Everything! The food was exceptional especially the Cowboy breakfast. Great lunches with fresh veggies; happy hour; fabulous barbecue dinner and Cornish Game hens with wild rice and veggies plus delicious desserts. Entertainment in the evening was excellent: Guinness Book of records champion rope trick artist; wonderful guitarist who sang 90 minutes straight. Games: corn hole, BB gun shooting; country and western dancing. The horses were the highlight. Free to roam the 365 acres after trail rides. All were gentle and sweet. read more

So, so good. If you are looking a fun filled family vacation, book here already. Everyone is so friendly. The food... ugh, just save your cheat days cause you'll likely gain some LBs. There's horse riding, swimming, hiking, animals galore. Family owned and operated. read more

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A true gem. An experience that gave us family bonding time in an environment that felt absolutely timeless. The first time at the Mayan ranch I had just graduated 8 th grade and went with my parents and siblings. Best family vacation ever. I vowed to return one day. Fast forward 34 years and I went back this week for a girls trip with my sister in law, her 2 tweens and my youngest daughter, who is also a tween. The Hicks family has owned this ranch for over 60 years. It is so refreshing to go somewhere where almost every staff member has grown up on the ranch and have such passion for ensuring guests have a good time. Most other ranches are now run by large corporations and lack the family owned charm of this place. The staff are great . Shoutout to Cowgirl Kel who is the heart and soul of this place and makes sure the kids have a good time ( games and activities scattered throughout the day during the summer months). Things you must know and be OK with to come here: If you are a high maintenance person who won't be happy unless there are high end accommodations you will struggle here . Most of the facility is pretty rustic. The tennis court, basketball count and volley ball court look like they haven't been used in years. That said , the cabins are spacious and functional. Nothing fancy but adequate and the beds are comfortable. Housekeeping is pretty minimal but they will come on occasion to bring new towels and make the bed. The pool has been refurbished and is beautiful and was wonderfully refreshing each afternoon to cool off from the hot Texas sun. Horse Back Riding : The horses are beautiful, healthy and seem well taken care of. The rides are perfect for absolute beginners as the only option for riding is a slow walk in single file line. If your kids are experienced horse riders you may want to consider a different ranch as you won't be able to do anything but walk in a line here. That said, my 11 year old, who is an experienced rider, didn't mind much and loved helping to care for the horses and loved her rides with her cousins who are less experienced riders ( her favorite horses were Sheriff, Cinco and Jamison and I loved Faith and Sherriff) . Ruger the horse is a bit of a scatter brained horse but really all the horses are quite sweet and well behaved . While you aren't assigned a horse for your stay here, you can request your favorite horse each ride ( tip - get to the stables about 15-20 min before your ride to do this ) Tip - come to the ranch with kids over the age of 6 only. Kids under 6 are not allowed to do the trail rides ( due to insurance reasons they are strict about this ). The ideal ages for kids at this ranch are 6-11 years old in my opinion. Not much to do for teens at this ranch. Food : I'd rate the food an A plus. For real. Lots of options satisfied even the pickiest eater of our crew. Don't come her if you have allergies as they can't accommodate. Most meals consist of meat/ or chicken served with some many delicious sides that a vegetarian would still find enough options to be happy. Lunches were surprisingly varied in the main dining hall ( e.g. Mexican food one day, Italian one day, deli one day ) and you can always opt for a hamburger/hotdog instead at the Pavilion. All meals served family style/cafeteria style where you go through a line and select your food. Cost /Value: This place is incredibly fairly priced. Adults pay 190$ a night and kids only 80$ a night which includes 3 meals and snacks per day, 2 horse rides daily , spacious lodging and fun activities/ entertainment throughout the day. Tips: Bring your own beach towels for the pool ( they don't provide them) Bring a flashlight ( you'll want it waking to your cabin after the night activities) Bring your own hand sanitizer and carry it around . We used it. a lot. If you have very young kids or elderly people in your group bring a car to the ranch as while the place is 100 percent walkable, there are times it's nice to drive to certain parts of the ranch especially in the sweltering sun. Uber will go to the ranch from San Antonio but won't bring you back. There are private ride services but they are waaaay expensive so it's just a better value to rent a car if coming from San Antonio Wear a cowboy hat to bingo on Sunday nights - trust me - you will thank me later :) Bring jeans but if it's summer pack more shorts than jeans as the kids will ditch the jeans ( I ditched my jeans day 2) and wilwant to ride with shorts as it is HOT here if you come in the summer months ( you are allowed to ride wearing any clothing except fof a wet bathing suit and cowboy boots aren't required either - I'd skip them if you don't already own them and skip them personally even if you do as they just aren't needed for this type of riding. Highly recommend !!! read more

