The Ranch at Death Valley

Elisa

2024-04

This was my first trip to Death Valley. Mid April was a great time to still feel comfortable exploring this very diverse desert. I choose to stay at the Ranch as it is a mid priced lodging there at this national park (less than $290 per night including tax). Our room was nicely appointed, had a door which opened to a patio with rocking chairs looking over a beautiful open lawn area across and very convenient to the spring fed swimming pool. The only thing lacking in the room was a microwave.We chose the buffet one night. Quite pricey, $34 per adult, but the food was good with lots of selections. The second night we had reservations for the last kind words saloon. We split a large entree and salad which was plenty for us. This resulted in a tab of about $50 for two. I would skip the buffet and eat here in the future. We brought a cooler with snacks into the park to keep our food costs down a little.I would definitely stay at the Ranch again. I booked by phone.... It's operated by Xanterra which operates lodging facilities in other national parks.

steve trapschuh

2024-05

60.00 dollars for good ribs ,but served cold , No baked potatoes . cant have mashed potatoes because they need them to make mashed potatoes for the Bison they served. Good ice cream .but 7.50 a scoop. Rooms are very old and small. TV is old programing so bring cards, your own beer or liquor and glasses .Gas over 7.00 a gallon , because of location did not mind paying , but no customer service or politeness of any kind

Jay Gal

2024-04

Ranch in Death Valley offers a unique atmosphere that captures the essence of the area. The ambiance was great, and the food, while limited in selection, was delicious. However, the prices were a bit steep for what was offered.Unfortunately, our experience was marred by the unwelcoming attitude of the hostess. Despite being told it would be a 45-minute wait, she quickly changed her tune to an hour and a half for the next couple, which seemed disorganized and unfair. As someone with previous hosting experience, I could see that the wait wasn't justified, especially with ample staff and empty tables. Interestingly, our actual wait time turned out to be only fifteen to twenty minutes, which further highlighted the inconsistency in the information provided.Thankfully, once seated, our waiter, Wiley, provided exceptional service. He was attentive and knowledgeable, enhancing our dining experience. The full rack of ribs I ordered was delicious and something I would order again.Overall, while The Ranch has its merits, improvements in customer service consistency and would greatly enhance the dining experance

Merel Boontje

2024-05

Very expensive and definitely not worth the money. The room was very outdated and dirty. The smell in the hallway and the room was terrible and took your breath away. The bottom of the shower curtain was completely orange with grime, and there was very little water pressure. The beds were uncomfortable. There are few other options nearby, but I find the price for this hotel truly outrageous. We got food from the supermarket because we fortunately read the reviews of the restaurant beforehand, which is also not recommended.

Alan Kenneth

2024-04

To be fair I have been around Death Valley a handful of times over the past 10 years. But this is the first and last time I would stay in Furnace Creek.While this might rate very high for many this is more of a country club in the middle of Death Valley. Cross between a theme park blended with cabins and those of us that enjoy the outdoors. I like to gaze at the night sky and this location has not even tried to minimize light pollution at night.Location is the only reason some might stay but I will not be back. Also for nearly $600 for one night in the cabin I could spend multiple nights in other Death Valley locations with more of what I call the desert experience.

Chris Meyer

2024-04

The primary reason to stay here is the location. The resort area is nice enough and the grounds do make it feel like an oasis in death valley. However the rooms were not as clean as you would hope and the beds and pillows are some of the least comfortable I've had at a hotel. There was a mini fridge in the room and a washer/dryer combo unit that took nearly 4 hours for a cycle. Unfortunately there was no microwave.

kim zinda

2024-03

There are only a couple of lodging options inside of Death Valley National Park, and this one is pretty good. Rooms were spacious and clean. There's no housekeeping during your stay, though. The beds were comfortable. All rooms have a deck or patio. The grounds are beautiful, and being right in the park is very convenient for hiking. The spring-fed pool was lovely. There are a couple of restaurants on the property, but keep your expectations low. You may want to bring your own dry goods and cold snacks, and you will be happier (there is a refrigerator, but no microwave).

