Rounding up the herd. At Burnt Well Guest Ranch you can participate on whatever level of actual ranch life you wish, or just relax and reconnect with your self, your family or nature. With our guest capacity of only two rooms, we can make your interests our interest. There is always plenty of riding, whether were checking the 50 miles of fences, waters or driving cattle to a new pasture. We will take time to carefully match your riding level, beginner or experienced, to the appropriate horse and tack; We will also make available, riding lessons or refresher courses which you can put to use with the riding opportunities of that day. Your safety and enjoyment will be top priority. [. A young rider having a great time. Parents and older children can enjoy more challenging rides. We do not intentionally want to segregate the kids from the parents, except for a brief break or two. We want to help your family get back in touch with each other, get dirty and have some fun together. There is often a bottle-fed lamb or calf around for the kids (young and old) to feed. Little lambs need lots of attention. Other ranch work, depending on the season, includes doctoring cattle, branding calves, marking lambs, shearing sheep and weaning calves lambs for market. Of course, theres always arena games such as pole bending, running barrels, roping and team penning. Out of the arena, theres horseshoes, or a game of pool, maybe some home-made ice cream on the deck or relax in the hot tub to ease those saddle sore muscles. We may even be able to work in an old fashioned hay ride, some local cowboy musicians or poets for you to sit back and enjoy around the campfire under the warm, blanket of New Mexico stars. Branding is hard work. Once a week (weather schedule permitting) you can participate in a supper/sunset ride or maybe a breakfast/sunrise ride. You cant miss our awesome New Mexico sunsets or sunrises, and what better way then in a place away from the hustle and bustle of every day life with delicious Dutch-oven meals prepared over a glowing campfire. What a beautiful rainbow. A weekly sightseeing trip is provided, with a six day stay, to one of our local attractions, such as a trip to Historic Lincoln, home to the West's most infamous outlaw Billy the Kid; Carlsbad Caverns, site of some of the largest caves in the world; the Roswell International UFO Museum and 1947 UFO crash site; White Sands National Monument, home to the largest collection of gypsum sand dunes; Capitan, home of Smokey Bear; Ruidoso Downs Race Track home to the All American Futurity; or a trail ride through some of our beautiful, local mountain trails which rise to 12,000 feet above sea level. Haley separates a calf. Ranch Rodeo is growing in popularity in the west and in our area. Kim has been a member of a, four time qualifying World Champion, ranch rodeo team. Area ranches compete in these rodeos, which are made up of events that simulate actual every day ranch work. In season, these are a great outing for guests. The events are such that you could try them at the ranch, in the arena. Our own mini ranch rodeo. Our hearty cowboy meals are home-cooked in Patricias kitchen, where you are encouraged to join the Chessers for an old-fashioned sit-down, pass-around, family-style dinner. Our newly constructed, lodge style guest hacienda is decorated and furnished with an 'Old West' rustic flavor. There is a spaciously inviting covered porch, furnished for your enjoyment and relaxation. The 1,000 square foot 'great' room has proven to be a favorite among our younger guests because of the checker board table, hobby horse, toy box and lots of room to play. And our more mature guests have found the native rock fire place, pool table and even the in tune upright piano an added source of their enjoyment and relaxation. It is furnished with your comfort and relaxation in mind, and has a small kitchenette for handy drinks and snacks at any hour. Off of the 'great' room, for your convenience, laundry facilities, bath with a real horse trough for a shower and a charming, well stocked gift shop, The Burnt Well Mercantile. The Rodeo room is comfortably furnished for a family of 4 with a queen size bed and a set of bunk beds. The Indian room has a full size bed and 2 sets of bunk beds, perfect for the larger family. Each bedroom has it's own private bath.[. | | Ranch Vacation | |

