On a dirt road off of US 12, about 20 minutes from Hillsdale College, grazes a herd of buffalo.
The welcome sign on the side of the road that leads to the driveway reads “The Buffalo Ranch.” Right past the round-about, horses thick with furry winter coats wait for their breakfast. Some wait patiently, others paw the ground.
Dave Dewachter, full-time ranch manager, and ranch wrangler Devon Clute portion out grain for breakfast.
Dewachter said the experience at the Buffalo Ranch is family-oriented and primarily educational.
The 240-acre ranch is home to 40 buffalo, 45 horses, and one mule.
The buffalo herd lives about a half mile away from the main barnyard area on 80 acres.
Dewachter said wranglers teach guests about the buffalo and answer questions.
“[The buffalo] stampede the wagon,” Dewachter said. “Guests get to come nose to nose with those guys and hand-feed them corn. They are wild, but guests are safe when they’re on the wagon. We get a lot of people who have never seen a buffalo before.”
The wagon tour lasts about one hour.
After the tour, guests visit the memorial for Spirit Walker, a true white buffalo born at the ranch.
Surrounding the buffalo pen are seven miles of horseback riding trails.
“We show people how to ride, teach horse safety, show them a good time and they always come back,” Dewachter said.
Visitors come from the east side of Michigan, from Indiana, Chicago, Florida, and even some from Canada.
“We get a variety of visitors,” Dewachter said. “About three-quarters are beginners. Our goal is to teach. We always match the horse to the level of the rider.”
Last summer, a group of Hillsdale students came for a ride, Dewachter said. The ranch has also hosts student groups from Spring Arbor University.
While the ranch does not offer any student discounts, there is a lower price for groups of 10 or more. One hour of riding usually costs $25; however, large groups pay $20 each.
A majority of the visitors come to ride, Clute said.
Clute said after the one-hour horseback ride, most guests get interested in the other activities the ranch offers, such as the buffalo wagon ride and the zip line.
Ranch owners Terrell and Dana Daniels also sell buffalo meat to the public.
“It’s never a dull day at the ranch,” Clute said. “We’re always busy.”