Matthew R

2024-05

Stayed in the cottages. They are relatively small but ok for a few nights. Very limited room amenities- feels spartan. Virtually nothing supplied and the general store on the property is hideously overpriced. Bring basic supplies in.Service around the “resort” is patchy. Worst offenders are in registration who really just couldn’t give a toss.Location is fantastic for all of the central Death Valley attractions.Food options vary from average to very poor so drive 30 min to Stovepipe for a much better culinary experience

Randi Schalet

2024-04

Death Valley is incredible and definitely worth a visit. The landscape is stunning. The Ranch at Death Valley needs some help. Though they mention that a major renovation has been done, the rooms are very basic. The mattresses (we had a room with 2 double beds) were awful. I am getting a massage today because sleeping on them hurt my back. The food in all the restaurants is overpriced and nothing special. But the buffet restaurant was especially awful. The food was horrendous, the tables were never bussed, no service at all. In general the service at the hotel was non existent. No one answered the phone at the front desk. I have been charged 3 times on two different credit cards for the same stay and have not yet been able to get the charges reversed. This hotel is a major dissapointment.

D

2024-04

We enjoyed this location for what it was. Everything was ok with a few small exceptions. This location is not for those which are looking for a nightlife or late night activities but is great as a centralized location to head off and see the sights of Death Valley. Our stay was brief but pleasant enough.Food and supply costs are high (as with most destination locations) and the services closed relatively early (7 pm). We ate dinner in the saloon one evening which was quite good.Overall a good stay for us.Nearby activities: We visited the sand dunes and did a few different hikes. We were fortunate enough to have stopped at a local gas station and were told of some “off the tourist map” type of things that were around. This included a venture into an abandoned mine (Modoc).This was very interesting but did require the full use of the truck we had rented and was not something for the faint of heart. The 4x4 road took quite a while to navigate from the highway to the mine but was manageable with slow progress.

Linda W

2024-04

Hotel room was average, nothing special. The hotel grounds are beautiful and well maintained. On site restaurants are confusing regarding hours of service, whether reservations were needed for dinner, and locations-never found the Wild Rose Tavern.Ice cream parlor needs to extend their hours, and services. Only hotel services in the park so there is a convenience factor, but could be so much more.Food & drinks: Last Kind Words Saloon burger for lunch is terrific. One of the best we have had. Dinner options are expensive, as expected. Cesar salad was huge and the rib eye had a great flavor; drink refills were few and far between.

Grace R-L

2024-03

A beautiful place and one of the only hotels near death valley national park. Pricey but it is worth it if in the area. We did NOT stay here and wow, we regret it - because it would have been AWESOME. We came for the bike rentals on site, the restaurant at the golf course (decent), and to have a place to wander around after hiking that wasn't the crowded Death Valley visitor center. It was a great place to hang out and relax even if you are not a guest. It even has a pool (for guests) but open access basketball, mini golf, a food shop, some local shops for gifts and more, a playground, and a museum.

Sam Russell

2024-03

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Luciana Côrtes

2024-04

Hotel right in the middle of Death Valley, with a great structure.Very beautiful and with options of attractions, such as horseback riding, bike rental and golf. For those who like souvenir shops, there are 2 stores from what I saw, one of them with food and other things that can help those in the desert.The cottage is clean and big.I found the values of the food expensive, and in the matter of cleaning, there was cigarette gumba under the seat cushion, and the seat is dirty. But the room is perfect clean.But overall I liked it a lot.

Earl Adamy

2024-02

Our 2 night stay at the Ranch was a huge disappointment except for the golf and sightseeing. We stayed in building 600, 2nd floor in a double queen room; dined at both the Inn and Saloon, played golf, and did a bit of sightseeing.Room: deadbolt on door did not work, several doors exhibited large areas of chipped paint, the sink had no stopper, the caulk was coming off the shower over tub, toilet very low, beds sagged, no blankets, and no housekeeping. The building and halls were clearly in need of repair. Overall not what one expects in a room for $225+-/night.General store: expect to be price gouged. $9 for an egg salad sandwich with tiny bits of egg between the bread slices. $5 for a large (ordinary) black coffee. Lots and lots of shockingly high prices.Buffet: expect to be price gouged. $21 for an ordinary self service breakfast buffet.Inn and Saloon dining: expect to be price gouged. ordinary entrees of meat, fish, chicken generally $40-$50+. 5oz glass of ordinary wine $14 to $16. Service good at the Inn, so-so at the Saloon. Mixed verdict on the food ... some good, some not so good.Furnace Creek golf: expect a wonderful experience once you get past trying to find the pro shop or a restroom anywhere on the course (there are none so be sure to empty your bladder before teeing off). We are average golfers accustomed to playing a range of courses. The green fees are reasonable and the course was not busy. The grass fairways are tree lined and wide open, the greens are fair, and the scenery is nothing short of awesome. The ancient carts have no windscreens which can make for a chilly ride.Sightseeing: the geology is nothing short of awesome. You simply have to experience Death Valley to believe it. We give it ten stars.

