This Remote Wild Horse Sanctuary in the U.S. Is the Only One of Its Kind in the World—and You Can Stay the Night

What would the American West be without untamed mustangs roaming the plains? Once symbols of freedom and frontier spirit, wild horses face an uncertain future, as development, drought, and federal roundups continue to shrink their range.

In southern Wyoming, however, one stretch of open space still offers sanctuary. Tucked at the edge of the Medicine Bow National Forest, about 35 minutes west of Laramie, the Deerwood Ranch Wild Horse EcoSanctuary sprawls across approximately 4,700 acres. Deerwood Ranch is the only Bureau of Land Management-certified wild horse ecosanctuary of its kind in the world and serves as a haven for more than 350 wild horses—many rescued and allowed to live out their lives in relative peace.

The working, family-owned ranch runs tours of its operation from mid-May through late September, by appointment only. On the tours, visitors ride across the ranch with a guide who explains the lineage and behaviors of the mustangs, and how the ranch was transformed from a Wyoming cattle operation into a conservation center. The two-hour ranch and mustang experiences are $75 for an adult and $25 for a child. Kids under age 2 are free if they can sit on someone’s lap.

Those who want to linger at the ranch beyond the tour can spend the night in one of the three on-site accommodations: Deerwood Station, the Rustic Ranch Cabin, and the Barn Getaway. Deerwood Station is a modern cabin with two bedrooms, a fully-equipped kitchen, and a dining area overlooking the river, while the Rustic Ranch Cabin was the original homestead structure built in the late 1800s. The cozy Barn Getaway is tucked within the property’s beautiful wedding barn. Lodging rates start at around $170 per night, depending on the season.

Deerwood Ranch Wild Horse EcoSanctuary is located 35 minutes west of Laramie and 15 minutes south of Centennial, Wyoming. It sits on the edge of the expansive Medicine Bow National Forest near the Snowy Range.