It is finally fall weather at the ranch and it has been beautiful. It’s absolutely perfect for camping.  This month is going to be kind of laid back after the Chili Cookoff/Ho Down Weekend. Do you have a weekend with nothing to do? Get out of town! Come on to the ranch and take in this gorgeous fall weather!

Recent Events

Halloween

Halloween weekend was a huge success. We had a great turnout. The weather was perfect for tenting. It was high 40’s at night and sunny and 70 during the day. Many of the campers took advantage of it and had a volleyball tournament.

Thanks to all that participated in the Halloween contests. We had great prizes for outstanding site decorations, pumpkin carvings, and costumes. There were all kinds of scary sites in the campground including the graveyard. So much time and effort had to go into these. The costumes were amazing too, including Liberace. Check out the website to see all of the photos.

That evening, everyone got to travel through the haunted “worm hole” on foot or golf cart. The campers who worked to put that together scared everyone passing by. It was a huge success.

We ended up the night with dancing with music from DJ Rob. It was a great selection of music as always.

Put Rainbow Ranch on your calendar for next Halloween. It will be hard to top this one, but we can do it.

Fall Fur Fest

This years Fall Fur Fest was awesome. The park was full of good looking men! There were bears everywhere. The weather turned out to be wonderful.

Friday, our Meet and Greet hosts were Brian, Dwayne, Dean and Paul. They threw a great party in the road between their two sites. The beer was flowing and Dwayne’s Pudding Shots were a hit again. Afterwards, everybody went down to dance and party the night away with DJ C-Rail keeping the tunes going.

Saturday, we had a charity pancake breakfast, with donations going to Bryan’s House. Bryan’s House is a facility benefiting children who have been affected by HIV and AIDS. We are proud to announce that $1387 was raised. A huge thank you goes out to everybody who participated and donated.

Later in the afternoon, Steven and friends hosted a gathering for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. The spread was incredible as usual and everything was delicious. Rob served up his tasty concoction called Bear Whiz. Yum!

That evening, there was a huge turnout in the pavilion for music and dancing to DJ Rob’s jams.

Thanks to everyone who participated and we hope to see you soon.

Upcoming Events

Chili Cookoff/Ho Down/ Hay Ride Weekend

Grab your jeans, boots and chili fixins and get down to the ranch for this activity packed weekend. Saturday will be a blast with events starting with the annual Chili Cookoff. Get in the competition or just come on down and taste some of the chili entries. Last year, we had eighteen entries for the judges to mull over. It was definitely a difficult decision. Can we beat that number of entries for this year? In the evening, we will have hay rides which will be followed by the Country Ho Down. Enjoy an evening of dancing and hanging out while listening to another awesome performance by Anton Shaw. Come on to the ranch! It’s supposed to be a beautiful weekend, and we still have a few openings.

Thanksgiving

Come down and enjoy a relaxing Thanksgiving weekend and feast with your ranch family. Each year on Saturday, we join for a huge Thanksgiving potluck. The food is always incredible as we have some very talented cooks here. You won’t leave hungry. Hope to see you!

Announcements

Our new office building is open for business! We opened the new office about three weeks ago, and we’re very excited about it. This will make it much easier to stop by for ice or firewood. We also plan to sell our Rainbow Ranch t-shirts, along with other Rainbow Ranch clothing and accessories, plus a variety of RV parts and supplies. We will also have some supplies like toothbrushes, etc. in case you forgot something. Come check it out!

Use of the internet is free to all campers. It is accessible in or near the office. Many sites have access and we will have some picnic tables at the office soon.

Please check out our Facebook page. We will be uploading photos, information and occasional deals and discounts. Stop by and “like” our new page at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rainbow-Ranch-Campground/201943626511513

This past weekend was a little warm, but a very nice weekend at the ranch. There was a full moon, and the place was lit up at night. The next few weekends are going to be perfect weather to be outdoors. Fall is a great time to be at the ranch. We have three big event weekends coming up. Come on to the ranch and take in this wonderful fall weather!

