Beaumont Ranch

It's a mom-and-pop place, so keep that in mind, but we had a decent stay. The staff were good and even went out of their way to sort out a couple of small problems late at night. The Western theme suits the location perfectly, and you can tell there's a lot of potential here.

We came a long way for what we thought would be an authentic Texas dude ranch. My two friends had flown in from Germany, and I'd traveled from Tennessee. It was a huge disappointment, and I would urge anyone considering Beaumont Ranch to read the details before booking. Our room was in the Western Town. The area had scraps of blue tarp lying around, very little lighting, uneven brick paths, and warped porch boards with nails sticking out an inch or two. The railing was loose, too, and it was hard to walk around safely at dusk. Inside, the room smelled musty and was dirty. The comforter, pillows, trundle sheets, curtains, and front door were stained or grimy, and the trundle mattress had blood on it. Wallpaper was peeling, and the blinds left gaps at the windows and door, so people outside could see into the room. Finding the front desk was difficult because there were no signs or useful directions. We saw overgrown grounds around the barns and facilities along the way. Worse, when we reached the desk building, nobody was there. Our keys and contract had been left on the counter, and the building was unlocked. Anyone could have taken a key and accessed our room. The contract also exposed my name, phone number, and email to anyone who walked in. That was a serious concern for our party of two adult women and a teenage girl. I called the manager, Katie, who met us at the desk. I explained the room's condition and the safety issues, and told her we wouldn't stay because it was unsanitary and unsafe. She acknowledged she hadn't been in or checked the room before we arrived. At 9 p.m. we had to find a hotel in Ft. Worth and drive an hour there. The only reason for the one star is that we got a refund.

The room itself had a nostalgic, cool feel at first, but we couldn't shower at all. In the "Mike and Amy" room, the shower gave only a few drops and there was no hot water. When we reported it, we were told the local plumber had done a bad job and our cabin had no booster pump. They suggested letting the water run, which didn't help when there was barely any pressure. Holes in the buildings also meant we could hear rodents or other critters moving around overhead all night. Getting around was difficult from the start. There were no signs for check-in, and the roads were full of potholes and big puddles. At the desk, nobody was present and the keys were sitting out on the counter. After dark, the cabins and paths were nearly black, with only a dim rope light on the main path. Bricks and concrete blocks were scattered in the walkways, and my wife tripped on one, fell, and ruined a new pair of shoes. The stairs had no safety rail either. It felt like the place had been left to fend for itself. There was no food, microwave, or dependable front desk service, and dogs barked during our stay. The property has potential and some rustic charm, but it's being run down by a lack of basic upkeep. It felt dirty, unsafe, and more like an abandoned project than a working ranch. I can't imagine coming from out of state for this, and I'd tell anyone looking for a safe, functional place to stay to go elsewhere. I'd give zero stars if I could.

The scenic setting made Beaumont Ranch such a good place for our wedding, and the venue looked beautiful. We got to weigh in on the layout, with plenty of guidance when we needed it. Our guests loved the buffet so much there wasn't any left over. The event also came with a bartender and an off-duty cop to help make sure nobody got too drunk. Everything went smoothly, and we had a great experience.