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We recently returned to the Mayan the week before thanksgiving. It was a great experience, yet again. Still family owned and operated. The weather was awful- cold and wet, but we still got in a couple of rides, including first ever rides for our daughters, both under 12. The cowboy breakfast was great. The only thing missing thus time around was any outside entertainment. In the past we had musicians, a pet longhorn, trick rompers, and an exotic animal guy. Nothing this time around. Maybe it was COVID, maybe those folks moved, maybe they were saving it for the big group coming in the day we left. But we had a wonderful time. The cowboy games were fun, the wine and beer flowing, and the food generous. We had a cabin with a fireplace that we used daily. There is also now a place to collect fossils that is new. Glad to see the Mayan survived COVID! read more

I have been coming here since 1991. It is still as amazing an experience as ever. Three of my family's generations have been able to ride horses, eat the cowboy breakfast, and stay in the luxurious cabins at the Mayan for over 30 years. There is a reason we all keep coming back, and it's mainly the Hicks family. We loce coming back and will for years to come! read more

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This was an awesome place for our training. The rooms were comfy, the food was amazing and the complimentary beer and wine hit the spot. It was a little hot during dinner time since meals are provided in the pavilion but it was all very tasty read more

The best experience for us and our two grandsons. We returned after 36 years (We brought their mother here as a six year old). We thoroughly enjoyed the food,lodging, and the fabulous & friendly staff...primarily made up of the Hicks family. We definitely plan to return more frequently. read more

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Great hosts, great wranglers, great food, great activities, great cabins, great fun!!!

Are you looking for an adventure that is half rustic, yet 100% super great food? If so, you found your place. So much to do! Trails, horses, donkeys, peacocks and peahens... Dinosaur tracks. And then there is the food! I felt like I was at a really good BBQ restaurant. The enormous choices at 3 meals per day. For those over 21, there is a beer/wine bar with lite snacks. If you have the opportunity to chat with Judy, Kevin, Kidd, and 'Fire' your enjoyment will even be better. They are so nice and some really great stories to tell. Treat yourself to a really nice time and it is only 1 hour from the San Antonio airport :) read more

What an incredible experience. The staff is more than friendly. It's rustic yet clean. More food than you'll ever need. Gentle horses and beautiful views. A very short drive to local nightlife. Extremely family friendly with structured activities. Stayed a few days and always felt fresh and not routine. It's a 24-7 dude ranch but you don't feel like you're getting a repeat of the guest before you. Met some great folks visiting from Temple (5 families across 3 generations) and other families from Corpus also on holiday. I never turned the TV on or surfed the net. Just connected by disconnecting. I frequent Bandera often with this my first Mayan experience. It's my new go-to. read more

Great Texas experience. Food is awesome and more than you can eat. Love the night time entertainment. Staff is very friendly. They do need to resurface/grade the roads. read more

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You want a family place or a place to relax with close friends. Ideal when it's not hot. Food is three times a day plus snacks, with a variety that is unbelievable. Rustic setting but cabins are roomy and attractive. Fireplaces with real wood. Horses twice a day. It is family owned and you become a part of the family with your week or the few days you are there. Thick steaks, Mexican food, smoked turkey and lots of snacks. It is all inclusive. Cowgirl Kelley is the director of fun and really cares if you have a good time. I've been going there for many years and never been disappointed. read more

Mayan Dude Ranch - Hotels Near Me

We returned recently from our 13th trip to the Mayan. We go with a large group each year. I can't say enough good things about it. The staff, as others have mentioned, is super friendly and helpful. Much of the food is from scratch and fabulous. You will NOT go hungry! If you are looking for a place to leave the world behind and enjoy a horse ride or two, this is definitely the place that you want to go. read more