Recent Events

Womyn’s Fest

This year’s Womyn’s Fest was a blast! There were so many wonderful people there. The weekend was filled with fun events.

It began with a Meet and Greet at the pavilion on Friday night. What a great turnout! There was lots of good conversation and dancing to the music provided by DJ Rob. Saturday, there was a volleyball tournament and Bloody Marys and cocktails were served. Finger foods and “Butch Punch” were served after that. Everything was very tasty. What a spread! Later that afternoon, everyone ate hotdogs and hamburgers at the cookout. To top off the day, that evening we had a performance from singer and songwriter Elizabeth Wills.

A special thank you goes out to all the permanent campers who worked so hard to provide drinks, food and fun to make this a very special Womyn’s Fest weekend.

Upcoming Events

Halloween

Put on your scariest costume and join us for a fun filled Halloween weekend. We will have the annual Best Site contest and the Best Costume contest Saturday evening in the pavilion.

Fall Fur Fest

This years Fall Fur Fest promises to be a huge party. The event has booked up completely. There are going to be Bears everywhere! Everyone is looking forward to the Meet and Greet Friday evening and the annual “Fur Ball” Saturday night.

Chili Cookoff/Ho Down/ Hay Ride Weekend

Grab your jeans, boots and chili fixins and get down to the ranch for this activity packed weekend. Saturday will be a blast with events starting with the annual Chili Cookoff. Get in the competition or just come on down and taste some of the chili entries. Last year, we had eighteen entries for the judges to mull over. It was definitely a difficult decision. Can we beat that number of entries for this year? In the evening, we will have hay rides which will be followed by the Country Ho Down. Enjoy an evening of dancing and hanging out while listening to another awesome performance by Anton Shaw.

Announcements

Our new office building is nearing completion. We are planning to have it operational by Halloween weekend. We are so excited about it. It will be located at the entrance to the campground area, by the wood shed. This will make it much easier to stop by for ice or firewood. We also plan to sell our Rainbow Ranch t-shirts, along with other Rainbow Ranch clothing and accessories, plus a variety of RV parts and supplies.

Use of the internet is free to all campers. It is accessible in the pavilion and in some areas and sites around the new office.

Please check out our Facebook page. We will be uploading photos, information and occasional deals and discounts. Stop by and “like” our new page at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rainbow-Ranch-Campground/201943626511513

It seems like Fall is on it’s way. Whether it’s here, or if this perfect weather is just a tease, at least the 100 degree temps are gone! Now we could just use some rain. Lots of rain. The weather has kept it fairly slow around the ranch, but it’s just about camping weather again. Labor Day was a great weekend and kick off for the Fall season. We have several popular weekends coming up in the next month or so. Hope to see you soon!

Recent Events

Pool party, Cookout and Dive In

It was very hot for Pool Party Weekend and the pool was definitely the place to be. Everybody stayed cool while enjoying cold beverages. The party began around noon and more and more people showed up as the afternoon went on. We had some great burgers and hot dogs around 5:00. Thank you to Jeff, Robert and Joel for helping out with the barbecuing and preparation. The evening was perfect for the Dive-In. We watched “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”, a classic that never gets old. Laughter could be heard all around.

Labor Day Weekend

This Labor Day weekend was a great one! The pool was perfect and we got a break from the 100 degree temperatures. Friday night, Gary and Duane had a Meet and Greet party on their deck. It was a huge success and the margaritas were awesome. A big thanks goes out to them. Saturday, everyone hung out in the pool. At 4:00, we had a Tea Dance on the deck at the pavilion. The new deck is such a fun place to gather. We mixed Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka with lemonade and orange to make some incredible afternoon cocktails. Thank you Deep Eddy for sponsoring this event. That evening, Rob was DJ and played some great tunes. It was a perfect evening for music, conversation and star gazing. Sunday, the pool party and cookout was a huge hit. That evening, there was some dancing and lots of fun was had in the pavilion as Terry played country music.

