GRANITE CREEK RANCH - A Real Working Cattle Ranch - The Granite Creek Guest Ranch is located in the heart of spectacular Idaho mountain river country near Jackson Hole, WY and Yellowstone National Park. Carl and Nessie Zitlau, the owners of this Real Working Cattle Ranch, invite you to come and stay with them! Families, friends. couples and singles enjoy the relaxed pace, natural beauty, and genuine old west experience that can be found here. This summer they are proud to offer a Writer's Workshop by Reif Larsen, July 9 – 15, 2006. Granite Creek Ranch has been part of the Zitlau family since the early 1900's when Carl's grandfather homesteaded 80 acres. Gradually he acquired nearby homesteads and ranches. Now the fourth generation of Zitlaus enjoy 4,000 acres of the most beautiful and scenic mountain land in the West. Interestingly, they learned just last summer that Carl's grandfather actually operated a guest ranch at their place for a short time in the early 1900's! The Zitlaus started the guest ranch in 1992, and have been going strong ever since. They really enjoy having people come to their place and sharing their heritage and traditions with them. They love to see how much people enjoy riding and chasing cows, having a different experience from anything they've ever done before. The Granite Creek Ranch's guests come from all over the world, and from all walks of life. There are lots of families, but also many couples, people who come alone, grown father-son or mother-daughter trips, and friends who just enjoy traveling together. Some of the guests have ridden all of their lives and have horses at home, but most guests have never ridden before!

Carl and Nessie have a large family. Lincoln is the oldest, followed by Hilary, Megan (Duckett), Peter, Sam, Courtney and Sabrina. You will meet almost all of them when you come (don't worry about keeping our names straight). The Zitlau family looks forward to having you come visit them! The Zitlau Family – Spring 2005: Top row: Sabrina, Sam, Courteney, Hilary, Peter; Bottom row: Andy Duckett, holding Grace Duckett, Megan (Zitlau) Duckett, Lincoln, Nessie, Carl

So, what sets this place apart? Flexible Schedule - you decide what to do each day 3 Day / 3 Night Package Cattle Drives several times a week Family Oriented Boating / Canoeing right on the ranch They offer: Cattle Drives and Roundups (1 - 4 hours duration) Scenic Trailrides - horses to match your ability Boating, canoeing and fishing on a 5 acre lake Wildlife - moose, deer, coyotes, elk, eagles, bear Rustic cabins - all have electricity and bathroom facilities All rides start at the cabins and return to the cabins for meals. Family Oriented - children's activities tailored to your family Flexible Schedule – they take relatively few guests at a time Meals, lodging, all activities included in the rates

ACTIVITIES: TRAIL RIDES Trail rides begin at ranch headquarters (6000 feet elevation) and wind through scenic meadows, dense forests and canyons, to high wind-swept ridges and mountain trails above 7000 feet, with breathtaking views of the distant Teton Peaks. Morning and afternoon rides are scheduled each day with choices of 3+ hour rides or shorter rides for the youngsters or those wanting an easy, gentle horse ride. CATTLE DRIVES Ride out from the cabins for a cattle drive. The guests think this is the most fun part of their trip, when they get to experience the Old West. These cattle drives will accommodate novices and youngsters as well as experienced riders.

CANOEING AND BOATING The ranch's 5 acre lake is great fun for everyone. Push off from the dock in a canoe or paddleboat. Try your hand at fishing for famous Idaho Cutthroat Trout - some of the sneaky ones have gotten really big. Catch and release. ORIGINAL BARN Explore an old-time barn complete with hay loft. Kids love to play with the kittens and other animals. FAMILY - ORIENTED FUN! In addition to the horse and cattle activities, the children's program includes archery, leather crafts, hiking, pony rides, dummy roping, and other events tailored to each child's age and ability. RELAXING ATMOSPHERE Many of our guests say what they really enjoy is the simple, laid-back atmosphere at the ranch. They can leave their troubles behind and give their children some freedom to be kids. Some parents send the kids off on their own trail ride while they relax with a good book or get in some fishing time.

