Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo - River Ranch, Florida

Carine P.

We just spent an unforgettable Mother's day weekend at Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo, and we’re already looking forward to coming back! It was the perfect family getaway with just the right mix of fun, relaxation, and hospitality.
The Saturday night rodeo was an absolute highlight—exciting, authentic, and something both kids and adults thoroughly enjoyed. We also had a blast on the airboat ride and at the archery range—great activities that really made the experience feel adventurous and unique.
What really stood out to us, though, was the amazing staff. Everyone we met was friendly and went out of their way to make us feel welcome. A special thank you to Yoly, our wonderful waitress who served us with such warmth and cheer, Trish at the store who was super helpful and kind, and Chef Juan, whose food was delicious and who clearly takes pride in what he does.
This resort truly captures the charm of old Florida while offering modern comforts. It’s a place where families can disconnect, reconnect, and create great memories together. Highly recommend!

Adita P.

I stayed for 3 nights and 4 days in a Lodge room. I planned my trip with great excitement. I wanted to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city and relax. Westgate River Ranch seemed like the perfect getaway... but upon arrival, my first experience was disastrous. During check-in, a lobby employee was very rude and sent me outside because my dog ​​was uncomfortable (the wait was British). I don't remember her name, but she was American, medium height, chubby, and had very pale skin. They should give her better training to be more professional in that position. They should be more selective; that position is practically the face of the resort. The resort lacks nighttime activities; you have to pay for 98% of the activities, and they are expensive. For the price of the stay, it was good that at least breakfast would be included. The restaurant has a very short menu (not very varied), but what I ordered was good, and the staff is very friendly and welcoming.
I don't think I'll return.

saillens D.

This is going to be a little long winded but there’s too many people to thank. Upon arrival everyone’s was incredibly helpful. We were having some issues moving some dates around due to the number of people surprising us with visits for my grandmother’s 90th birthday.
Starting with the woman at the front desk (I cannot remember her name, started with a S and she had an accent from the UK maybe) she was amazing. She was able to remedy our issues and get us the lodging she needed. Amazing service. We needed to purchase tickets for airboat ride but I didn’t know my grandmothers loyalty number; Janelle was very kind and was able to find the information I needed to purchase the tickets at the correct rate. Her interactions with my son were so genuine and I can tell she really loves what she does.
Lastly, we were having some issues with our T.V. not connecting. I did have to call multiple times in order actually get someone to come out, but Adrien and Chase were incredibly helpful getting the tv to work. It was a simple fix but they were thorough with the explanation and what the tv was capable of. My grandmother turns 90 today and the staff here has made it such a wonderful celebration.

Kayla F.

Our experience occurred on 06/24. While visiting my grandparents in FL, we thought that going to a rodeo with them and the kids would be a fun activity to do. We arrived around 4 in order for the kids to do the pony rides, but unfortunately a large storm had just passed through and they closed it early and took the horses in by the time we arrived. We were pretty bummed, but we totally get why. We still had the opportunity to walk around and see/pet the variety of animals they had on the property. They had horses, donkeys, pigs, emus, birds, chickens, goats, deer, peacocks, and cows. The kids really enjoyed seeing them and interacting with them. After that, we decided to go to the Smokehouse on the River for a bite to eat before the rodeo began. It’s a very cute establishment, but we were unaware it was self-serve so that was a bit of a headache since there was a crowd of people all standing around and waiting for their order. The food was okay. The adults ordered sandwiches and the kids got tenders. The meat itself was delicious and the variety of sauces available at the table were very good as well. I do, however, wish the buns were toasted because the heat of the meat and the sauce made the buns extremely soggy and they fell apart completely. The chicken tenders were tasty and breaded nicely. After we finished eating, another storm rolled in so we decided to stay at the restaurant and play some games. Unfortunately for us, we were unable to play any of the arcade games due to their game card machine being out-of-order. Instead of the games being old school cash or coins, you have to visit the kiosk to pay and get a game card (like a credit card) and that was down. We ended up just sitting around and talking while waiting for the storm to pass. Come around 7pm, the storm was still going strong with wind, rain, and lightning. Come 7:15, we asked an employee if they were still planning to have the rodeo at 7:30 with how bad the weather was. At this point they said it was still on. We ended up leaving at about 7:30 because it was still storming with wind, rain, and lighting and we were tired of being stuck inside with nothing to do. It was very shocking and disappointing that the resort wouldn’t refund us for the rodeo tickets considering what was going on with the weather, stating that because they hadn’t “officially” called it, we weren’t eligible for one. The storm had already been going on for over an hour and was still going strong. There was no way this thing was going to happen and if it was, it was going to be a wet mess. I’m disappointed by the experience overall. I understand no one can control the weather, but between the lack of activities to do, the games being down, and the idiots riding around on golf carts everywhere without caring about other cars around, I can confidently say I don’t think we’ll be returning the next time we’re in FL.