Upcoming Events

Womyn’s Fest

Womyn’s Fest is a very popular weekend and usually fills up quickly. It is always a blast and this year’s should be no different. This year, some of our permanent campers have designed the weekend. They have scheduled many fun activities, including a Meet and Greet with jello shots and a keg, dancing, a volleyball tournament, a cook out and more. We will also have live music with Elizabeth Wills. Please come welcome her as this is her first time at the ranch.  Check her out:  http://www.elizabethwills.com/

Announcements

The new office is coming along nicely. It will be located at the entrance to the campground area, by the wood shed. This will make it much easier to stop by for ice or firewood. We also plan to sell our Rainbow Ranch t-shirts, along with other Rainbow Ranch clothing and accessories, plus a variety of RV parts and supplies. We can’t wait to have the new office built and operational.

Our internet is temporarily down as we are switching providers. We will have it up and running again when the new office is completed.

Please check out our Facebook page. We will be uploading photos, information and occasional deals and discounts. Stop by and “like” our page at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rainbow-Ranch-Campground/201943626511513

Recent Events

Picnic in the Park

A great time was had by all at the picnic. It was held near the pool and pavilion. Everybody brought sandwiches, snacks and cocktails and had some good conversation. Several shared an olive and cheese tray and some very tasty strawberry margaritas.

Independence Day

We had a wonderful time on our 4^th of July weekend. The pool was full both Saturday and Sunday, due to the unusually hot weather. Everyone had a great time while staying  cool. A big thanks goes out to Terry for being DJ on Saturday night. It was a huge success, and the party ended up going until after 2 a.m. Great job! The fireworks show was Saturday night at 10:30. It was an awesome show. It was longer than it has been in the past, and was enjoyed by all. We had a brisket potluck on Sunday afternoon. The briskets and all of the sides and desserts were very tasty.

Upcoming Events

Pool party, Cookout and Dive In – July 23rd

Come join us for our annual official pool party and cookout. The pool will be ready to cool you off and we will be providing hamburgers, hot dogs and all the trimmings. Our Dive In evening is growing in popularity, and will be a blast this year. Join us Saturday evening in the pool and watch a movie on the big screen. We will be showing “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”.

Announcements

Soon, our office will be moved from the house at the front of the property down to a new building in the campground area. It will be located at the entrance to the campground area, by the wood shed. This will make it much easier to stop by for ice or firewood. We also plan to sell our Rainbow Ranch t-shirts, along with other Rainbow Ranch clothing and accessories, plus a variety of RV parts and supplies. We can’t wait to have the new office built and operational. It will be started this weekend.

Use of the internet is now free to all campers. It is accessible in the pavilion and in some areas and sites around the pavilion.

Please check out our Facebook page. We will be uploading photos, information and occasional deals and discounts. Stop by and “like” our new page at:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rainbow-Ranch-Campground/201943626511513

Upcoming Events

Picnic in the Park – June 18, 2011

Come join us for a picnic, and enjoy the outdoors in the shade. Bring your blankets and picnic baskets full of sandwiches, chips and drinks down to the lake front and enjoy friends, food and games. We will have some outdoor games and hopefully you have one or two to bring and share.

4th of July Weekend – July 2, 2011

Our New Year’s firework show was one of the best ever, and we plan on this one being even better. Saturday night, we will have music in the pavilion and we will begin our fireworks show around 10:30, followed by more music and dancing. We will have a potluck on Sunday afternoon at 5:00. The ranch will be providing brisket. Make your favorite side dish or desert and come join us!

Recent Events

Spring Bear Round Up

This Spring Bear Round Up was probably the best ever. The weather was perfect, with cool nights, and highs in the mid 70’s. The weekend kicked off with the Meet and Greet on Friday night. The stage and surrounding area was packed, and both kegs were floated. Sally made Devil Juice and Dwayne made his Pudding Shots, both huge hits. It was great to see faces from Bear events past, and so many new faces! Afterwards, Crail ( or “DJ C-Rail”) did a great job keeping the music pumping in the pavilion well into the night.

