming pond by asphalt pathways that are lighted after dark.
 
All cabins complete with:
• Modern bathroom with shower
• Queen-size bed and pull-out sofa
• Air-conditioning & heat
• Wireless Internet & satellite television
• Guest handbook & complimentary snack basket
• Refrigerator  (stocked with beer, soda, wine, etc. upon
request, also available for sale in Store & Gift Shop)
• An outside porch with rocking chairs
• Ever-changing vistas of Shell Canyon 

Some cabins have double beds and a loft. Guest cabins are cleaned daily and sheets are changed again in the middle of the week. The Hideout at Flitner Ranch caters to your every comfort.We also provide bathrobes among the personal amenities for your use during your stay, and complimentary toiletries.
 
All this because you are neither customer nor client at the Ranch, but a guest of the Flitner family and dedicated staff. Each year, guests from around the world return to partake of our authentic Western experience and warm Wyoming hospitality, worthy of our century-long heritage. They recreate, renew friendships, and rejuvenate at their home away from home. You too can find yourself at The Hideout

Casitas at The Hideout
 
The Casitas are one-bedroom, modern western apartments. Located in a two-story, four-unit log building with back porches overlooking the orchard and Shell Creek, which guides your view toward Shell Canyon and the spectacular Big Horn Mountains beyond. The Casitas are within short walking distance from the Main Lodge, thus assuring more privacy.
 
The Casitas are complete with:
• Individual living room and kitchen
• Modern bathroom with shower
• King-size bed and pull-out sofa
• Air-Conditioning & heat
• Wireless Internet & satellite television
• Washer & dryer
• Guest handbook & complimentary snack basket
• Refrigerator  (stocked with beer, soda, wine, etc. upon
request, also available for sale in Store & Gift Shop)
• Outside porch with rocking chairs
• Ever-changing vistas of Shell Canyon  

The Casitas are cleaned daily and sheets are changed again in the middle of the week. The Hideout at Flitner Ranch caters to your every comfort. We also provide bathrobes among the personal amenities for your use during your stay, and complimentary toiletries.
 
All this because you are neither customer nor client at the Ranch, but a guest of the Flitner family and dedicated staff. Each year, guests from around the world return topartake of our authentic Western experience and warm Wyoming hospitality, worthy of our century long heritage. They recreate, renew friendships, and rejuvenate at their home away from home. You too can find yourself at The Hideout.

The Upper Hideout - Owners Lodge

Located at 8400 feet above sea level and only accessible via horseback, 4x4 or helicopter. Upper Hideout interior is beautifully decorated “Lodge style”. Features include: *Master bedroom with private bathroom & tub * 2 guest rooms with 2 bathrooms & tub * 1 guest bedroom with private bathroom & shower * 2 fireplaces * Full kitchen, Laundry room * Heated helicopter platform* * Security generator * Full wrap around deck on both levels * Your own private swimming pond * Abundant wildlife. ** Special features include a personal wrangler, private chef, snowmobiles, xc skis, snowshoes and a private guide. * Helicopter rental by request.

 Trapper Lodge 

Trapper Lodge features 3 exquisite master suites with 3 private bathrooms * 2 stone fireplaces * Commercial Kitchen * 3 additional bathrooms * Vaulted ceilings * Great Room * Elegant dining hall * Large wrap around deck * Incredible views of Chimney rock,
Pyramid Mountain and wildlife. * Amenities include wireless internet, Television and Bose stereo. * This lodge comfortably sleeps up to 8 people and is ideal for corporate retreats. Upgrades can include a private Chef and personal Wrangler.

 The Hideout Homes

The luxurious new Hideout Homes feature 2 master suites with oversize bathrooms,
private deck and sitting areas with incredible views of the Bighorn Mountains while the 3rd spacious guest suite is perfect for children and features private bath, flat screen TV and twin beds. These upscale residences are also home to The Hideout Private Residence Club, an invitation only membership opportunity for our Guests who wish to share in the Shell Valley Preservation Initiative and create a lasting legacy for their generations. The Ultimate way to experience your stay at The Hideout!

Dining

Along with the authenticity and working ranch experience, our hearty Western fare and gourmet dinners are one of the main reasons that many of our repeat guests return every year. Plus the view from the dining room of the main lodge where meals are served is simply spectacular. We can assure you that excellent dining is taken very seriously at The Hideout. Each item prepared with only the best and freshest ingredients.

Our chefs are sure to delight you, meal after wonderful meal. During our guest seasons we have two chefs on staff. Chris, our year-round chef, has the same culinary background as Rob, our previous chef at The Hideout. Chris came highly recommended by Rob. Chris' Crème Brules are out of this world. Scott, our guest chef for the 2006 season, comes to us from a well-known gourmet restaurant in San Diego, California.

To assure you make it through a day of cowboying, our breakfasts are hearty. In addition to homemade dishes that our chefs create each morning to order – such as eggs prepared any way you want them -- we also offer a breakfast selection at the buffet.

For the all-day rides, to maintain The Hideout standards for quality, hearty sandwiches are freshly prepared the morning of your ride. Otherwise, a scrumptious lunch is served in the dining room of the Main Lodge.

In the evening, we serve our guests Western-style gourmet food, elegantly presented, with either wine or beverage of choice. Of course, weather permitting but usually at least once a week, there is a cook-out where we serve amongst other tantalizing food, those juicy, marbled Flitner Ranch-raised Angus steaks.

