There are lots of activities to be done in Ruidoso, NM: enjoy everything from lakes, to wineries, to golf, and all else in between. This gorgeous village in New Mexico is filled to the brim with surprises, including trails, waterfalls, terrain parks with horse races, and so much more.
There are even a few ranches here, including the illustrious Flying J Ranch found on 1028 NM-48 in nearby Alto, New Mexico.
About the Flying J Ranch
This family-run, family-friendly business puts smiles on visitors’ faces through its many staged shows, BBQ chuckwagon meals, musical gun fights, pony rides, gift and boutique shops, and gold-panning events. It’s plenty of fun for everyone, all done Western style! Don’t miss your chance to step back into the days of the Wild West.
Keep in mind you are not required to wear Western-style, country-like clothing, but it will sure help you blend in better with the vibe and spirit of the whole thing. The hours here can vary, running all year long. It’s best to contact them on their site, send them an email at flyingjranch@outlook.com, or call 575-336-4330.
Attractions
Sheriff Greg’s Jail is one of the first and most fun attractions you should visit. It’s a run-down fake jail where you can pose with your loved ones to take a nice selfie and have fun. Make all the goofy faces you want and pretend to be a bad guy for a day! Make sure they don’t place your picture on the local wanted poster (as they sometimes do, as a joke).
Another great attraction is the Pony Ride, which is for kids under 12. It’s $5 per ride. You can also try your hand at the Cattle Roping attraction, which lets you try to lasso up fake cattle for practice. The “dummy” cattle may move around a bit as part of the challenge, thanks to the mechanisms set to move it about. This all happens near the unique Flying J Corral.
Entertainment
For entertainment, you’ve got the privilege of sitting back and listening to some of the most original songs and dances at the Flying J’s Western Music Show, which runs at different times each evening throughout the year (usually starting at around 5 p.m. on summer nights). Once more, you hear banjos plucking and a few old classic guitars picking at the smooth symphonic melodies and first-class (award-winning) yodeling by world-renowned experts. Sometimes, they even hold a small yodeling tournament! This event is not held daily but comes and goes, and it’s one of the most fun events out there, as you get to hear every kind of voice pitch and range yodeling for that winner’s spot.
Each night may be a bit different than the last, but one thing is for sure: you are always bound to step into new surprises and continue to be entertained throughout. You will also hear many entertaining stories told around a campfire setting. Hear tales about classic American cowboys and their heroic spirit of adventure. If you’d like to meet the Flying J Wranglers for yourself, you may do so and even take a picture with them! The Wranglers are the primary entertainment staff responsible for keeping you laughing, learning, and more. They are led by James and Cindy Hobbs, the official Flying J business owners and co-founders.
Supper
If you like all-you-can-eat-style buffets, you are in the right place here. They serve it well at the Flying J, and it’s all done “chuckwagon style,” no less. The idea here is to reminisce on the past, how meals were served hundreds of years ago on chuckwagon trails. Many people would line up and get their serving for the day. The people on the other side of the wagon would be the ones to serve them whatever was available that day, whether porridge, biscuits and gravy, grits, chicken, potatoes, or apple slices.
This Flying J eatery is proud to say that it has served over a million hungry customers and continues to set the bar for excellence. The food is unbelievably delicious and incredibly well prepared, as generations of families have come to enjoy meals for decades. They’re dedicated to the utmost quality standards as well. For this reason, this eatery has been able to stay in business and continue serving customers for as long as they have. The chuckwagon supper has been going on for more than four decades, a true proud tradition they hope to continue for years to come. With each supper, you get your choice of chunky apple sauce, some baked potatoes, a few cowboy beans (basically like BBQ glazed beans), biscuit flakes, home-style cake, tender briskets and grilled chicken, and even your choice of drink (with lemonade, tea, water or coffee options). Several of these items are even gluten-free!
Plan Your Next Visit!
Are you ready to plan a vacation to Ruidoso, NM? Browse our selection of rental properties today and book your stay today!
Your Ruidoso Cabin Rental
When you’re coming to New Mexico, Mountain Air Cabins has you covered. We’ve got vacation rentals near the Flying J Ranch and plenty of other fun things to do in Ruidoso. Your cabin will offer plenty of amenities for you to enjoy while you’re not out exploring, such as a fully stocked kitchen, a gorgeous view of nature, a spacious open floor plan, complimentary WiFi, and much more.
In addition to the amenities, our rentals are close to Ruidoso’s best attractions. Get outside and go hiking or biking, enjoy a delicious meal at a local restaurant, or learn more about the area at a local museum. It’s entirely up to you. The only problem will be deciding what to do next!
Make sure to book in advance, look at all our daily and weekly rental prices, ask us any questions, and find the perfect vacation rental for yourself. Contact us today to get the process started. We can get you in a Ruidoso cabin rental as soon as possible!