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Amazing experience for the entire family! We had a 10 member group ranging in age from 14 - 86 and everyone had a great time. We loved the family, Christian atmosphere and the food was incredible. The family that runs the ranch is so friendly, likeable and have so many talents, it was a pleasure to spend time with them. It was a unique experience and our family created so many memories. read more

We had the most amazing New Years at the ranch . It was exactly what my family and friends needed to get away from the crazy hustle and bustle of the holidays . The family here is so sweet , the food is amazing and those sweet animals are so hard to leave . My boys have already asked to go back for spring break . It was even better than we could have imagined . read more

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Awesome vacation the staff was very friendly and helpful will definitely will definitely return

i have been here for a couple years now and it is such a welcoming environment and very cool cabins, nice staff/horses! and it's fun for all ages i 100% recommended for a getaway read more

What an absolutely fabulous time my family had here last week. Everyone that works at the ranch was a Hicks family member and they made you feel like you were part of the family too! Ryan was our guide during our trail rides and he was so nice and good with the horses. The horses were very well taken care of and had wonderful personalities. The ranch has one donkey named Hilery. Everyone loves Hilary! She is super friendly and loves to be in the thick of the people! Cowboy breakfast is a must do! How often do you get to have breakfast cooked over an open fire. We only spent 2 nights at the ranch and we wish it had been longer! Our kids are already planning the next trip, they want to go for a week next time. We had one of the cabins. Basically two rooms each with its own bathroom and an adjoining door. They were very clean and nice. The only complaint I might have is the bed was much to hard for me and my husband. The kids enjoyed, well, everything! Cookouts were great. Campfire was great too. The pool table is missing a ball but still fun to play and the pool outside was super cold, but kids still played in it! Thanks Hicks family! We will return! read more

Had a super fun family reunion here. It is an awesome location with fun activities and a super friendly staff. On the downside it is very expensive and decor is country for sure but a little dated. I loved the food, especially the night we had BBQ. Also the cowboy breakfast is delish. One criticism I have about the food is that it is served promptly at breakfast lunch and dinner and if you miss a small window of time you are outta luck - however there are free chips and beer and was a fridge in our cabin so that didn't affect me, my brother in law however slept through lunch with a wicked hangover and had to make a short drive into sonic. Everyone with us had fun on the trail rides - keep in mind though this is not galloping across the ponderosa. We are already planning to go back next year! read more

Amazing fun! Service is impeccable. Food was delicious and home cooked. Did not have to worry about my kids all day long. They ran around and played on the property with lots of other kids. There was always entertainment for them and we were able to relax while they were entertained. Rode horses on a trail ride to breakfast which was amazing too. Breathtaking views with lots of wildlife. Ryan was awesome and super informative and willing to share stories and history with us. It was so interesting to learn how horses have best friends and watching the Mayan crew line us up in order was amazing. They truly know these horses and their personalities, each and every one. Judy was great with the food and it was neat to see the entire crew pitch in and help serve and wait until we were all taken care of and then join us for dinner, lunch and breakfast. Our favorite was Tracey in the Saloon! She was so generous and her service is impeccable. She's good people! We really enjoyed our time with her. The entire experience was hands down one of the best trips we've taken. You will meet some of the nicest people in the world here. We will be back with our parents, they would love it!!! read more

Amazing experience at the Mayan Dude Ranch!! We loved every minute of our stay. The family that owns the Ranch are so friendly, they made us feel right at home. Horse ride was amazing food was amazing...we didn't want to leave. We will definitely be visiting more often to have a fun filled and relaxed adventure out in the great outdoors. A beautiful place! read more

We came to the dude ranch for a weekend getaway from Kansas City. It was well worth the travel. The Hicks made you feel right at home and we had a true vacation with all the food and entertainment provided! Plenty to do for all ages. The trail rides were beautiful. If only it was warm enough to get in the pool. But sitting by the pool listening to the waterfall was just as good. I would highly recommend this ranch for a weekend getaway. We will be bringing back our family for a family reunion. read more

The atmosphere is so peaceful. The staff are the most helpful and friendly. The food was like eating at grandma's house. We were here for training in February and they even gave us a hay ride to enjoy steaks on a cook out down in Hicksville. Did I mention the service was first class. I would love to go back there again. read more

