Prescott LIVING Magazine
No Result
View All Result
Prescott LIVING Magazine - Click for Current Issue
  • Inside
    • Voices
    • Special Sections
      • 40 Under 40
      • Annual Photo Contest
        • People’s Choice Photo Winners
      • Best of Greater Prescott
      • Everyone Can Be a Hero
      • Holiday
      • Medical, Health & Wellness
      • Men of Vision
      • New Year, New You
      • Relocation
      • Wealth Management
      • Weddings & Events
      • Women in Leadership
    • Up Front
      • City Speak
    • BIZ
    • YOU
      • Out & About
      • Beauty & Style
      • Health, Happiness & Education
      • Education
      • Pets
      • Home
        • Home & Garden
    • FUN
      • Arts & Culture
      • Outdoor Adventure
      • Restaurants
        • Pizza
      • Travel & Tourism
    • The ROX Interview
    • Prescott Pioneer Local News
    • Q & A
  • Current Issue
  • Community Calendar
  • Past Issues
  • Subscribe
    • eNewsletter & Digital Edition Subscription
  • Inside
    • Voices
    • Special Sections
      • 40 Under 40
      • Annual Photo Contest
        • People’s Choice Photo Winners
      • Best of Greater Prescott
      • Everyone Can Be a Hero
      • Holiday
      • Medical, Health & Wellness
      • Men of Vision
      • New Year, New You
      • Relocation
      • Wealth Management
      • Weddings & Events
      • Women in Leadership
    • Up Front
      • City Speak
    • BIZ
    • YOU
      • Out & About
      • Beauty & Style
      • Health, Happiness & Education
      • Education
      • Pets
      • Home
        • Home & Garden
    • FUN
      • Arts & Culture
      • Outdoor Adventure
      • Restaurants
        • Pizza
      • Travel & Tourism
    • The ROX Interview
    • Prescott Pioneer Local News
    • Q & A
  • Current Issue
  • Community Calendar
  • Past Issues
  • Subscribe
    • eNewsletter & Digital Edition Subscription
No Result
View All Result
Prescott LIVING Magazine
Prescott LIVING Magazine - Click for Current Issue
Home FUN

Blazin’ M Ranch Attracting New Audiences

by Ray Newton

June 14, 2022
Blazin’ M Ranch Attracting New Audiences
337
SHARES
2.6k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

If large crowds attending the “soft” introductory opening of the recently completed “Be Wild Family Fun Park” addition to Blazin’ M Ranch Wild West dinner theater in Cottonwood are valid predictors, the new owners can claim super success in their expansion.

“We’ve been delighted with large crowds we attracted from throughout the region,” new owners Ryan and Leila Glass said. “We have such positive vibes about the appeal of this place.” More than a year ago, the Glasses purchased the multimillion property from previous longtime owners Dan and Lori Mabery and family.

Hundreds of parents, grandparents and youngsters participated in the spring fest on April 9 and 10. Both days, vending trucks were present to accommodate food and beverage needs.

Free spring festival activities were open to the public. Later, paying guests enjoyed the Chuck Wagon cowboy dinner, followed by the Blazin’ M Ramblers and their live musical entertainment in the climate-controlled barn with an elevated stage.

Attendance during the early April “soft” opening hit its highest numbers as of that date, even though the Blazin’ M Ranch had opened earlier in spring.

Later in May, the actual “Grand Opening” of Be Wild attracted even more former and new visitors when gates opened on Saturday and Sunday, May 7 and 8. Paying attendees had unlimited access to all activities both days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Guests participated in wide range of fun activities, such as a nine-hole putt putt golf course, a rock-climbing wall and bungee jumping pad, a Gellyball paintball field, a remote-control car racing track and a bounce house. These features are highly visible near the entrance on the east side of Blazin’ M.

The Glasses said, “When we decided to add the features designed to appeal to kids, we retained the same legacy the Mabery family had over the years — family-friendly, wholesome entertainment that would embarrass no one. Those large crowds their shows attracted over the years had positive economic impact, too.”

Owner Ryan Glass said the pandemic made it difficult to attract visitors and audiences back to the ranch. “COVID shut Blazin’ M down for 18 months. We have to regain attention of the larger ‘out there’ public. We only took ownership a little over a year ago, so you can imagine the intensity of our planning for new programs and new marketing strategy.”

He praised the Town of Cottonwood and local chambers of commerce for being so supportive.

Apparently, their marketing strategy is working. During early mid-March, April and the following weeks, crowds have increased. Out-of-staters are attracted. One couple, Kelly and Keven Karenski from Kalama, Washington, said: “This was a fun place to discover. Great saloon and drinks, super chuck wagon, and lots of enjoyable country music.”