We have our two spring cattle drives scheduled and they are filling up fast!! The first is scheduled for May 4 -10, when we will be driving 50 cow and calf pairs from Burnt Well to a ranch that we lease near town. We plan to gather 50 pair here at the ranch, take a couple of days to drive them to the lease, gather the 50 pair that are already there and drive them, over another couple of days, home (can't have more than that at a time on the place). We will probably be on the trail 4 or 5 days. The Chisum Days cattle drive is scheduled for June 2 - 8, when we will drive 100 longhorn steers from Burnt Well to the Roswell fairgrounds, 30 miles away. This drive is in conjunction with Roswell's Old Chisum Days PRCA Rodeo and festivities. This is the 2nd annual Chisum Days and cattle drive. This drive has 4 confirmed riders and we only take up to 10 riders per drive. The spots go on a first book basis. If you are interested in more information or a brochure specific to one of these drives please let us know. There is a growing interest in the authenticity and adventure of our drives and the spaces are going fast! We require a 20% deposit upon booking to guarantee your spot on the drive. Giving the herd a drink. This year's cattle drives are $1,560.00 per person. As with all our cattle drives, this price is all inclusive: good ranch broke horses, hearty Dutch oven meals, cowboy bedrolls (a 3 mattress made up with clean sheets, blankets and a pillow, all rolled up in a canvas tarp), plenty of cowboy tepees (in case of inclement weather) and lots of fun and adventure! The only thing this price does not include is our 5.9375% sales tax and any incidentals you may decide to purchase from Burnt Well Mercantile. As far as the Branding Week April 13-19, the cost on it will be the regular 6 day stay of $1,300.00 (plus tax). We will be spending the week gathering cattle, branding calves and sorting off the pairs we want to take on the drive so that they will be ready for the drive to the new lease. Please be aware that we limit each drive to no more than 10 riders and the spots go on a first book basis. Rates: $1,560.00 ($1,300.00 Branding Week) plus 5.9375% tax. Prices include all your meals, horse/tack, bedroll, etc. Keeping the herd in line. The space is limited, no more than 10 riders, and it go on a 1st book basis. A 20% deposit will be required upon booking, with the remainder due 14 days before the cattle drive begins. Deposits are non refundable. No cancellations within 30 days prior to drive, due to inability to refill your spot. Gratuities are left to the discretion of the riders. We accept Visa, MasterCard or personal checks. Were excited about this and hope to have you join us for one of our Cattle Drives or Branding Week. Tentative Itinerary for Chisum Days cattle drive: June 2 - arrive afternoon, get settled and acquainted. June 3 - fit riders to horses, ride at Burnt Well to get acquainted with horse and saddle. June 4 - gather longhorn steers, drive to headquarters and pen, work out other cows that will stay at Burnt Well. June 5 - begin drive, drive cattle to first camp site. June 6 - drive cattle to Roswell, through Roswell and into the fair grounds, drive cattle into the rodeo arena to kick off rodeo. June 7 - shuttle horses and riders to ranch, clean up, rest and head back to rodeo, drive cattle into the rodeo arena. June 8 - breakfast and goodbyes.

Guests to Burnt Well Guest Ranch can fly into international airports in El Paso, Texas or Albuquerque, New Mexico. There is also air service into Roswell Municipal Airport which is five miles outside of the city of Roswell. Below is a table of mileage from major cities in the southwest. Mileage to Burnt Well Guest Ranch

Head of ranch security, Yoder, greets all guests. Instruction in the cowboy IQ test. Warmin' up the rope. Which one do you want? I'll show you how to do it. Git along little dogie. Let's get some more. Back at the ranch. Rack 'em up!

by James Hobbs of the Flying J Wranglers. Burnt Well Guest Ranch 399 Chesser Road Roswell, NM 88203 Toll Free: 866-729-0974 505-347-2668 Fax: 505-347-2668. New Mexico Tourism Dept. Billy the Kid Outlaw Gang. Member of the Dude Ranchers' Association

Burnt Well Guest Ranch is a small, family-owned and operated ranch in the warm, sunny climate of New Mexico, 16 miles from the nearest highway, 35 miles from the nearest town, with two Chesser generations raised on the ranch. This is not a dude ranch but an actual working cattle and sheep ranch. Around the turn of the century (1900), cattlemen assumed usage of the land to graze their cattle. Also during that time, the Homestead Act was enacted. If you could prove up on the land (prove you could live off the land for one year) you were given one section of land. There were some homesteaders, where Kim grew up, that cowboys from Bloom Cattle Co. were trying to run off. In their attempt to get them to leave, they burned down the wooden windmill tower and threw the posts down the well. Later the Diamond A Cattle Co. bought that place and it was known throughout the years as Burnt Well camp. In 1950, Ivan Chesser bought the Burnt Well ranch. In 1957, he added another homestead called The Frazier Place, to his holdings. This is what comprises the current Chesser Ranch. Ivan's son, Kim, is a lifelong cowboy from a long, family ranching tradition. He was born and raised on this ranch and not only has a love of this way of life but a greater love of people. His wife, Patricia, is also a native of New Mexico, who is ready to see that your comforts are taken care of. She rides when she has time, cooks good ole country food and provides sweet fiddle music around the evening campfire. Kim and Patricia have spent their entire married life, prior to opening the ranch to guests, entertaining people from all across the United States and around the world. Their easy and warm hospitality makes you feel instantly welcome. They have a special passion for strengthening the family and want to provide a place where families from grandparents down to the smallest of children can get away from the high-tech, fast-paced life, so many have found themselves in. 399 Chesser Road Roswell, NM 88203 Toll Free: 866-729-0974 505-347-2668