With all the 5 star reviews I was expecting an amazing experience. Unfortunately I was greatly disappointed. 1) The lodging - We stayed in one of the cabins and it was rustic. I wasn't expecting a 5 star hotel so the furnishings were fine. They had 4 towels for 6 of us and it took several talks with the front desk person to get more. I honestly felt like maybe we should have just brought our own. We stayed in #17 which is the "Mayan Jail" cabin. It has a room in the front that looks like a little jail cell...would be cute for older kids. The location with 2 young kids was way to far away from the main lodge which is where everything happens. Unfortunately we didn't know that upon booking and everything else was booked when we arrived. We had an issue with plumbing on the last night with one of the bathrooms toilet/sewage leaking into the shower/tub. So gross and when I told the person at the front the next day (our check out) all she did was make a call to get it fixed...not even apologize. 2) The food was good. The family members serving were all very friendly and constantly asking if we wanted more. I would suggest driving your own car and not doing the hayride to the steak dinner they have on a different location on their property. When we went they rushed through the dinner and dessert, throwing out some roasting marshmallows only to yell "time to load up the hay ride" when it was still fairly early and people weren't ready to leave. It seemed like they wanted to get everyone back so they could hang out and eat themselves. 3) The trail rides were nice. Great for someone with limited horse experience since its a slow walk and the horses are very tame. Ryan was the best one at the corral! He let my 2yo son sit on the horse and took him for a walk around since he couldn't do the trail ride. He was also very talkative and friendly and you could tell he really loves and takes good care of those horses. He was helpful with my 6yo daughter and talked to her a lot about the different horses which she loved. They do not provide ponchos so if you go during a rainy season be prepared to have your own or get wet. 4) The hayride...ha ha ha. I really wouldn't call it that. While it is a flat bed truck (which is fine) the driver was going really fast and there was no other employee from the Ranch to sit in the back with the guests and talk about the property. At one point there were some really pretty deer grazing and while everyone got excited to take photos the driver just sped on through. It was so ridiculous it was almost comical. Then as soon as it ended he hopped out of the truck, got in his truck and sped off. Not quite the service you pay money for. 5) The activities - They had a roper and an animal guy come. Both of whom were very good and interactive with the guests. 6) The service - This is the sad part. It's family run and it shows in a bad way. The owners are an elderly couple who are very nice and run the gift shop. One of the daughters (i think) must have been in charge of entertainment but she literally just hung out by the bar all day smoking and talking on her phone. The lady at the front desk was no ray of sunshine or hospitality. One of the sons and grandsons out at the corral were not real friendly at all and hardly interacted with us. There were definite bright spots like the ladies in the restaurant who were great, the bartender who was funny and friendly, the people who helped with the food and Ryan in the corral. Definitely expected a more friendly experience :( I guess the "horsepitality" motto rings true since a lot of the horses were friendlier than the staff. read more

So I was not sure what to expect from a dude ranch but I would come back here in a heart beat! The food (my favorite part) is on another level and always homemade. The service and employees are crazy nice and friendly. The horse riding was a pretty cool trail and we have a 6 year old who absolutely loved it. The wine and beer are free from 11a-9p which I've never even heard of. This place is definitely awesome. If you are one of those people who has to be doing something at all times it may not be for you. But if your looking for a relaxing weekend with your family and some fun family activities in the outdoors then this is definitely the place to go. read more

What a wonderful week we just spent at the Mayan Dude Ranch! Kowgirl Kel and the entire Mayan(Hicks) family made our stay a fantastic one. We had stayed at another dude ranch the past 2 years and decided we needed an upgrade, so we chose the Mayan and they did not disappoint. The schedule of activities was diverse and fun...bingo, a talent show, BB gun shooting, archery, hayrides, trail rides, line dancing, petting zoo, astronomy, etc. So much for the kids, AND adults. The pool was great and usually full of guests seeking relief from the heat of the day. The food was delicious too, and always included a healthy option. With most dude ranches serving very heavy dishes, it was a treat to have less heavy items too. We met so many fun and warm people who return every year, the same week. It's like one big family for the week. My son met lots of kids who he enjoyed and now looks forward to seeing again next year when we return! My mother is 79 so we stayed in cabin #1 which is handicap accessible and the closest cabin to the lodge so she could get around easily with her cane. Microwave and mini fridge in the cabin...yes! Comfortable beds, AC that works very well, TV's in every room though we never turned them on...too busy doing other stuff. I highly recommend this ranch. Their hospitality is 5 stars. We love you guys and thank you for the warmth, love and hospitality. Wade gets a gold star for taking my mom out for a spin on the dance floor. What a gentle soul he is, a handsome one too. :-) See you next year! Blessings to you all. -The Blaines read more

