Mowdy Ranch (June 2-4, 2023)

Overview | Getting There | Ride Sharing | Registration | Accommodations | Amenities | Food and Meals | Planned Activities | Photography | Submitting Your Images

Overview

Late this spring, the Plano Photography Club will travel north to Mowdy Ranch (photos | map/directions), a 4,000-acre wild horse sanctuary near Coalgate in southeastern Oklahoma.

Mowdy Ranch is one of four wild horse sanctuaries designated as a public off range pasture for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Located 12 miles NE of Coalgate in the hills of southeastern Oklahoma, the Ranch offers daily horse tours and lodging facilities for wild horse enthusiasts.

It comprises 4000 acres of wooded hills and open valleys in the historical home of the legendary Choctaw ponies. These horses were famous for their toughness and endurance which was showcased in the 2004 film Hidalgo.

Mowdy Ranch currently houses 350 wild horses on a long-term basis. In addition to the adult mustangs who make the ranch their home, the Ranch is also an adoption site, housing 15-20 yearlings available for adoption to qualified people.

There are few things in this world as beautiful as the wild mustangs of North America. Tough, resilient and independent, the mustangs that make their home at Mowdy Ranch are truly wild animals. 

Visitors will have the opportunity to photograph the horses as they graze (no cowboys, stampedes, branding or intentional running of the horses). Some of the horses are semi-friendly, others are very timid. 

  Ride Sharing

Getting There

Location

Mowdy Ranch is located 12 miles north of Coalgate, Oklahoma and 25 miles north of Atoka, Oklahoma, on Oklahoma 31.

Physical Address: 16280 Oklahoma Highway 31, Coalgate, Oklahoma 74538

Google Maps: Use Mowdy Ranch Mustangs as the search term.

NOTE: Interested in carpooling to the Ranch? Check out our Mowdy Ranch Ride Sharing page.

Registration

IMPORTANT: Those attending this event will need to register with the PPC (click the button below) to be included in all club-planned Mowdy Ranch events/activities as well as ride-sharing options.

REGISTER WITH THE PPC FOR ALL COMMUNICATIONS RELATED TO THIS EVENT

NOTE: This registration does not include lodging; please see the Accommodations section of this page for additional information.

Accommodations

You are responsible for obtaining your own lodging; here are some suggestions on where to stay:

Mowdy Ranch Guest Lodge

Information

Mowdy Ranch offers guests the opportunity to stay overnight in their guest lodge. All rooms are under the same roof but each one has its own private access from the front porch.

Guest lodge accommodations and pricing are as follows; pricing is per room (NOT per person):

• The lodge can accommodate up to twenty-eight (28) guests in six (6) individual suites each having their own private entrance from the outside, a private en suite bathroom, and their own thermostat.
  • There are four (4) one-room suites ($125 per night) which each sleep up to four (4) guests on two queen beds
  • There are two (2) two-room suites ($175 per night) which each sleep up to six (6) guests on two full beds in the main room and one queen bed in the smaller second room
• Common areas are shared among all guests. These include the following:
  • fully equipped kitchen
  • spacious dining area
  • comfortable living area complete with DirecTV
  • pub-style game room with pool table, darts, and wet bar
  • laundry room
  • fire pit
  • all outside areas
• There is a half bath in the game room making a total of 6½ bathrooms at the lodge. 
• The Ranch is pet friendly as long as your pet is friendly and well behaved. They charge a one-time cleaning fee of $25 (per visit) per pet.

Private UTV horse tours are $30 per person and are not included in the lodge pricing.

For larger groups, hay rides can seat up to 24 people. Hay rides last about an hour and are $200.

Mowdy Ranch is now offering guided trail rides and can mount up to four riders at a time. Trail rides typically last about an hour and are $100 per person.

The pond next to the lodge is well-stocked and available to guests for catch and release fishing. Bring your poles!

There is a two night minimum for large groups booking the entire lodge. Please note that tours and trail rides are not included in lodge pricing.

Reservations and Payment

To make a reservation (two-night minimum for each room) just call or text (580-927-5093) or send an email to mowdyranch@gmail.com. Provide your name, contact information and mention that you are part of the Plano Photography Club group.

The lodge does not accept credit cards as payment for lodging or other activities. They do accept cash, check, or Venmo. Payment is due upon arrival at the Ranch.

Other Lodging Options

If you choose not to stay at the Ranch, here are some nearby lodging alternatives:

• HiWay Inn Express (Coalgate)
  
• Motel 6 (Atoka)
• Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham (Atoka)
• Best Western Atoka Inn & Suites
• Comfort Inn & Suites (Atoka)
• Super 8 by Wyndham (Atoka)

RV Options

Mowdy Ranch also offers 2 RV hook-ups with either 30 or 50 amp electric and city water (no sewer dump).

RV hook-ups are $25/night and include use of all outside common areas: fire pit, volley ball court, fishing pond.

An RV hook-up with use of inside common areas is $50/night.

Mowdy Ranch Amenities

Kitchen: The kitchen at the guest lodge is clean, modern, and well-equipped with all the utensils, appliances, and dishes needed to prepare a wonderful meal; you only need to bring the groceries. There is both a drip coffee maker and a Keurig coffee maker; bring your coffee.

Linens: All linens and towels will be provided and your bed will be freshly made up for you. Upon checkout do not strip the bed, leave the sheets on the bed and hang any used towels on a hook.

Internet and TV: There is no wifi at the lodge. Cell phone reception is good and most people can use their hot spots. We provide DirecTV at the lodge with all the channels. There is also a DVD player and a large collection of movies.

