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4.5
#1 of 1 resort in Solvang
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Hidden in the golden hills of California’s Santa Ynez Valley—just 36 miles northeast of Santa Barbara sits the legendary Alisal Ranch. Surrounded by mountains, meandering across 10,500 sweeping acres, this family-owned property has embraced the spirit and nature of the American West for nearly a century. As stewards of the land, the ranch honors its rich heritage by providing authentic western hospitality and luxury ranch living in an experience suited for today’s most savvy travelers. This is a rare opportunity to immerse in California’s abundant, wild nature; to stargaze free of light pollution; to learn the secrets of barbecue from the country’s top chefs; to fly fish, canoe, or kayak on a 100-acre, spring-fed lake; to share stories with family around a crackling fire pit; or enjoy a massage after a long day on horseback.
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My husband and I had our wedding at Alisal and I can't express enough how amazing the experience was! And that was after having to change the ceremony and reception location days prior to the wedding, from all outdoors to indoors due to rain. Initially I was so disappointed to have to move the location my heart was originally set on, however it ended up being even better than I could have imagined, and is by far the most amazing and memorable experience for me, and for my guests. All my guests the whole night kept saying how beautiful everything was, how delicious and food and desserts were (OMG the bread pudding!), how organized and attentive all of the staff were. I worked with Rebecca Cianciulli throughout the process and my husband and I fell in love with her - talk about someone who shows so much thought and care, detail oriented, PATIENT : ) , understanding and all around a dream to work with! A lot of my guests stayed at the rooms there, and everyone really liked their space, restaurant, and the location overall in general. The grounds were extremely well manicured and clean, and the rooms were spotless. I am a complete germophobe and always take my own sheets and towels when I travel (I know, super weird) and the rooms and bathrooms were SO clean, it was so nice not to have to use them, and I felt so safe and comfortable there.
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Date of stay: December 2019
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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.
Response from Kathleen Cochran, General Manager at Alisal Ranch
Responded 19 Aug 2020
I remember your wedding here in January. It was truly beautiful and we appreciate you taking the time to write about your experience and our fantastic staff. We hope you will come back each year to celebrate! Kathleen Cochran
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For the 2nd year in a row we took the whole famiy (both kids, their spouses and the 4 grandchildren) to Alisal for a 4-day New Years celebration. The Alisal has been a working ranch since the days of the Spanish land grants (early 1800's). A portion of it opened as a Guest Ranch right after WW II.
The place has pretty much remained the same over that 70+ years. Of course the rooms have been updated and a few rooms added since the beginning. Every room or suite has a fireplace and wood is supplied every day. The smoke for the fires gives the place a sense of camping, but the rooms are beautiful, the bathrooms very nice and the grounds perfect. Our 7-10 year old grandchildren have free run of the place and neither we or their parents have to worry about a thing. There is only a small part of the property where cars are allowed to drive.
I first came to the Alisal in 1968 for a lawfirm outing and so have very fond memories.
The food was excellent this year. Breakfast and dinner are included and at the Holiday time there are many family tables of 10 and larger. The challenge of serving such large groups is perfectly accomplished. The 2 dining rooms are beautifully decorated for Christmas. Also the drinkmakers in the bar really know how to make cocktails.
Everything you do there includes a service fee and therefore no tipping is required. This makes it easy with no need to sign each check for a cocktail (for instance).
For recreation, the Alisal is known for horseback riding. Two mornings a week they have early morning rides to the adobe where a campfire breakfast is served. There is also a small lake where you can fish or sail or take out a canoe. They also offer Archery and shooting air rifles. All of these activities are open to children who are at least 7 years old. They also have a very large pool and jacuzzi which are comfortable heated even when the nighttime temperature can fall below freezing.
In addition, there are now 2 18-hole golf courses. The Ranch Course was there in 1968 and has not changed at all. A new course, the River Course is closer to the town of Solvang and runs along the Santa Ynez River.
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Date of stay: January 2020
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Room Tip:Â Call the Reservationist and tell them what you need int terms of space and beds.
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.