We went to this ranch for a work conference. The staff were extremely accommodating. They did whatever they could to make us smile and please us. The food was amazing, the live music that was played was amazing and the facilities were amazing. If you want a great Texan cowboy getaway or are looking for a work retreat that is different for the normal city hustle and bustle, go here!!! read more

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I attended a work meeting at the Mayan a few weeks ago. The staff are fantastic, about the nicest people you could hope to meet. My cabin was comfortable and clean and I really liked the horseback riding and hayrides during our downtime. A word of warning: between the amazing meals and the open bar (beer and wine anways) you can plan on gaining about a pound per day. More if you hit a brisket night. Great place to spend time, I'm considering going back for a proper vacation. read more

We have a nice little place in Bandera and have family that have been going to this place for years and love it. Personally- I would not set foot on it again as we were instructed that there insurance did not allow us to visit with family while our 4 month puppy sat I the air conditioned truck because she could get lose and go after the horses more than 200 yards away. By the way the horses sit out in the blazing sun fully saddled and bridled and FREE to run over or at anything, but watch out for my 12 pound dog in the truck. FYI- there is nothing on the property that posts about no outside animals- but I was informed that it is on their website. They did apologize as they escorted us out. read more

Hubby & I spent a couple nights here while visiting San Antonio. ROOMS: We had a cabin and it was cute, neat, and clean. There are ceiling fans, A/C units, and places to sit outside your cabin and relax. FOOD: The first night we had a barbecue buffet and it was delicious! You definitely won't go hungry. We had the cowboy breakfast one morning and it was delicious as well: biscuits, grits, eggs, bacon, fried potatoes. We didn't know beforehand but drinks are included in your reservation, although the beer and wine is limited to a couple choices and I believe they are only complimentary until 10pm. Still....they are included which is nice. We saw a couple girls roll their eyes at the bar when they discovered the lack of choices but hubby and I thoroughly enjoyed what they had. EVERYTHING ELSE: They only offer horse rides twice a day which is ok...except that one day our morning ride got rained out and the afternoon ride was still the same amount of time as usual....maybe they could have let us go a little longer? I didn't learn anyone's names but the bar staff and ladies at the front desk were super friendly. A couple of the men who helped with the horses were a lot LESS friendly and seemed annoyed that we weren't all expert equestrians. My biggest rant involves the guy who led the B-B gun instruction...he was extremely unfriendly to the guests, provided very little instruction, and allowed another member of the staff to WALK IN BETWEEN A SHOOTER AND THE TARGET! I couldn't believe it!!! Very odd. But anyway, the property is huge and also had a giant pool and tennis court plus lots of animals to see. We would definitely recommend this dude ranch. read more

About 15 members of my family went to Mayan Dude Ranch before the Christmas holiday and had a great time. Ages 7 - 70, and everyone had a great time. I liked that everything was included ( horseback riding, meals, activities). The cabins are large and clean ( I did bring my own towels). Highly recommend it for families - great opportunity to hang out, be active ( or not), and enjoy the Texas Hill country. read more

Heaven on earth!! A family run ranch with great hospitality. Perfect family environment and you get to meet people from all over the world as a lot of Europeans vacation here. read more

We stayed several nights at the Mayan Dude Ranch. Accommodations were great. Clean, quiet, and comfortable. We had a lot of fun playing and exploring on the ranch. The place is family owned and they treat their guests well. The food is great and there are a variety of activities for the kids. The trail horses were well-behaved and the ranch has multiple trails that you can ride as a group with others. If you get out in the early morning or late afternoon you can see lots of wildlife ... white tailed deer, axis deer, and more. I would recommend the Mayan Dude Ranch if you want a relaxing get away in a beautiful part of the hill country. read more