It was a little chilly to be in the pool, but that didn’t stop many campers on Saturday afternoon. Lots of bears and Jello shots made for a great time at the pool. There was also a cocktail party, hosted by Rob, Reece, Steven, Larry and the “Bear Girls”. There were lots of tasty finger foods and they went quickly. After six batches, Rob’s Bear Whiz proved to be as popular as it was last year.

Burgers and hotdogs were served Saturday for dinner. A huge thank you to Jan, Leanne, Nancy, Maribelle and the other “Bear Girls” for hosting the dinner. It was great! After the feast, it was off to the Bear Dance in the pavilion to dance the night away and get crazy. The place was packed, and DJ Rob kept serving some awesome music.

Memorial Day/ Drag Show

Memorial Day Weekend was wonderful. The park was packed. There was music and dancing in the pavilion on Friday night, and lots of people enjoyed the pool and a potluck dinner Saturday.

The Drag Show started at 9:00 on Saturday evening, and was perfect. Many thanks to Shay Champagne for everything. We had several new performers, and some great ones from previous years. Most were our very own permanent campers. There is even talk of more of our campers being inspired by this show to give it a try next year. I can’t wait to see what next year’s show holds.

Volleyball Tournament

The 2011 5th Annual Rainbow Ranch Volley ball Tournament was a HUGE success.
We had 5 teams of 5 competing for this year’s 1st place title. There were a total of 8 games played. The teams consisted of The Bloody Mary’s, The Sorority Sisters from Hell, The Outlaws, The Jell-O Shots and the Retired Athletes.

The tournament started out fast and furious with The Sorority Sisters winning over the Bloody Mary’s in game1. Game 2 was a matchup of the Outlaws and Jell-O Shots with the Outlaws taking the win. Game 3 of the Sorority Sisters from Hell and the Retired Athletes went to the Retired Athletes. This took us to the loser’s bracket. Game 4 and 6 of the losers bracket went to the Jell-O Shots, bringing them back into the tournament to play the Retired Athletes who had lost to the Outlaws in game 5 of the winners bracket. Confused yet? In game 7, the Jell-O Shots were no match for the team captain of the Retired Athletes, who apparently decided to come out of retirement and served 21 straight serves, winning the game and putting them up against the Outlaws in game 8 for the last game of Tournament to decide the winners. The Outlaws, who had yet to lose a game and were not giving up easy, had to play their best game yet as the Retired Athletes were fired up and wanted that cooler full of Jell-O shots and Gold Metal ribbons. But it was not to be. The Outlaws swept the tournament and took home the prize. WAY TO GO OUTLAWS!!!!!!!! Later at the pool, the Outlaws shared their winning cooler of Jell-O shots all.

Thanks to all for participating.  Thanks go out to the scorekeepers and line judges who braved the sun and help us keep the game going smoothly.  Thanks to the Ranch crew for working so hard to give us a great court to play on and for the cooler of Jell-O shots.  And finally, special thanks go out to organizers JD and Blake, and most importantly, our bartenders Brian and Bill for the frozen daiquiris, Pina Coladas and assorted vodka drinks.

Announcements

We have a deck at the pavilion! A bunch of campers got together last weekend to help build the deck, and the deck itself is nearing completion. The handrails and benches will be built soon. Thank you James, Larry, Robin, Tony 1, Tony 2, Brian H., Bobby, Justin, Betty, Tracie and Diane and others for all of your hard work. Special thanks to Robby for his hard work in planning the deck and making it happen. Thanks to everyone who tipped the performers at the Drag Show for the proceeds that helped pay a large part of the new deck costs. There are a few deck photos on our Facebook page, and there will be more on the website later this week on the Volleyball photos page.

We have updated the website quite a bit, and have added photos to many of the events pages, including Spring Bear Round Up, Memorial Day Weekend and Volleyball Weekend. Please check them out if you haven’t already. Also on the website is a link on the “Contact Us” page for you to send your ideas, comments and complaints. We want to know how you feel about us, and would love to hear your ideas for ways to better the campground, new event weekends, etc.

Use of the internet is now free to all campers. It is accessible in the pavilion and in some areas and sites around the pavilion.