Response from KathleenC2258, General Manager at Alisal Ranch
Responded 30 Jan 2020
Wow! Thank you so much for your outstanding review. You have really captured the very best of Alisal-including your family and what sounds to be a tradition. We are honored. See you back at the Ranch! Kathleen Cochran, General Manager
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I stayed at this resort for a couple nights as part of a business convention in January. Our group had effectively rented out the whole place during this time and it made for a perfect venue. So this review pertains specifically to large groups that rent the place out, and bear in mind this was pre-Covid.
There are multiple buildings on site that they can use for various events (group meetings, guest speakers, meals, cocktail hour, small trade shows, etc.) The main dinning room in particular was set up really well. You have one large dinning room on one end for the meal, one large dinning room on the other end for your event, and then the Oak Room bar/lounge in between. This created a very cozy yet convenient flow for the entire day and evening. As with most conventions, a steady stream of available coffee during the day and cocktails in the evening is imperative, and they succeeded on both. But this is just one of many buildings. And beyond just the good layout for large groups, the staff worked tirelessly to set up each room and event for us, sometimes multiple times a day! And on top of that they were always friendly and attentive. That was truly remarkable as they made our stay comfortable and luxurious in spite of the fact that we were there on business. They have a pool and hot tub, tennis courts, golf courses, hiking trails, petting zoo, and horseback riding among other activities to do when you're not in meetings. The horse ride is definitely worth a try even if you do not ride because it allows you to get out and really see the expanse of the property. This ranch is truly huge and while staying on the immediate property is fine, it's nice to get out and see all the rest of their rolling hills, creeks, cattle, and mountains. They also catered a luncheon at their lake for us the last day, and while a number of people in a group unfortunately did not attend, this was the highlight of the trip because the drive there is stunning. The food was fantastic and the scenery around the lake is quite impressive. For accommodations we stayed in one of their houses along the beginning of the driveway lined with sycamore trees. The view overlooks the horse pasture and sunlight in the morning and evening is stunning as it lights up the grass as you sit there with a coffee and beer respectively. The property is all very easy to traverse and nothing is too far away to walk to.
All in all this was a really convenient and comfortable place to hold a multi night business event. It is not too far out of the way as you're just down the road from Solvang. And in your free time I would encourage going to check out the cute town as well. Corporate retreats, conventions, and even just private functions would find this place to be top notch and a much more unique location than a Marriott or convention center. Would definitely recommend!
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Date of stay: January 2020
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Trip type: Travelled on business
Room Tip:Â The houses that overlook the horse pasture make for a beautiful view of the grass, fences,...
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.
Response from Kathleen Cochran, General Manager at Alisal Ranch
Responded 13 Aug 2020
Thank you SO much for your amazing review. Alisal is really a perfect place to gather! We hope to see you back at the ranch again soon! Kathleen Cochran, General Manager
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Family vacation to Alisal Ranch was our first visit, but it will not be our last! Everything the Ranch has to offer, and there’s so much to do and experience, far exceeded our expectations. The entire staff was great, and truly made us feel like welcomed family. All the activities we did (horseback riding, pool, petting barn, fishing, canoeing, standup paddle boarding, etc.) were so much fun and safe - everything was Covid ready - sanitized and very clean, lots of hand sanitizer stations and places to wash hands, nothing was over crowded and seating was very spaced out and/or mostly outdoors with plenty of shaded areas. The dining and entertainment were also top notch - wonderful quality meals, safely prepared and served by friendly and attentive staff. Also very impressed with the quantity and quality of entertainment ranging from a rodeo, nightly live music, storytelling, etc. Cabin was very comfortable, updated and tastefully decorated. Thank you Alisal Ranch!!!
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
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.
Response from Kathleen Cochran, General Manager at Alisal Ranch
Responded 27 Aug 2020
Thank you so much for your great review! And, so happy you and your family discovered us. I also appreciate your comments about how you felt about our ranch wide protocols. That is so important and we have made such a commitment to ensure both our employees and guests feel safe. Can't wait to see you back at the ranch again soon. Kathleen Cochran
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We were amazed by the beauty and amenities of this resort. We spent our days relaxing by the pool with horses grazing just feet away. The accommodations are rustic but clean and tasteful. We had dinner on site in the Ranch Room, which offers a Prix Fixe experience, and the food was absolutely delicious. Grab-and-go bikes are available at no charge, and the surrounding hills are absolutely gorgeous. The highlight of our stay was a morning at the private lake, where Randy and Mitch showed us where the bald eagles are currently nesting. This resort is one of a kind and we can't wait to go back.
