Forest fires fail to extinguish UKenthusiasm

The usrockies by Alan Moore

Forest fires fail to extinguish UKenthusiasm

Regional product boost

THE fires that hit parts of the US Rocky Mountain states this summer have not dampened the enthusiasm of UK specialist operators.

Representatives from companies including Premier Holidays, North America Travel Service and Travel 4 are currently completing a four-state visit to look at potential new product, while United Vacations has increased its product in the area for next year.

The region includes Colorado, Idaho, Montana, North and South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming, which are all featured by adventure specialist Ranch America.

Rolling out the ranches

Ranch America managing director Ron Harris said: “We will be offering two more ranches in Montana next summer and another in Utah at Mohab – the centre of white-water rafting in the state.

Harris said about one million acres in Montana were destroyed by last summer’s fires but added that because of the huge size of the state, this would be equivalent to just the Land’s End area of Cornwall affecting the whole of the UK.

Offers for 2001

Aside from the new ranches on offer, Ranch America is running the same programme as this year, featuring ranch stays, cattle drives, rafting, horseback trips, self-drive tours and fishing, as well as winter activities and snow sports.

United Vacations is justifying its expansion in the Rockies after a year of rising sales. It has widened the choice of accommodation in Colorado and other Rocky Mountain states and introduced a narrow-gauge railway day excursion from Durango to the historic mining town of Silverton in Colorado.

Product and marketing manager Zia Bapuji said: “Although the region is perhaps better known for its winter product, we have seen a definite increase in demand for summer.”

Staffordshire-based North American Highways is introducing two tailor-made self-drives for next year. One is called Idaho, Undiscovered America, which runs for 14 nights, the other is named Find Yourself in Wyoming, which is a three-week loop tour from Denver.

Chairwoman Susan Lamb said:”These are great driving routes that feature many aspects of the history of the West that are disappearing elsewhere. The Idaho itinerary includes Salmon River, one of the last great undammed rivers in the US.”

Mount Rushmore: the US national monument in South Dakota is a tour favourite

Sample

ranch america: one week at the Sorrel River Ranch in Mohab, Utah, will cost from £1,500, including flights, all mealsaccommodation, horse riding and other resort activities. The two new properties in Montana are the Rocking Z Ranch, between Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, and the White Tail Ranch, 150 miles from Missoula. Both are guest and working ranches where one week’s stay will cost £1,300.

united vacations: accommodation is now available throughout Colorado, as well as Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, Vernal in Utah, Billings in Montana, and Cheyenne and Jackson Hole in Wyoming. The Goosewing Ranch at Jackson costs from £148 per person per night with meals, riding, activities and entertainment.

north american highways:the 14-night Idaho tailor-made self-drive option costs £839 per person, excluding car and flights, but including some meals. The 20-night Wyoming itinerary is priced at £1,140.