Valley View Ranch
Cloudland, Georgia
By Lori Roets
For 56 years, the Jones family has been providing girls ages 8-17 with the summer of their dreams: two or more weeks with a horse to call their very own at Valley View Ranch. Located atop Lookout Mountain, this 600-acre paradise provides endless opportunities for trail riding, hands-on horse care and riding instruction. The private two-mile drive to this colorful region of primeval Appalachian forest, rocks and streams, allows campers to shed the trappings of their daily life and truly enjoy the remoteness of ranch living at Valley View.
Founded in 1954 by Jack and Olive Jones, Valley View Ranch is today managed by their daughter, Nancy – camp director since 1970. Assisting Nancy is her niece Chelsea, rounding out three generations of family involvement. Add to that, staff members who have been coming to Valley View since they were six or seven years old, and you have a phenomenally strong and dedicated team in the saddle.
Unlike many camp programs, Valley View Ranch is a working ranch, first and foremost. Camp director Nancy Jones states, “We are professional horsewomen who offer a horse program, rather than a camp with horses.” Valley View limits enrollment to 60 girls to ensure each is paired with the right horse – one they can grow with. Nancy says, “Valley View focuses on raising Quarter Horses, Paints and Appaloosas with the right disposition for teaching young riders – willing, but safe.”
A variety of programs are available at skills levels ranging from beginner to advanced. English riders are schooled in hunt seat equitation. Grouped by ability, riders begin over ground poles and cavaletti, progressing to fences in the ring and later in the field. Those who are up to the challenge can try their hand at three-day eventing, cross-country, and mock fox hunts. Western riders may work on stock seat or barrels (gymkhana). Valley View Ranch also offers Pony Club for its youngest riders, with a full range of education and fun geared to their age and skill level. A very popular offering at Valley View is vaulting. Riders begin learning basic vaulting skills on practice vaulting barrels, transitioning to horseback once they have gained confidence on the ground.
Trail rides, ranging from one to two hours to all day, allow riders to take in the beauty of Lookout Mountain and the adjacent 10,000 acre Pigeon Mountain Natural Preserve. A horse show provides a fitting end to each session, where the girls and their equine companions can demonstrate just what they achieved together during their time as partners at Valley View. Many campers come back year after year – either requesting to ride the same horse, or ready to graduate to a more advanced mount.
Campers – or “ranchers” as they are called – stay in one of the picturesque cabins located on the grounds, each with porches and swings. Five ranchers and one counselor are housed in each of the two room units, with a common bath for the 12-cabin members. Nancy says, “For the last three years, 100% of our counselors have been former campers over the years,” clearly a testament to the strength of the Valley View program.
While the focus of Valley View Ranch is certainly horsemanship – and campers are encouraged to spend as much time as they like with their chosen horse – that is definitely not all campers spend their time on. Sports such as archery, swimming, canoeing, volleyball, softball, kickball, cheerleading and ping pong provide an additional physical outlet. Crafts including sketching, painting, pottery, leather craft, lanyards, knitting and beadwork are all available. And what would camp be without cookouts, talent shows, skits and scavenger hunts? Trips outside the camp are also available and include Rock City, the Tennessee Aquarium, white water rafting (age 12+), Cloudmont Golf & Ski Resort, Shady Grove Dude Ranch, Sequoyah Caverns and much more.
Registration is in progress for the 2010 season, which begins June 6 with a special one-week mini-session, followed by four two-week sessions, running from June 13 through August 6. Camp fairs are held during January and February in Alpharetta, Kennesaw and Atlanta, Georgia; Birmingham, Alabama; and Franklin, Tennessee. These informative sessions provide a great opportunity to meet camp directors Nancy and Chelsea in person, ask questions and see photos from last year’s camp.
During the balance of the year, Valley View Ranch is available by reservation for family reunions, group trail rides, or Scout groups working on merit badges.
For additional information about Valley View Ranch, visit the website at www.valleyviewranch.com. Contact the Ranch via e-mail at info@valleyviewranch.comor via phone at 706-862-2231.
Freelancer Lori Roets writes a regular equine column as the Charlotte Equine Examiner, available at www.examiner.com/Charlotte. Email her at lroets@yahoo.com.