Firepit: The lodge has a large firepit surrounded by Adirondack chairs; firewood and roasting sticks will be provided. Bring your marshmallows and hot dogs! There is also a grill that swings over the top of the firepit if you would like to cook over the wood fire. In addition, there is a large charcoal grill at the lodge (bring your charcoal and lighter fluid).

Activities: There is a pub-style game room at the lodge with a pool table, darts, and other bar games. In addition, there is a fun collection of board games and yard games. There is also a volleyball court at the lodge (volleyball provided!). We have a kegerator at the pub that you are welcome to use. If you would like for us to tap a keg for you please call to discuss pricing.

Trail Rides: We offer a guided trail ride in the pastures that are not currently being grazed by the mustangs. Our trail rides are $100/person and last about an hour, a longer trail ride can be arranged if you would like. Trail rides must be set up in advance so please let us know if you think you might be interested.

Pets: Dogs are welcome at the lodge if they are friendly, well-behaved and house trained. We charge a $25 cleaning fee for each dog.

Fishing: There is a well-stocked fishing pond next to the lodge that is available to our guests for catch and release fishing. Bring your fishing poles! If you are interested in more fishing contact Jerry about his fishing tour.

Running and Hiking: Bring your hiking or running shoes if you would like to get out on the trails. We rotate horse pastures for grass management purposes and you are welcome to enjoy hiking, running, or fishing in the pastures where the mustangs are not currently grazing.

Catering: If you would like for us to prepare meals for your vacation or your event please call to discuss options and pricing. This is something we offer on a limited basis, time allowing.

Food and Meals

Meals are not provided or included. Participants may bring their own food or drive into Coalgate or Atoka for meals. The lodge has a large kitchen – refrigerator, oven, etc.

Mowdy Ranch is located 12 miles NE of Coalgate on Highway 31. It is a paved road and an easy drive; allow 15 minutes to get to and from town.

Coalgate dining options:

• Gonzalez Mexican Restaurant is excellent; great food and a cozy atmosphere
• Miranda's Bakery Bar and Grill offers the typical small-town café options; very good
• NANA'S is a little café
• Sonny's Grocery offers a good breakfast and serve lunch as well; there is also Simple Simon's Pizza in the store
• In addition, Coalgate has a Sonic, Subway, and Daylight Donuts.

Atoka (about 25 miles away) grocery and dining options:

• Walmart
• Chili's Grill & Bar
• Reba's Place - brand new (2023) restaurant owned by singer/actor Reba McEntire, who is a native of nearby McAlester, Oklahoma 

Planned Activities

Friday, June 2

You may wish to come through Hugo, Oklahoma first to see Mt. Olivet Cemetery and/or Hugo Elephant Sanctuary (Endangered Ark Foundation). The cemetery has some amazing tombstones from the performers of the Greatest Show on Earth as this is where Ringling Bros Circus wintered. If a group wishes to meet at the Elephant Sanctuary we can make reservations.

Arrive anytime at Mowdy Ranch. We will set up a tour of the land.

7:00 PM - Sundown Shoot (sunset is at 8:33 PM).

Saturday, June 3

6:15 AM - We will start with a Sunrise Shoot (sunrise is at 6:45 AM) followed up with breakfast as we meet back at the central cabin (bring or fix your own meal).

Transportation will be available for the open pastures.*

12:30 PM - Group Lunch** at Gonzalez Mexican Restaurant in Coalgate (10 miles)

Transportation will be available for the open pastures.*

6:00 PM - Mowdy Ranch group cookout (bring whatever you wish to cook).

Sunday, June 4

Transportation will be available for the open pastures.*

12:30 PM - Group Lunch** at Reba's Place in Atoka (24 miles)

You may wish to come through Hugo, Oklahoma first to see Mt. Olivet Cemetery and/or Hugo Elephant Sanctuary (Endangered Ark Foundation). The cemetery has some amazing tombstones from the performers of the Greatest Show on Earth as this is where Ringling Bros Circus wintered. If a group wishes to meet at the Elephant Sanctuary we can make reservations.

* - A total of 3 trips per person
** Lunch reservations have not been made yet

Photography

Guidelines

Guests are welcome to take photos with their cell phone on the two-hour Horse Tour ($30/person). If you require additional time to get that perfect shot and want to use a professional camera, they offer photographic tours for an extra fee.

• The Photo Tour ($50/person) is a three-hour tour where they will get you out whenever you like, think sunrise/sunset, or any time in-between.
• The Photographic Retreat ($150/person, lodging not included) covers two days & four two-hour tours. You choose the time of day you would like to go out to get the best light for your shot. If you need more time than this, call to discuss pricing.

Suggested Gear

• Short zoom lens
• Long telephoto lens
• Fast wide-angle lens
• Camera-cleaning air blower bulb (environment can be very dusty)
• Tripod for nighttime star photography

Sunrise and Sunset Times

Submitting Your Images

We would love to include your best images from activities in a gallery on the club website and as part of a slideshow at a future monthly club meeting. Photos can be submitted for this purpose by following these guidelines:

• Email up to seven (7) images from the Mowdy Ranch field trip to clubphotos@planophotographyclub.com.
• Include your name and the name of the trip in your image file names (e.g., JamesEvans_MowryRanch_1.jpg).
• The maximum dimension (long edge) for submitted images is 4096 pixels; the maximum file size is 10MB.
• You may need to divide your images and send them in multiple emails if the total size exceeds the maximum size allowed for a single email message.

If you have any questions about this event, please contact Club President David Swinney.