Writing the High Country: A Fiction Workshop Intensive on a Western Cattle Ranch

Have you ever wanted to spend the morning on horseback and the afternoon writing about the quiet pull of a mountain range? Here's your chance: A week long fiction workshop intensive located on a working cattle ranch near the Snake River in the Idaho Tetons. We will read a selection of classic and contemporary western writing, discussing both the legacies of the mythical "old west" and the realities of the "new west" as they play out in literature. Ranching activities (trail rides, round-ups, camp fire yarns) and a rodeo will be interspersed throughout the workshop schedule. Each participant will emerge from the week with a piece of short fiction. Readings from Wallace Stegner, William Kittredge, Richard Hugo, Cormac McCarthy, Dorothy Johnson, Barry Lopez, Annie Proulx among others. Dates: July 9 - 15th, 2006. Space limited to twelve participants Cost: $1250 The cost of the workshop includes all meals, lodging, and activities. Participants are responsible for their own transportation. About the instructor: Reif Larsen is a writer, filmmaker, and teacher. He has taught writing workshops in South Africa, the UK, and NYC. He currently teaches writing at Columbia University. For more information / an application, please email us. Off Ranch Activities all within 2 - 3 hours of the ranch (not included in the ranch's package) Yellowstone National Park Jackson Hole, Wyoming Grand Teton National Park Fishing Float Trips at South Fork Resort Heise Hot Springs Resort Heise Expeditions Tackle Shop Whitewater Float Trips Yellowstone Bear World Bagley's Elk Ranch Craters of the Moon Museum of Idaho Palisades Reservoir Mesa Falls, Big Springs in Island Park www.yellowstoneteton.org www.jacksonholechamber.com www.idahofallschamber.com Special Nearby Events Old West Days - Jackson Hole - May 27-30 Hot Air Balloon Festival - Driggs, ID - July 1- 4 Antique Show - Jackson - July 14 Native American Sale - Jackson - July 15 - 16 Art Fair - Jackson - July 21 - 22 Teton County Fair - Jackson - July 23 - 30 Bluegrass Festival - Jackson - Aug 12 - 13 Art Fair - Jackson - Aug 18 - 20 Warbonnet Roundup Rodeo - Idaho Falls - Aug 1 - 2 Rodeos Warbonnet Rodeo - Idaho Falls - Aug 1 - 2 Jackson - every Wednesday & Saturday night West Yellowstone - every weekend

