Shangrila Guest Ranch - South Boston, Virginia

Karen T.

If I could give ten stars I would. The place is amazing. Time literally stands still. The trails are huge and so much to see. The history of the place has been preserved in a functional way. Gary And his family are just wonderful people. Highly recommended

Jennifer J.

We had an AMAZING experience this fall with Gary and his team at Shangrila Farms!
We had the chance to take a trail ride and I have to say, it was one of the most gorgeous, picturesque places I’ve ever seen in my life.
As a city girl, I had always imagined and pictured country settings like Shangrila, but never thought I’d experience it first hand.
This property and location are just stunning. I highly recommend taking a fall ride if you love hearing the crunch of leaves under yours (and your horses feet!)
From the beautiful trail to the conversation with Gary and his team, everyone was wonderful and made this an experience of a lifetime for my husband and I.
We were able to ride for about two hours through their stunning property and also had hands on experience brushing and giving our horses a treat after all their hard work.
I cannot thank Gary and his team enough! We highly recommend them and their ranch and suggest you check them out if you’re looking for a beautiful place to stay and ride!

Miles B.

We've been visiting Shangrila since 2014 for both day rides and multi-night stays and have enjoyed every visit. Gary, Julie & the kids are gracious hosts, the wranglers are top-notch and the setting is incredible. The horses are exceptionally well cared for, very well trained and matched to each rider's experience and comfort level. I'm novice at best and my better half an experienced rider and we both enjoy every ride. There's miles and miles of trails through varying terrain: forest, pasture, gentle hills, creek crossings - whatever you want, you'll find it. If you're looking for an escape, this is THE place to do it.

Matt R.

We had such a fun weekend at Shangrila! I organized a weekend visit for a group of my friends (five of us). It was our first time visiting Shangrila and none of us had much (if any) riding experience but by the end of the weekend we were already planning a trip back.

The owners are incredibly accommodating. Our guest house was the perfect size for five people and the ranch staff were very friendly and helpful. Everyone feels part of the family at Shangrila!

The property, a former tobacco farm, is rich in history and has miles of trails to explore during the trail rides. The owners are friendly with many of the other people in the area and our trail rides took us to some other properties, each with their own unique characteristics (one neighbor has two American Bison and an African water buffalo).

The ranch staff do a great job of preparing the horses for the rides and coaching us through all of the skills we need. The owners have a few dozen horses and the ranch staff matched each of us up with a horse that compliments our personality. It was impressive how spot on they were!

I can't say enough how much we enjoyed our stay. Special thanks to Gary, Julie, Lori, Nica, Josie and everyone else at Shangrila who made our weekend so memorable!

ezodeiko

A charming, easy-going, down-to-earth slice of Ranch Heaven with Southern Hospitality!||||Myself and three of my girlfriends went here for a long weekend and we had a great time! The back cabin was clean and spacious with two beds in the loft and one queen on the bottom, a kitchenette and ample living space. The food: only THE BEST! Gary and Julie were attentive and the best part was we were able to ride at least 4-5 hours a day. The only drawback was the distance for us. ||||Our horses were capable and trail-ready and very calm. No issues there. This is a great, very affordable getaway for families, friends, or couples, if your focus is to ride and relax. You're staying with 'locals' who treat you as family and you really do have the time to get into the riding. If you're looking for large, chain-owned, posh marble and granite, this isn't the place. This is where you go to ride all day, sit on the deck at night and around the campfire, and really have a unique experience! It's really the best value for the quality of stay, food, and best of all, lots of riding!

Kieran B.

Cherished memories with lovely people!

I'm a novice rider, but Lori, our guide, took great care of us. She's clearly an experienced and competent guide. I felt very safe despite my lack of experience, and the horses were happy, healthy, and friendly!

This is not at all a pretentious place-- I felt like I was spending time with friends or extended family. Just simple cold cuts for lunch after a morning ride! It was delightful. They're so welcoming and I had so much fun-- I'm already thinking of when I can come back and do a longer ride.

kathomas74

Shangrila Guest Ranch is a gem for those seeking a riding vacation. I discovered the ranch via an internet search for an East coast ranch and a friend and I drove from eastern NC to South Boston for a 4 day riding vacation in late March. We had such a good time that I returned for the spring Cowgirl Retreat week May 7th - 12th. What a great experience! ||||Gary and Julie and the wranglers, Nica and Lori, are welcoming hosts and we enjoyed a relaxing but adventurous week. The horses are well trained and were a pleasure to ride whether you are an experienced rider or have never been on a horse ( as was the case with one of the guests that week). The trails are beautiful, varied, but not intimidating. The wranglers looked out for each guest and did a good job matching horse and rider. ||||Julie and Gary planned a memorable week that included riding each day, a wine tasting from a local vineyard, an afternoon message, archery, shooting, fishing, and an evening cookout at a beautiful cabin complete with gourmet chef, singing cowboy, and a moonlight ride back to the ranch. ||||I have vacationed at upscale ranches in Wyoming and Arizona (fabulous vacations all) but I must say that I love Shangrila Ranch. As a family owned and operated facility, Gary and Julie host small groups and therefore, there is no minute-by-minute schedule to be followed. It is a very relaxed and accommodating experience and because it is so close, I plan on returning often. Shangrila Ranch is cozy, rustic, and welcoming and if you like riding and good people, you, too will love this place.

Carrie S.

Ok let me be the first to say that when I called to enquire about staying here - they had their work cut out for them. I planned on taking my dad (74), husband and son (grade 2). So we had quite the age range to accommodate. ||Not only did they make sure everyone had suitable rides, but they all were just amazing people. From the hired wranglers - what great horse loving folks - to the owners kids. Everyone was so helpful and accommodating. Julie is a fantastic cook and we wanted for nothing.||All 4 of us had a terrific time- thanks to every single one of them. ||I cannot recommend this group more highly. I rode seriously for years when I was a kid through high school. Gary and Julie genuinely care for their animals and the people who work for them. ||Thanks again everyone, wish you all the very very best!|