Amy Dobry

2024-04

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Elaine Perliss

2024-04

Stayed in the cottages, which were beautiful, comfortable, and very quiet, especially since most have a cottage on the left and behind you. If I were to make any suggestions, I would recommend turing the area above the washer/dryer area to a station for coffee/tea and other food/snacks that a family might bring for their stay. Will definitely return.

Jeanette Laarman

2024-02

We have stayed here 2 times and looking forward to our 3rd stay in a couple of weeks. The reason we like this place is the spring fed pool. They have different room options and we have only gotten the standard rooms, as others have been sold out. The standard rooms are just that. Each time we have stayed the rooms were clean. We cannot speak of the food as when we stayed last time there were not available reservations. We give it a 5 star only because we have enjoyed the amenities we have used. Side note: If you are driving to Death Valley, get gas before you arrive. This has nothing to do with the hotel. But I have seen gas here for over $10 but average over $6 or $7 per gallon.

John M

2024-05

Exceptional experience. Newly renovated Inn, preserving its rich history. Fantastic vews on the grounds and Death Valley. Excellent restaurant. Expensive but worth it at least once in your life.Walkability: They have shuttles to get you are your luggage to your room. Elevators to get aound the Inn. Pathways to walk amongst the tall palm trees and creek.

Holly Cole

2024-04

What a great gem of surprise. It is so beautiful here. The staff goes above and beyond to make it a pleasant and memorable experience.I just associated Death Valley with a hot barren desert, but there's so much more out here. I came in March, and the weather was cool and clear. I hear that it is nice for eight months or of the year.Definitely go to The Inn for dinner. It is their higher end restaurant. I had a filet mignon that was cooked to perfection. Take time to stroll the oasis garden and stargaze at the sky.

Amy Leffler (Thetravelroamad)

2024-04

We had a great two night stay here! I always research and read reviews so I was not expecting a 5 star hotel and this is what I expected it to be. You’re paying for the convenience of being in the park. The hotel grounds itself were fantastic! There were a lot of great activities, pool was large and nice. The General store was great and had a lot of great souvenir selections that the visitor center did not have. Food is expensive but to be expected for being in the middle of nowhere. Staff were all friendly and helpful and kids enjoyed the ice cream parlor. The room itself was average. Almost a motel feel but I did like that all rooms had a private patio or balcony. We had a 1st floor patio view of the golf course which was really nice. The cottages are probably a lot more nicer but since we were only staying two nights and hiking during the day we opted for a hotel room. However, if staying longer i would prefer the cottages. They looked nice and spacious. My only negative would be the food and restaurants. We did not make reservations ahead of time to the Saloon and there was no availability during our stay and we tried to eat at The Tavern but they were so packed they couldn’t accommodate us for dinner. We only had a choice of the Buffett which was fine. However, being the only place for food the restaurants need to be able to accommodate the amount of guests. Overall we had a great stay and would stay here again.

Bryn Beers

2024-04

We stayed 2 nights in a cottage.Pros - the location. You're very close to Stovepipe and Badwater so you can get all the hiking in. The room had plenty of space for our family of 5 however the floor areas were dirty.Cons - the website is outdated regarding food options. When we were there we tried to eat at the Wild Rose which was closed when it was supposed to be open. So we then tried the Ice Cream Parlor which informed us they hadn't had food since last summer. Next we went to the saloon which doesn't allow walk-ins or take our orders. We were told our options were the buffet or general store. We went to the buffet which was a huge rip off. The food was scarce and what was available was tasteless. The next day we drove over to the Badwater Saloon in Stovepipe and had a much better experience and great dinner. We arrived at 4 and asked for a crib for our room (which we had reserved ahead of time), we called the front desk 4 times and it was finally brought at 8.

Ned E.