Please check out our Facebook page, We will be uploading photos, information and occasional deals and discounts. Stop by and “like” our new page at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rainbow-Ranch-Campground/201943626511513

Friday, May 27, 2011

Friday 9 PM – Join us for music and dancing in the pavilion.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Saturday  3 PM – There will be a potluck in the pavilion. Bring your favorite dish down and enjoy some wonderful food.

Saturday, 9 PM – The Memorial Day Drag Show will take place at the stage. There will be lots of fun numbers, many performed by first timers. It is going to be awesome. Don’t miss it!

Upcoming Events

Spring Bear Round Up-May 14, 2011

Spring Bear Round Up was a huge success lat year, and we plan on making it even better this Year! The weather is supposed to be beautiful, and we have some great events happening. Friday night, we have the Meet and Greet at the stage, with kegs of beer provided. Saturday, there will be a mid-afternoon party at the stage with cocktails and finger foods. After that, it will be pool time, and we will be serving up burgers to be followed with dancing at the “Fur Ball”at the Pavilion in the evening.

Memorial Day/ Drag Show-May 28, 2011

We are going to have a fun filled show this year with amateur drag queens, and those with a little more experience. Shay Champagne will be the MC and is sure to put on another fun filled show. We already have a few ladies with their pumps out and they are signed up to perform. Please let us know if you are interested in performing by sending us an email at info@rainbowranch.net.

Volleyball Tournament-June 11, 2011

This year’s Volleyball Tournament will be coordinated by J.D. Come on down with your team of friends, or sign up on a team to show us what you’ve got. The games will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday morning. The winning team will be presented with a cooler full of jello shots afterwards.

Recent Events

Cinco de Mayo

Cinco De Mayo was a great time again this year. The party started Friday evening, when lots of folks gathered around campfires and had several libations as Rob played background music in the Pavilion. The celebration started again Saturday afternoon, with one of the Ranch’s most anticipated activities, the busting of the Pinata. Several campers took a shot at breaking it, some with more success than others. When it finally broke, in a shower of candy and airline-sized bottles of liquor, there was a mad scramble for the goodies.

Many perms and campers joined together in a Cinco de Mayo potluck. There was lots of delicious food to be had, and everyone had a great time. Toward the end of dinner, an announcement was made that Tim & Tony were celebrating their 22nd anniversary. A large round of applause followed, partly for their longevity, and partly for the huge cake everyone was invited to partake in.

At 9ish, the Dance got underway in the Pavilion, with Rob spinning lots of tunes to “shake your bon-bon” to. The crowd was entertained by special guest Alicia Dos Amantes, who performed three numbers that  everyone enjoyed. The night finally wound down around midnight, with plenty of satisfied partiers headed to their beds to recuperate, and looking forward to doing it all again next year!

Announcements

We are very lucky to have such a great group of people on our team at Rainbow Ranch. Our manager, Gwenn, who has been with us for several years, is doing a spectacular job making sure everything is running smoothly. Please welcome Reece, Rob and Tony. These guys have been ranch family for quite awhile now and are now part of the team. Please say hello when you see their smiling faces.

In June, we will be building a deck onto the pavilion. Come check it out next time you’re here! It will be a great place to hang out, catch some sun, and relax. It should also be a happening spot for special events, bands, etc.

We will be putting new photos on the website starting this week. Please check them out when you get a chance.

We have started a new Facebook page and will be uploading photos, information and occasional deals and discounts. Stop by and “like” our new page at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rainbow-Ranch-Campground/201943626511513

Friday, May 13th – Saturday, May 14, 2011

Friday 9 PM – Meet & Greet Beer Bust will be held at the stage area. Two kegs of beer will be provided. Dwayne is going to make several batches of his famous pudding shots, and Sally will provide the Devil Juice. Watch out!

Saturday 3 PM – Cocktail Party, hosted by Rob and Reece, will beheld at the stage area. Anyone who has attended either of the yearly Bear functions recently will no doubt remember Rob’s awesome cocktail, “Bear Whiz”, straight from the gutters of New Orleans. Steve and Larry will be providing plenty of delicious finger foods. A good time is bound to be had by all!

