French Broad Outpost Dude Ranch

Misty Chapman

I had scheduled a family trip and then the Covid pandemic caused restrictions on travel in my state. French Broad Outpost said I could have a credit to use later and I have attempted to reschedule twice and both times they are "booked up". Now the ranch is putting further restrictions on scheduling a trip (length of stay, number of people, and raising rates) in a letter the ranch stated they sent in December 2021, which i never received. My older son was deployed and I do not have a fourth person to go (I had originally scheduled a trip for 4) and they will not allow me to change the number of people or timeframe. They are also not willing to refund my deposit of $1525.00. This is the WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER! I will continue to spread the word everywhere about the lack of service and hospitality they claim to give. I want to warn everyone about giving French Broad Outpost a deposit... Very questionable business practices.

Emma Wegmiller

DO NOT BOOK A TRIP HERE! HEED THE BAD REVIEWS! If you are looking for a fun, Old West-themed adventure, look elsewhere and save yourself the headache and heartache. French Broad Outpost Ranch is not a safe place for a non-experienced horse rider to be introduced to riding. This is also not a place for experienced equestrians to come and push their riding ability or expand their horizons. I booked my trip for March 2022 as someone with many years of riding and farm experience but who wanted to get out and enjoy some new trails and take in the scenery. I had read several reviews and had foolishly dismissed the “Poor” and “Terrible” ones as guests who had probably blown their bad experiences out of proportion and booked my trip anyways. I WAS WRONG. DON’T MAKE MY MISTAKE! This ranch is a case study of poor leadership, mismanagement, and what happens when money comes first and people come second. I cannot say enough positive things about the wranglers, chef, and hostess/housekeeper. Hannah, Trey, Zarod, Ken, and Julie went above and beyond to make sure we all had fun, stayed safe, and ate well during our stay. They took care of us like family, and by the end of the trip, I felt like we had grown and gotten very close as a group. Unfortunately, the flipside to all of the good that came from spending time with them was the reality we witnessed regarding their awful treatment by the establishment owners. Shawn and Jo Ann made this trip a nightmare. They went out of their way to be cruel, dismissive, disrespectful, and verbally/emotionally abusive towards their staff members. They screamed at, cut down, cornered, and humiliated their hardworking employees, all while we, their customers, were either in the room or close enough to hear it with our own ears. If you have never ridden before, stay away from this place. You will be putting yourself and your loved ones at risk. They do not have helmets available, even for children, even though you ride down steep and rocky terrain from day one. The owner bragged about the ranch’s safety record, stating that they’ve only had to call the ambulance four times over the last 30 years. It makes one wonder how many of those were perhaps preventable head injuries. Saddles and bridles are in poor condition. Over the course of four days, I experienced a rollercoaster of a vacation. It consisted of some wonderful moments shared with my fellow guests and wranglers and some deeply disappointing low moments where I felt belittled or witnessed my newfound friends being treated poorly. Overall, the ranch shows signs of neglect and mismanagement. There’s an uncontrolled pigeon infestation in the barns, fences are falling apart, wranglers are overworked, and their time is poorly managed by upper management, making it impossible for them to keep up with the never-ending list of things that need doing. The whole place is woefully understaffed, and I can see why. No one should have to endure the kind of working conditions that appear to be the standard as decided by Shawn and Jo Ann’s behavior. I will never book another trip here and will do everything in my power to make sure no one I know will either.

Stef An

My family and I had a great time at the French Broad Ranch. It is located in a very beautiful area with a view of the mountains and a river nearby, along with beautiful stretched out fields and trails that you will go through with your horses. The construction of the ranch is straight out of an old western movie, even including a saloon where you will go to see and hear bluegrass and country musicians on Fridays. Activities range from, horseback riding, to cattle drives and rafting, along with many more that keep you busy and having fun.The rooms were very clean with a rustic western touch, and when you wake up in the morning you are greeted with a nice sunrise, and view of the Smoky Mountains. The food was very good and the staff was very helpful and kind. The owners Shawn and Jo Ann work very hard to keep you happy and help you get the best out of your vacation. Shawn is a great horseback riding teacher and does an amazing job at explaining how you should handle your horse. Leaving the ranch we are all confident in our horseback riding abilities and can see a big difference from when we first arrived to when we left. We would recommend this ranch to anybody who wants to have a vacation or great time in Tennessee. Thank you to Shawn, Jo Ann and the staff for a wonderful time! ~From Dan, Mimi, Stefan, & Diana

Debbie Hart

It has taken me sometime to write this review as I have been extremely busy. I went there in late September for a riding vacation by myself. I really did not know what to expect and am so happy that I went. I fell in love with the beauty of the mountains. I had the same horse everyday who was a dream. All of them were. The owners could not be nicer and more gracious. I had planned on going from Sunday to Friday but stayed an extra day. It was truly hard to leave. I met some great people from different areas. The homemade food definitely added a few pounds on me as it was delicious. I was also very impressed as to how hard the Owners work and how much they love their animals. It was one of the most enjoyable vacations I’ve had in a long time and will definitely be going back. Upon leaving, I was mentally stress free and recommend this ranch highly. See you again FBROR!<br/>Debbie H.