E6703GQteresal

Great resort offering a wonderfully different experience. We took our grandkids(ages 4 and 6) and we kept busy every day. The rodeo was great and the petting zoo and pony rides were a big success! The cabin was perfect for the 6 of us and very clean. Love having a washer and dryer in the units. Would have given five stars but they would not refund us our horseback riding purchase. I thought small children could ride with adults but they do not allow small kids to ride. They wouldn’t refund me so I lost that money. We did do the airboat ride and it was lots of fun. Our guide was great and very informative. The kids loved getting to see the buffalo up close. Not an every year trip but definitely a great place for kids! The water park was not finished yet so we did not get to experience that, but it looks like it will be lots of fun.

Héctor F. B. M.

Wow!!!! The place is wonderful... bigger acres of features of Villages with excellent thematic of Rodeo, the Cowboys...

The hospitality, the costumer services is very good.

It's a place with great facilities, all decorated in the best Cowboys and Indians style. It's definitely recommended for a memorable stay with family and friends. A visit guarantees an unforgettable experience... and if you want the kids to experience something different and extraordinary, this is the place.

It's important to keep in mind that this is a resort type.

Armando

What an absolutely incredible experience! The resort is gorgeous in every aspect, a stunning country side setting with the perfect mix of modern country amenities and ambience. We were there celebrating Mother's Day and our 23rd Anniversary and while we've been fortunate enough to visit some of the best resorts throughout the world, this slice of Country Heaven is now at the top of our list! I can say that everyone we came across at "The Ranch" were very kind but the genuine and caring service that Casy provided to us throughout our stay is what will keep us coming back and recommending The Westgate River Ranch to our entire network for years to come! She was amazing from the time she greeted us at the front desk, she genuinely ensured that our entire stay would be one to remember forever. She added special touches during our stay that made everything extra special. She is an absolute asset to the Westgate brand and deserves much more than just our words. That said, thanks again Casy and we can not wait to visit what we now consider our second home, The Gorgeous Westgate River Ranch Resort and Rodeo!

Armando and Amanda
Checkout: 5/11/2025
Suite: 305

Jesse G.

Juan at the River Ranch Marina was super friendly and provided great service. Rubi at the front seat also provided excellent service.
Unfortunately the GLAMPING Tent was quite dingy and old. I did notice that they had newer tents, but they put us in one of the oldest ones.
Our grill had no gas and they never came to change it after requesting several times. They seem extremely short staffed during the week and mostly every thing is either closed, short staffed or unavailable. It’s understandable because there weren’t many guest here, but all the guest that were here were short changed and disappointed due to the lack of amenities.
The environment and ambiance were exceptional though. We really enjoyed the airboat ride and movie nights at the marina. Everyone we met were super friendly and embraced that southern hospitality
Feel. We will definitely come back on a weekend next time when all the amenities are open.
Happy Westgate Owners and Loyalty Members.