J C Stage Stop - Aladdin, Wyoming

 

There should be some sort of regulation on which places can refer to themselves as a resort. When I hear the word "resort", I conjure up images of poolside cabanas, lying on the beach in a pillowed lounge chair while some young brown man brings me drinks with pretty umbrellas. 

I had this experience at a resort in San Juan, Puerto Rico many years ago. The lounge chair even had a little flag on the arm. You raise the flag and staff would come running to see what you wanted.

 

A resort should have a certain level of amenities - a pool, a gym, a spa with massage therapists and nail technicians. Using the word resort raises all sorts of expectations which are bound to disappoint me when there is no pool or cabana boy around.

JC Stage Stop has none of these amenities, but it remains a popular stop for equestrians heading South into Custer or  heading West into Yellowstone.

Of course, for our horses, the accommodations here are close to resort levels. They have shade and cover as well as a good sized run - 12' by 20' spaces. 

The only thing they would like better would be a large pasture with lots of grass and a shelter.

You are not allowed to tack up at your campsite, but sheds are provided where you can store your tack. We are stowing hay and grain in one of the stalls next to our horses.

We have full hook-up and the WIFI is excellent.

There are also cabins available to rent, public toilets and showers, and a laundry room with one washer and one dryer.

There are an abundance of hitching posts and the hitching posts all have collapsible saddle racks on each end, which is a nice feature.

We only did one trail ride as this is a short layover. The flies were out in hordes and bugging the horses. It was not a pleasant ride as our horses were distracted by the biting insects. We should have put their belly guards on them. These are meshed pieces which protect the horses from flies and other biting insects that you can wrap over their bellies while you ride.

We drove into nearby Spearfish, SD - about 30 minutes away. Spearfish is a decent-sized town with lots of shopping and things to do.

This place has just been sold and will be under new ownership soon. It will continue on as a horse campground.