[Homesteadingfamily] Review of the Diamond Belle Ranch

I recently went on a trip and was so impressed by my stay that I just
had to do a little something more than the typical blog post about it. I
highly encourage anyone who likes to hike, fish, nature watch, relax, or
even learn about local history while on trips to stay at the Diamond
Belle Ranch. I know Trisha from my various yahoo groups and was super
excited to meet up with her again and check out her ranch. If you even
plan on going anywhere near North Central Washington, please consider
staying at the DBR. You won't be dissapointed and I am not just saying
this. I have traveled extensively along the Oregon and Washington coasts
up into the Cariboo region of British Columia and the natural beauty at
Diamond Belle Ranch rivaled anything I have seen. I will definately stay
there again and it is worth the drive! NewlyAwakened I had the
opportunity recently to visit the Diamond Belle Ranch in Wauconda,
Washington. Wauconda is located in North Central Washington between
Tonasket and Republic along Highway 20 close to the Canadian border.
Diamond Belle is a 767 acre pristine wilderness ranch. The 10 bedroom
lodge was built with lumber from the property using an onsite portable
mill and horse drawn sled. It was completed between 1947-48. Amenities
include a full kitchen, formal entry and dining room, and a great room
with an impressive rustic fireplace. The fireplace itself was built with
50 tons of rock from a nearby stream bed in Tonasket. It is decorated
with an open beam and knotty pine motif. The layout is reminiscent to
that of European style chalets with the home style feeling, the openness
of the great room and bedroom entryways, and 3 communal bathrooms that
feature full bathtubs and showers. The lodge and grounds have care
takers but lodge rental is similar to that of vacation property rentals
and guests are to bring their own food, toiletries, and linens. As with
any outdoor experience, please leave it as clean as you found it and
pack out what you bring in. The grounds boast the fully
stocked 40 acre Walker Lake which is just perfect for both the
fly-fisher and bird watcher alike. While on a tour of the grounds, I
witnessed one of the resident mated Bald Eagles near their nest. At
various times throughout the year many different species of migratory
waterfowl can be viewed at the lake. It is also an actual ranch with
serene views of cattle grazing off on distant hills. For those
more inclined to hiking, the terrain is both pleasant and yet
challenging at the same time. The property is a part of the regional
mountainous terrain and the rolling hills are both a treat for the hiker
and sight-seer alike. It is a 5 1/2 mile loop to travel entirely around
the property which is large enough to spend days exploring all it has to
offer. It is an extremely beautiful natural setting with many varied
species of trees, mushrooms, and other native herbs and plants.
It is a wilderness preserve of sorts and local wildlife such as mule
deer, whitetail, elk, wild turkeys, and even the rare black bear and
moose all call the grounds their territory. All of the wildlife is
cherished at the Diamond Belle and while there is no hunting allowed on
the grounds, it is bordered on 3 sides by National Forest and is within
easy driving to other local hunting grounds. Perhaps what makes this
destination truly unique is the history of the territory and settlers
which date back to the early 1900's. The Diamond Belle Ranch has many
locally historic buildings on the property such as barns, outbuildings,
and even a home that was moved across Walker Lake one winter in
antiquity. The local historical society has done an excellent job
cataloging and documenting the history of the region and an impressive
book on this is available for viewing in the lodge. I was in awe as I
walked around and even peeked into some of the old buildings on the
grounds. It was like traveling back in time to get a glimpse of how the
pioneers of Washington state that first settled the region lived and
built up their homesteads. I learned specifics about some of the
buildings thanks to the thoughtful posting of signs explaining the
history of each building or grouping. The Diamond Belle Ranch
would be the perfect setting for a destination wedding, honeymoon,
family reunion, business trip, extended meetings, or even retreats. The
grounds are large enough for both tent and RV camping, and arrangements
can be made for boarding horses for trail riding. Winter visits to
Diamond Belle would be excellent for seasonal wildlife viewing, as well
as snow shoeing, dog sledding, and even ice skating on the lake.
Catering and on-site massage are possibilities so check for
availability. The rates are extremely affordable starting at only $59
plus tax for overnight stays. The entire lodge can be booked for $500
per night. Visit their website to learn more: www.diamondbelleranch.com
<http://www.diamondbelleranch.com/>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]