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Date of stay: February 2020
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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.
Response from KathleenC2258, General Manager at Alisal Ranch
Responded 21 Feb 2020
Thanks so much for your awesome review and your kind comments about our staff. Hope to see you back at The Ranch again soon. Kathleen Cochran, General Manager
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The Alisal is an exceptional Ranch. Great for the entire family. The cabins have been beautifully renovated. Our cabin was number 70 and the decor was early ranch / native american theme. The quality reminded me of staying at the Lodge at Pebble Beach. Real fireplaces and fire pits. The horses, farm animals and access to all of the ranch amenities is really overwhelming. We arrived an a Friday evening and enjoyed the Rodeo, dinner outside, beautiful sunset etc. Actually all meals are outside and the summer weather was perfect.
When we checked in I believe a Catherine and Janet helped us. All behind plexiglass and welcoming.
We took advantage of personal horseback riding with a guides (Catie and Clair) who were excellent. We utilized the Lake and fished, paddle boards and canoes. Beautiful setting with bald eagles, deer, wildlife in abundance. Randy and Keith helped us at the Lake and were great with the family.
Our reserved pool times worked for the family perfectly. The pool staff sprayed down the chairs with disenfectant after each guest left.
The food was delicious, fresh and plentiful. The bar and wine selections were great. We will definitely come to the Alisal again and highly recommend it for a family during these Covid 19 times. Everyone wore face masks and you felt safe at all times.
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Date of stay: August 2020
Value
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Room Tip:Â This is an exceptional spot for families who love the outdoors
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.
Response from Kathleen Cochran, General Manager at Alisal Ranch
Responded 13 Aug 2020
Thank you for your outstanding review! And for your kind comments about the ranch and our amazing staff. We will certainly be passing this along. We hope you will return! Kathleen Cochran, General Manager
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in forty years of five star travel, I was never asked to stay in a room which couldn't lock ( room had no working key )
The maintenance guy who showed up kept adding WD40 to the key hole , when it was clear the key was cut incorrectly. Just added a grease stain , which I cleaned up .
Chairs on porch had bird droppings .
Most guests did not wear masks or social distance when I asked Staff, and a manager , said “ not required “ wow . Didn’t feel safe after that .
Room certainly wasn't quiet as requested , nor clean. ( as I showed Manager lily)
What is the thinking of $100 a day for a service charge when there is in fact No service ? ( had to haul my luggage 450 feet myself ,no parking , no housekeeping in two days , didn't use golf or horses .... so what is this fee for when there is in fact just not no service but bad service ?
aft waiting 3 hours to speak to your property GM ( having been told she was on a call ) concluded Alisal just doesn't care about guests
Had been here a few times twenty years ago . Physical plant doesn’t appear to have been updated at all in that time and service certainly has deteriorated
No cell phone reception on property , nor internet Spoke to 2 other couples who had same experience ( and all of us had same carrier... some perhaps it was the carriers fault
Food was ok if uninspired. Enjoyed the 14 hour cooked brisket ; but not the fact that my egg white omelet was made with regular eggs .
In these tough times , am trying to safely give business to help Service industry
This property has a serious management issue .
Don’t need bad service , nor a receptionist who made a point to tell me she had been here 23 years, and that I should be grateful to have a room ? Maybe that’s why was given the worst room
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip type: Travelled solo
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.