2024-04

Recommend the cottages for a pleasant and quiet night’s sleep. There was somewhat of a disaster at check in time: a worker was digging somewhere and took out the power to the entire valley. The hotel lobby did have emergency power and did manage to check in the guests… slowly. Dinner choice was a grilled hot dog or hamburger. Opted for a $10 cold tuna fish sandwich from the general store instead of waiting for a $16 grilled hot dog. Room was powerless for 5 hours. We did bring a flashlight along and that was helpful. They also got WiFi up and working quickly. WiFi service was surprisingly good. They did discount our first night’s bill due to the power fiasco. Location in the park is perfect for the must see attractions.Rooms: We stayed in one of the cottages. They are newer, clean and well insulated, so quiet. The HVAC system was not overly noisy either. Roomy shower. Good selection of satellite TV channels. Decent mini fridge. Would have appreciated a small microwave at this price range. Brought our own coffee pot, coffee, filters and cream, as we are not fans of non dairy creamer and tiny in room coffee makers.Nearby activities: Badwater basin is nearby. Recommend hike to the arch (and the dry waterfall a short distance beyond the arch). Also recommend the Golden Canyon hike to Red Cathedral.Food & drinks: Huckleberry ice cream cones at the parlor are to die for. A bit pricy for sure, but even the single scoop cone was a good size portion in a big waffle cone. We had a sandwich over at the Wild Rose Tavern by the golf course. Prices there were within reason, although the service was slow. We had dinner one night at the dining room at the inn (other property one mile east). This worth doing once. It’s expensive but the food was good. Service was very good. Have a Blackberry Bourbon Sidecar!

RAHUL H

2024-03

One of the best lodges inside national parks. Perfect for a getaway, star gazing and completely off the grid (no cell service for t-mobile inside whole of the park). They have a nice restaurant, general store and an ice cream parlor for the hot summers.Plenty parking lot. Very spacious lawns for spending time looking at the mountains.Bookings are done online and over call but you will not get confirmation when you book online until 24-48 hours. So prefer calling them directly.

StevieJ D

2024-04

I loved this place so much, I flew home to England, waited a week and flew back! Ok, it was also for the National Park too, but The Ranch is a lovely place to stay for a few days. There’s a nice selection of rooms, from the stand alone cottages, the quality option, to the more basic block style rooms. There’s also the deluxe Queen rooms. I tried them all, the cottages are by far the best.

Duane Serrano

2024-02

We stayed in a very comfortable cottage. We had a fabulous time at the saloon/restaurant. Shout out to these folks that made our two nights there memorable in a wonderful way. Started with Chloe (hostess) recommended great information and times for sights to see. Tonya (manager) was a delight and personable. Alahna and Madison (bartenders) gave us excellent service and were also very friendly. We highly recommend this place to stay and enjoy!

Jeff Prupis

2024-05

OMFG, why can't we give negative stars? Annual motorcycle trip with 2 nephews. 2 Nights at DV FC Ranch. Front desk billing is medieval. They take deposits for rooms and misapply them to the wrong guests. You can check into the pool, but you can't get out. Nephew had to jump over the fence to let the rest of us out, two days in a row. Toilet chain broken in room for two days after notifying front desk. Non-working TVs in rooms. No toilet paper in restaurant restroom. Waitstaff inept beyond belief. Forgets apps, overcooked steaks. I'd complain about the prices, but in all fairness we knew about them going in. Unfortunately this place USED to be an experience worth sharing (been here multiple times). NOT ANYMORE. AVOID THIS WRECK.

Linda Carmy

2024-03

Three reasons for the rating:1. 25 minutes standing in line to check-in2. Assigned to second-floor room, no elevator. No one from the hotel warned us or offered help. Fortunately, a good hearted guy saw us struggling and offered his help.3. The air conditioner/heater was old and noisy. We were forced to turn off the unit for the night, in order to sleep.For over $250 a night, I expect better!Nearby activities: Death Valley is amazing.

Mark Williamson

2024-03

It's an older motel that has been renovated recently. The bed is comfortable, the shower warm, and the toilet clean. Not all the lights worked and the door is HARD to close.It's expensive for what you get, BUT it is in the middle of Death Valley NP and over 100 miles from any other lodging (except The Inn - more expensive & Stovepipe Wells). If you're not camping, in an RV, and don't want to drive hours to get in & out of the park, this is the best place to stay.

Alexa Landau

2024-02

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