Grab Your Cowboy Hat and Head to Oso: Rhodes River Ranch
Images: Jingle Jackson
My husband's best friend, Toby, was up from California for a couple weeks helping him with a home project. Toby's a big meat-and-potatoes-I'll-have-a-steak-with-a-side-of-more-beef kind of guy and comes to visit frequently. Being more of a seafood, vegetarian-leaning, sort of adventure diner, I like to keep my eyes open for new places to try while he visits and, this time, we landed on the Restaurant at the Rhodes River Ranch, north of Everett, up near Oso on Highway 531.
Even if you're not hungry, the Rhodes River Ranch by itself is worth a drive-by. It's a beautifully kept-up, 230-acre horse ranch located in a valley below the rugged North Cascade mountains. It has both an indoor and outdoor arena and seems like a dream spot for anyone who loves horses.
But if you are hungry after the scenic drive from Everett, you'll find lots of choices for breakfast (weekends only), lunch or dinner at the restaurant. Not surprisingly, there are lots of good burger choices on the menu and they feature prime rib on Friday and Saturday evenings. With serving sizes from 8 ounces to 14 ounces. The surprise to this wannabe cowgirl, though, was all the other tasty choices they offer.
They have salads, sandwiches, loads of seafood choices, pasta and even a portabella mushroom burger perfect for the non-meat eater. All the burgers come with fries or a salad and a serving of ranch beans which turned out to be my favorite. I might just order those and some deep-fried green beans next time - beans on beans! Also, this is a full-on family spot with beverages ranging from cocktails to milkshakes.
What makes this dining spot go from a destination spot after a fun drive to being truly unique is that it is located above the indoor arena. While we dined, we got to watch some stunning horses prance and gallop, sidestep and spin their ways around the arena thanks to their skilled riders. And when they were done, we could watch how lovingly they were cared for and groomed. Its catch as catch can as far as knowing if anyone will be out riding while you are there (and we got strict directions to not take pictures of the horses or their riders) but there is a good chance you'll see at least one or two. The three of us are not riders but we are admirers, and we thoroughly enjoyed watching the horses and riders.
Thanks to the pretty ride, the good food and the busy arena, I scored big points with our out-of-town visitor!
Oh, and as a side note to this, the memorial for all of those tragically lost in the Oso slide is very close to the ranch so take the opportunity to drive by afterwards and honor those who are no longer here to enjoy such a fun place.
And one more note, this is a great place to stop in for lunch or dinner after driving the Mountain Loop Highway when you start from the Granite Falls side. A fun spring/summer/fall drive once the road reopens.
We live lucky my friends! - Jingle
Rhodes River Ranch
22016 Entsminger Rd
Oso, WA 98223
Jingle Jackson grew up in Everett, attended WSU (go Cougs!) and worked a great career at Snohomish PUD. Now, she is working on the pursuit of new adventures and fun wherever she can find it.