Response from Kathleen Cochran, General Manager at Alisal Ranch
Responded 2 Sept 2020
Clearly based on our overall reviews; your experience is isolated and full of inaccuracies. Frankly, I don't understand why you came to a Dude Ranch in the middle of summer to have a quiet experience by yourself. If you were not satisfied with the discount, we gave you- perhaps a conversation with me would have been more appropriate. And, it’s just simply not true that you waited for three hours to speak with me. I am fully available for all guests. The Alisal has worked VERY hard to keep both our employees and guests safe and we have received outstanding feedback on both accounts. Masks are mandatory at Alisal and currently a State Law when social distancing cannot be maintained. As an example; you are required to wear a mask when entering our dining area and when in line for food; but it’s not required when sitting at your table. We do not offer bell service or daily housekeeping service unless on request. Our guests appreciate less interaction during this time. We do have cell coverage and internet; although some providers are better than others. In this case; you can use WIFI calling or we also have hot spots to loan out to guests. If any readers have any concerns about this review; please contact me directly. Kathleen Cochran, General Manager
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I stayed here as a kid decades ago and it's still the same as it was back then, with a few room upgrades. I came here for a meeting and stayed a couple extra days before the meeting to enjoy the resort on my own. There's so much to do to fill your days or you can just relax and walk around the property. I stayed in Room 61 and it was away from everyone, overlooking the fields and you can just sit, read and relax for hours. The rooms are large and spacious, but have no air conditioning so I'm sure it'll get quite hot in the summertime. The staff is friendly and helpful. The horse wranglers are knowledgeable and their horses are well taken care of. The bar tenders were tons of fun and give you tips on the good places to eat in town.
I took one star away for the food. The service in the restaurant was sub-par compared to the rest of the property. We would ask for something and we may/may not get what you asked for. I'm not sure if they are trying to keep the menu the same as it was 30 years ago, but it definitely needs to be modernized and upgraded.
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Date of stay: March 2020
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Travelled on business
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.
Response from Kathleen Cochran, General Manager at Alisal Ranch
Responded 27 Aug 2020
Thank you so much for your great review and kind comments about the ranch and our staff. I am sorry to hear that your dining experience was less than expected. We normally get such great comments in this area. I am sorry we let you down. We hope to see you again soon at the Ranch. Kathleen Cochran, General Manager
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Alisal is wonderful place to spend with family and friends. It's a guest ranch where you can ride horses, eat wonderful meals, and catch up. We went with another family, family friends for thirty years, and our families had a terrific time.
The Room:
We opted for a townhouse type room with a living room a loft master bedroom on the second floor. Room was immaculate. Carpeting looked brand new. Tasteful, Pendleton blanket as wall hanging.
Horseback Riding:
We opted for the breakfast ride. You ride for about 30 minutes through rolling hills to a location where they serve you breakfast outdoors, buffet style, and then you ride back. Horses are well-cared for, which is important to us. Jen was our guide, and she was terrific!
Meals:
We did our dinners at the main restaurant. Everyone dresses up as their is a dress code where men are required to wear jackets. Food is wonderful. There were eight of us, and some of us had steak, others fish, another chicken, and another the pork. Everyone was very happy with their dishes.
Tennis:
Tennis courts are terrific, surfaced well. Beautiful Tropitone chairs to sit in between games.
Overall, we highly recommend Alisal for a family and friends gathering.
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Date of stay: December 2021
Location
Cleanliness
Service
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.
Response from Kathleen Cochran, General Manager at Alisal Ranch
Responded 8 Jan 2022
Thank you for your amazing feedback and review! We are thrilled you were able to enjoy all that Alisal has to offer. We hope to see you back at the ranch again soon.
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My husband and I got married at the Alisal in September of 2019, and recently went back for our Anniversary. The Alisal is such a special place. They offer so many different activities on site, you never have to leave! The staff is friendly and accommodating, and they definitely go the extra mile to make your stay comfortable. Due to COVID, they had many safety precautions in place and we both felt safe with all of the new guidelines. The food and cocktails are incredible. You can really relax because everything you need is right there. I would highly recommend a visit to the Alisal for any couples or families who want to experience a unique vacation tucked away in the Santa Ynez hills. Although the Alisal is a bit on the higher end price wise, once you factor in the food, drinks, etc., it ends up being a good deal. We can't wait to go back!
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Date of stay: September 2020
Cleanliness
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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.
Response from Kathleen Cochran, General Manager at Alisal Ranch
Responded 8 Oct 2020
This is so beautiful! And happy to chose to come back to celebrate your anniversary. We will be here for you next year! Kathleen Cochran, General Manager
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There are more places to choose from in the Solvang area.
PRICE RANGE
£689 - £1,033 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
alisal guest ranch hotel solvang, alisal guest ranch and resort, alisal hotel solvang, alisal resort solvang, alisal ranch solvang, the alisal guest ranch
LOCATION
United StatesCaliforniaSolvang
NUMBER OF ROOMS
73
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect nightly room rates, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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