Two other out-of-staters were retired professional women–one a teacher, the other a nurse. Terry Rippetoe, Liberal, Kansas, said, “We flew out to Arizona to see some of my family. We heard about Blazin’ M. We’ve sure got nothing like it back home. We’ll return.” Her friend Lindy Heitschmitt from just across the border in Forgan, Oklahoma, said, “I’d heard about this area and the nearby Red Rock country. I’m so glad we’re here. I’ll want to see it again after the other big innovations are finished.”

CIRCLE THE WAGONS

The innovations Heitschmitt cited are major. One highly visible one is a Conestoga covered wagon made popular during land rush days in the West and Southwest. Glass said he has ordered 30 others.

Glass said, “As soon as approval is granted by the Town of Cottonwood, we’ll finish installing utility lines and literally circle the wagons at the south end of our 8 ½ acres to create a comfortable campsite. The U. S.-manufactured Conestogas will be fully equipped — big bed, bathroom-shower, and more. Some can accommodate up to four people. We’ll also have three ‘Yurts’ — circular tents made of felt or fabric like the Mongolians use. They’ll all be ADA accessible. “These are for ‘Glamping,’ a very popular new kind of camping.”

Another addition will be what Glasses call “a super…attractive wedding area — some 4,000 square feet of carefully sculpted property. We are finishing the design process on that right now.”

The foregoing are in addition to existing attractions like the Copper Spur Saloon, Red Garter Olde Tyme Photo Studio, Wood ’n West Galley, gifts shops, shooting gallery and mechanical bull. Visitors can tour the entire ranch by crawling into an old-fashioned wagon ride pulled by a vintage tractor.

All this new growth requires a fairly large crew. The Glasses have hired about 30 people who work on site at Blazin’ M. Some musicians have professional experience from major entertainment centers like Hollywood and Las Vegas. Worth noting is that Ryan and Leila Glass have lead roles on stage.

(Editor’s note: glamping is defined as a form of camping involving accommodations and facilities more luxurious than traditional camping).

If you want to, as the Glasses say, “Blow your spurs off with fun food and entertainment,” contact the Blazing M Ranch at 928.634.0334 or online at blazinm.com.

Previous Post

Return to Wanderlust

Next Post

Respect Ants for Cleaning Up Our Planet

Next Post
Respect Ants for Cleaning Up Our Planet

Respect Ants for Cleaning Up Our Planet

Join our Newsletter

Prescott LIVING eNewsletter Subscription

No Result
View All Result
Cover for Prescott Living Magazine
11,580
Prescott Living Magazine

Prescott Living Magazine

Come & enjoy the local scene in Prescott Arizona!

Prescott Living Magazine

3 days ago

Prescott Living Magazine
LIVE MUSIC — There's a bluegrass concert happening tonight at the Prescott Rodeo Grounds. The Folk Sessions is presenting AJ Lee & Blue Summit at 7:00 p.m. (Sunday, March 19). Tickets are available online.www.eventbrite.com/e/aj-lee-blue-summit-live-in-concert-tickets-481827056697For more local events pick up a free copy of Prescott NOW magazine in Rox Media magazine racks throughout the area. Events are also listed in the online calendar at www.prescott-now.com/events. ... See MoreSee Less

AJ Lee & Blue Summit! Live in Concert!

www.eventbrite.com

AJ Lee + Blue Summit are pure, beautiful American music. The band are torch bearers of the music that helped build America. - Eric Oblander
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Prescott Living Magazine

4 days ago

Prescott Living Magazine
OUT & ABOUT — Did you enjoy some live music and drinks on St. Patrick's Day? Thank you to Fernando Mendigutia for sharing these photos taken at The PUB Prescott. Send your St. Patrick's Day photos by email to photos@roxco.com. We'll share them here on our Facebook page and they'll be considered for publication in our next issue. Thank you! ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

It’s About LOCAL – ADVERTISE WITH US

© 2022 ROX Media •  Privacy Policy
info@roxco.com • 130 N. Granite St. • Prescott, AZ 86301 • 928.350.8006
CORPORATE OFFICE: 1919 N. Trekell Rd.,  Suite C •  Casa Grande, AZ 85122

No Result
View All Result
  • Inside
    • Voices
    • Special Sections
      • 40 Under 40
      • Annual Photo Contest
      • Best of Greater Prescott
      • Everyone Can Be a Hero
      • Holiday
      • Medical, Health & Wellness
      • Men of Vision
      • New Year, New You
      • Relocation
      • Wealth Management
      • Weddings & Events
      • Women in Leadership
    • Up Front
      • City Speak
    • BIZ
    • YOU
      • Out & About
      • Beauty & Style
      • Health, Happiness & Education
      • Education
      • Pets
      • Home
    • FUN
      • Arts & Culture
      • Outdoor Adventure
      • Restaurants
      • Travel & Tourism
    • The ROX Interview
    • Prescott Pioneer Local News
    • Q & A
  • Current Issue
  • Community Calendar
  • Past Issues
  • Subscribe
    • eNewsletter & Digital Edition Subscription

© 2022 ROX Media