Saturday 5 PM – “Bear Soup” (Pool Party) – Now that you’re all nicely buzzed, let’s show off all that Bear Fur in the pool. The more the merrier!

Saturday 7 PM – Dinner – held at the Pavilion. We will be providing Hot Dogs and Hamburgers, so bring your appetite and enjoy dinner prepared and served by some of the ladies at the Ranch.

Saturday 9 PM – Bear Dance – held at the Pavilion. Rob will be playing lots of our favorite 70′s and 80′s dance tunes, as well as some current stuff to make sure that all the Bears “shake their groove things” until the wee hours of the night.

We at Rainbow Ranch would like to thank you all for your continued patronage here at the ranch. Though it’s been a while since we’ve sent out a monthly newsletter, we’ve decide that it’s time to bring it back! We’ve heard from many of our campers who’ve been on our mailing list that have missed the latest news, and we hope you enjoy this first of the months to come. As always, please let us know if there’s any additional news you’d like us to provide and we will be happy to see what we can do. Let us hear from you at info@rainbowranch.net

UPCOMING EVENTS AT RAINBOW RANCH

Toga Party and Tree Planting Weekend – March 26th

Rainbow Ranch, like so many other places, has lost some trees this past year due to the draught and storms. We know that the trees are one of many things that set us apart from other campgrounds and we are doing what we can to ensure generations of LGBTQ folks just like yourself will have them to enjoy for years to come. Each guest that brings a tree to be planted here at the ranch will receive $25 off of their stay. Trees must be tagged/marked stating the type/species, must be at least three feet in height, and be of a hardwood species. Trees that will eventually produce shade for our campers will be much appreciated on those hot summer days. If you don’t have room for a tree in your car, then don’t worry because we’ve got you covered. There are a few local nurseries around the park, and we can go and pick one up for you so that you too can be a part of the preservation.

On Saturday evening, the annual Rainbow Ranch Toga costume party and dance will be held in the pavilion. So, bring a tree and a sheet and join us for a fun weekend here at Rainbow Ranch.

Trailer Trash / Trash Disco Weekend – April 2nd

Come join us here at Rainbow Ranch for the annual Trailer Trash / Trash Disco weekend. A prize will be given for the site and costume best depicting the “trailer trash” (or “tent trash”) theme. Saturday evening bring your favorite cocktails and join us at the pavilion to Disco the night away.

IN REVIEW

Mardi Gras – March 5th

It had been a few years since Mardi Gras had been celebrated here at Rainbow Ranch, but it returned in a big way this year. On Friday evening, as guests arrived, they were invited to bring their favorite cocktails to the pavilion and get to know their fellow campers. On Saturday afternoon, guests either entered or viewed the Rainbow Ranch Mardi Gras “Golf Cart” Parade. Beads, candy and other goodies were thrown from the golf carts with one cart was even stopping along the parade route making Hurricanes for the spectators. There were about twenty entries this year and we hope that will continue to grow in the years to come. The best three decorated carts were awarded prizes. First place went to Ron for “Lady of the Lake”, second place went to Blake and Brian for “Easy Go Bordeaux”, and third place to Paul and David for “Court Jester”.

Saturday evening guests got to together again for a Creole/Cajun potluck dinner. There sure are some excellent cooks here at the ranch and there was something tasty for everyone. The dinner was followed by a Bal Masque that included awarding a prize for best costume. Congratulations to Robby for his “Court Jester” costume. The remainder of the evening was filled with great music and dancing. Special thanks to Rob for planning, coordinating, and hosting this fun filled weekend.

Be sure to check out the Rainbow Ranch website soon for pictures of this event and others.

Ranch Positions!

We are pleased to announce that all positions at Rainbow Ranch are filled. We have three new additions to the Rainbow Ranch crew. Please welcome Reese and Rob and Tony.

Reese is filling the position of Maintenance and Grounds-keeping, Rob will be handling the day to day housekeeping of the park, while Tony will be helping us out in the office.

We hope you will join us as we welcome these three into their new roles and enjoy seeing their smiling faces around the park.