LODGING Guest stay in 1 or 2 bedroom cabins, each having a private bath with shower and electricity. The cabins are authentic homestead cabins(remodeled of course), and have wood floors. Several were built from the ranch's timber, making them very cozy and comfortable. MEALS Hearty ranch style meals will hit the spot after a hard day of work and play. They are served family style, many of them cooked in Dutch Ovens. Dine in our lodge or around a blazing campfire under a starry sky. Carl often entertains with stories of the Old West, bears and mountain lions, and Nessie plays her guitar and sings western songs. Some favorite items from the ranch's menu Dutch oven chicken - tender chicken pieces in a light barbecue sauce, cooked in a dutch oven Wrangler Bread - a delicious homemade bread cooked in a dutch oven, served hot with butter and jam Dutch oven potatoes - sliced potatoes in a light sauce, cooked to perfect tenderness Tinfoil dinners - Hamburger, carrots, and potatoes, seasoned and cooked in tin foil wraps over the fire Nacho salad with all the fixings Stew in a homemade bread bowl Steaks and baked potatoes Dutch oven cobbler - moist batter over fruit filling, topped with whipped cream or ice cream Mooseballs - chocolate pieces wrapped in dough, fried, then rolled in powdered sugar - kids love them! Homemade root beer - made the old-fashioned way with dry ice Breakfast - hearty, with omelettes, pancakes, hash browns, eggs, bacon, muffins, or sausage, depending on the day, and almost always fresh fruit The Zitlaus are looking forward to having you come stay with them! They have some of the lowest rates in the West, and also offer a 3-day package, something very few other guest ranches have. Rates 2006 < All services at the ranch are included (meals, cabins, all on-ranch activities). >   PER WEEK 3 DAY/3 NIGHTS PER DAY Adults (13+) $1050 $545 $195 Children 6-12 $810 $425 $155 Children 2-5 $510 $285 $105 Children under 2 Free Free Free 30% deposit confirms reservation 5% Idaho Sales Tax will be charged Season: June through August Capacity: 4 separate cabins / 15 guests total If you would like to book a stay at our ranch, please tell us how many total people will be coming, the ages of any children, and the dates of when you would like to come. We will contact you to fill in details. Suggested Pack List: Long Pants Sturdy shoes/boots Shirts (t-shirts or long-sleeved) Jacket/sweatshirt for cool nights around campfire (especially in June) Camera Hat - cowboy or otherwise Bug Spray Gloves Sunglasses Smoking allowed in designated areas only. Alcohol is not allowed on the ranch. Granite Creek Guest Ranch is a member of: Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association Eastern Idaho's Yellowstone-Teton Territory Idaho Falls, ID Chamber of Commerce Jackson Hole, WY Chamber of Commerce Swan Valley Business Association, Inc. Idaho Guest and Dude Ranch Association The ranch is licensed by the State of Idaho, bonded and insured. Location 50 miles west of Jackson Hole, WY (airport) 35 miles east of Idaho Falls, ID (airport) 4 hours north of Salt Lake City, UT (international airport) Driving Directions From Idaho Falls, follow Hwy 26 east for 35 miles. The entrance to the ranch is on the right, just before mile post 368. From Jackson Hole, follow Hwy 26 west to Alpine and through Swan Valley. The ranch will be on the left after climbing a hill out of Conant Valley. Testimonials "We have told everyone about our experiences at Granite Creek this summer. Eileen and Kayla each made a scrap book of pictures and mementos from our summer vacation trip out west and of course most of it is about Granite Creek. Thanks to you all for giving us such a great time." Tony from North Carolina, Summer 2005 "Colleen, Kevin and I would just like to say a tremendous thank you for an incredible week at your wonderful ranch! I must say it was definitely the highlight of our summer and probably the best vacation we've ever had! The horseback riding was the greatest ever! I don't know how we will ever be able to go on a sloooooow head-to-tail trailride in the midwest again. We are definitely spoiled now. We came mainly for the riding but ended up just loving your little corner of the world...with all the extra's we never expected...like baby kittens in the barn, Skya nad Chester (the dogs), the fun of cattle round-ups and most of all your wonderful family. Everyone was so nice and you treated us pretty much like extended family :) That was so nice. All your kids being so genuinely nice and teaching us sooooo much about the horses and everything else inbetween. We were very touched by your kindness. We have GREAT pictures and have been showing everyone for weeks now! I think some of my friends are seriously considering your ranch now that I've let everyone know how wonderful our trip was!" Colleen, Chicago, Summer 2005 "We had a great time at your ranch - the kids carry on all about it to everyone they meet because they've told everyone they know - Alia cried when we were leaving." Devon, Summer 2004 "Thank you for letting us stay at your ranch, and for all the fun activities. I especially enjoyed the leather work and riding horses. The meals were great." Ben "Thank you for hosting us. I really enjoyed horseback riding and the cats. I love your farm." Dana "I had so much fun at the ranch and chasing the cattle. I also loved petting the cats." Carolyn "Thank you for a wonderful time at your ranch. The food, company, activities and beautiful surroundings made for a truly great vacation. Many thanks." Celia & Jim (Family from Washington, DC) Summer 2005 "Everybody here had a very good remember of our trip last summer and often we think of you and the guitar night when we hear Joan Baez voice: We hope we'll come back to the ranch someday." Philippe, France, Summer 2001 "We talk all the time about our good times with all of you on the ranch." Gatlin family, New Jersey, Summer 2000 © MSWD 2011 Ranch Vacation & WebDesign