The fresh high-country air and invigorating outdoor activities will stimulate your appetite, and at the Hideout, your taste buds will always be richly rewarded.

The Best of Both Worlds Laid
Before You

David Flitner's mother maintained her own vegetable garden from which she fed her family and many ranch hands day in and day out along with Flitner Ranch-raised meat. Paula Flitner grew up in Belgium and was schooled in the United States. But before she left home, her mother drilled into her the importance of being a good cook and homemaker. Paula Flitner has very high standards for the domestic arts and hospitality. Add to this, David and Paula Flitner's travels.

She and David Flitner have stayed at some of the best hotels and resorts in the world and dined in some of the finest restaurants in both the United States and abroad. They bring these same worldly high standards to the decor, accommodations, hospitality, food preparation and presentation, and table wines served at The Hideout.

Fly Fishing

Wyoming offers some of the best trout fly fishing in the western United States by far.

Cast to native cutthroat, rainbow, brook, and brown trout. Full-day or over-night guided fishing trips can be arranged. A wilderness fly fishing pack trip in the Cloud Peak Wilderness Area of the Bighorn National Forest is one we particularly recommend.

Fly fishermen take note: there are numerous excellent streams for trout fishing located on the Flitner Ranch or within easy driving distance of The Hideout as well. Fishing licenses can be readily obtained at Dirty Annie's general store and café in the nearby village of Shell, Wyoming.

Whether you are relatively new to the sport of fly-fishing or one of its all-out enthusiasts, you'll be pleased to know that Shell Creek conveniently runs through The Hideout property.

Our existing fishing pond along Shell Creek was enhanced and enlarged for the 2006 season, with others being established per Wyoming Fish & Game Dept guidelines. Guests are always welcome to saunter down to either the creek or fishing pond at The Hideout and spend an afternoon or a full day of catch-and-release fishing.

Trail Riding at The Hideout

Trail riding at The Hideout is another unique experience because the diversity of the countryside in which we are located. In Shell Valley you can ride through high desert and sagebrush and red cliffed canyons that make you think of Arizona or New Mexico.

Further up, you ride through either rocky/dry or green/verdant canyons, while making your way up through aspen trees and tall pine woods, crossing streams, to arrive on the wide open range. Continue climbing, that brings you to the Cloud Peak Wilderness Area with more lakes and streams. Reaching an elevation of 13,000 feet above sea level ... land of eternal snow.

We offer half-day and full-day rides, plus overnight trips (to the Upper Hideout, for instance) -- depending on the season and interests of our guests.

Mind you, that in the valley temperatures can reach over 100 F, while at the same time someone could wake up in the mountains, to find their sleeping bag covered with frost and the water in canteens quite icy. But when its hot and dusty in the valley, we haul folks up into the mountains for cooler, refreshing riding.

Cattle Work Is What Sets Us Apart

Cattle work is the signature activity of The Hideout. The Hideout legitimately boasts more genuine and necessary cattle work than any other guest ranch, bar none. Whatever cattle work -- branding or cattle drives --  that you might participate in, there is no make-believe or pretend about it on our ranch. With a couple thousand cows, their calves, and yearlings, spread over more than a quarter million acres there is always some cowboying to do.

The hands at The Hideout are not your typical dude ranch wranglers. Not only are they personable and attentive with guests, they also shoulder much of the responsibility with the care of the cattle. This means you ride with real cowboys and cowgirls and participate in day-to-day ranch activities. The horses you ride are the horses we ride. However, we take great care in matching horse and rider to assure a safe and enjoyable experience for our guests.

Branding

Cattle, cowboys, horses, and branding livestock have been the foundations of ranching since the frontiers days of the American West. A rancher's brand is his mark, his identity. And the cowhands ride for the brand.

Branding is not only a Western tradition, but an indelible and legal form of identification -- necessary to prevent livestock rustling in such large country.

Branding Time! Magic words that make the eyes of every cowboy twinkle of excitement. No cowboy in the West, would want to miss this time of the year. The dust, the bawling of cattle and calves, the throwing of the lasso, the agility of working cow horses.

Nearby Dinosaur Track Sites

And kudos to a Hideout guest who made
one of these important discoveries!

During the summer months, it is not unusual to see international scientists exploring and working on the many paleontological and geological sites for which Wyoming is world renowned.

The Red Gulch track site contains literally thousands of rare Middle Jurassic age dinosaur tracks embedded in oolitic limestone. Located on public land near Shell, Wyoming , this site covers 40 acres set-aside by the U.S. government's Bureau of Land Management.

The tracks at this site were laid down approximately 167 million years ago by dinosaurs believed by experts to have been similar to the "raptors" depicted in the movie Jurassic Park . The tracks are preserved in limestone in an area that was once a beach that fringed the Sundance Sea , a vast inland body of water. The tracks were discovered in 1997 and since then thousands more have been found at nearby sites. 

VH

This hotel is a Virtuoso member and offers special amenities and upgrades that are ONLY available when you book with us. Our Virtuoso travel consultants will assure you incredible value and recognition on your luxury vacation.

The Hideout Hotel, Wyoming Vacations

Book your The Hideout Hotel, Wyoming Vacation or Tour Here