Cedar Creek Ranch

What Cedar Creek Ranch does

Cedar Creek Ranch is a privately held, family-owned outdoor recreation and hospitality business founded in 2000 by Paul Williams on 60+ acres in Cedar Point, Illinois. It operates as a single-site destination near Starved Rock State Park, approximately 90 minutes from Chicago, offering horseback trail rides, controlled rides for young children, a petting zoo (Pauly's Petting Zoo), goat yoga, a motorized Gator Creek boat cruise, ATV/UTV tours, catch-and-release fishing, rustic overnight accommodations in wagons and teepees, horse boarding services, pet care services (Pauly's Pet Care), weddings and corporate events, and seasonal events including Fright Trails (October) and a Renaissance Faire.

The ranch monetizes through transactional per-person activity tickets ($5-$48), higher-priced private experiences ($125-$399 per package), nightly accommodation rentals ($150-$175/night with $250 damage deposit), recurring horse boarding subscriptions, and customized event venue fees. An on-site full-service restaurant and bar, the GunSmoke Grill, opened in late 2010 and contributes to integrated visitor spend. Online bookings are processed through FareHarbor, supplemented by phone reservations and walk-ins. Marketing relies on organic social (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok), blog content, and SEO targeting Starved Rock-area visitors.

Customer segments span Chicago-area families and groups seeking day trips, wedding and event planners, corporate retreat organizers, horse owners requiring boarding, and outdoor enthusiasts. Distribution is direct-to-consumer and event-driven, leveraging proximity to Starved Rock tourism traffic. Headcount is reported at 1-10 employees and there are no disclosed funding rounds, parent entities, or institutional ownership; the operation appears bootstrapped and organically grown.

Name

Cedar Creek Ranch

Legal name

Cedar Creek Ranch

Website

https://ccrstables.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cedar Creek Ranch is a privately held, family-owned outdoor recreation and hospitality destination on 60+ acres near Starved Rock State Park in Illinois. It serves Chicago-area families, tourists, event planners, and horse owners with trail rides, animal encounters, overnight stays, fishing, tours, and seasonal events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Recreation and Agritourism Hospitality

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Mountain & Wilderness Lodges (THAAAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Animal Boarding (Kennels, Catteries) (AFAEALAA)

Keywords

• Horseback trail rides
• Outdoor recreation services
• Petting zoo experiences
• Ranch event venues
• Rustic overnight lodging

Headquarters

HQ city

Cedar Point

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Horseback Riding Activities: Trail rides for ages 7+ at $48/person, controlled rides for ages 6 and under at $20/person. Core recreational revenue stream with 50-70 minute ride durations. Private rides available at $125/person.
2. Petting Zoo Admissions: $5 per person entry to Pauly's Petting Zoo with food bucket included. Also offers mobile petting zoo services for off-site events at custom pricing.
3. Fishing Activities: $25-$35/person for two hours of fishing at private stocked ponds. Equipment provided.
4. Gator Creek Cruise: $40/person for ages 7+, $25/person for ages 6 and under. 45-minute guided motorized boat cruise through ranch waterways.
5. Motorized Tours: $35/person for ages 7+, $20/person for ages 6 and under. Guided ATV/UTV tours through ranch property.
6. Overnight Accommodations: Wagon rentals at $175/night (sleeps 2-4), Teepee rentals at $150/night (sleeps 2-4). Includes amenities, fire pits, and port-a-potties. $250 damage deposit required.
7. City Slicker Experience Package: $399 for party of 2. Bundled package including overnight stay, private horseback ride, petting zoo, and fishing.
8. Weddings & Events Venue Rental: Venue rental services for weddings, corporate events, birthday parties, family reunions. Pricing customized per event. Includes preferred vendor Blue Oak Company Bridal & Event Rentals.
9. Horse Boarding Services: Short-term and long-term horse boarding with daily feeding, stall maintenance, and pasture turnout. New indoor riding area under development.
10. Renaissance Faire Admissions: Entry at $12 adult, $6 kids. Camping $20 adults, $10 children (5-12), free under 5. Horseback riding $48 additional.
11. On-site Dining (GunSmoke Grill): Full-service restaurant and bar serving burgers, fried chicken, and BBQ. Operational since late 2010.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cedar Creek Ranch is a working horse ranch and outdoor recreation destination on 60+ acres adjacent to Starved Rock State Park in Oglesby, Illinois. It sells guided horseback trail rides, petting zoo experiences, goat yoga, Gator Creek cruises, motorized off-road tours, catch-and-release fishing, themed seasonal attractions (Fright Trails, Renaissance Faire), and on-site dining at GunSmoke Grill. The ranch also rents overnight cabins and offers horse boarding, wedding, and corporate event services.

Product overview

Cedar Creek Ranch is a 60+ acre working horse ranch and outdoor recreation destination near Starved Rock State Park in Illinois. The operation offers a diverse portfolio of experiences centered around horses and rural outdoor activities, including guided trail rides, petting zoo encounters, goat yoga sessions, boat cruises, off-road vehicle tours, fishing, and rustic overnight accommodations. Additional seasonal offerings include an annual Renaissance Faire and Halloween Fright Trails haunted attraction. The ranch also provides horse boarding services, pet care, and serves as an event venue for weddings and corporate gatherings. The core products center on horseback riding experiences (trail rides, controlled rides for children), interactive animal experiences (Pauly's Petting Zoo, Goat Yoga), and recreational activities (Gator Creek Cruise, Motorized Tours, Fishing). Supporting services include overnight stays in wagons and teepees, event venue rental, and Pauly's Pet Care for pet sitting. Online booking is handled through FareHarbor integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pauly's Petting Zoo: Hands-on animal experience featuring goats, bunnies, donkeys, miniature horses, and other friendly farm animals.
• Pauly's Pet Care
• Fright Trails
• Cedar Creek Renaissance Faire

Products and services

• Horseback Trail Rides

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Blue Oak Company Bridal & Event RentalsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred vendor for Cedar Creek Ranch weddings and events. Located in LaSalle. Provides event rental equipment and services for weddings held at the ranch venue.
• FareHarborcoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline booking platform integration used throughout the website for activity reservations. Embedded booking widgets for horseback riding, Gator Creek Cruise, and other activities.
• The GunSmoke GrillminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn-site full-service restaurant and bar opened late 2010. Serves burgers, fried chicken, and BBQ to ranch visitors. Part of the ranch's integrated visitor experience.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Collective Retreats: Luxury outdoor retreat operator with safari tents and curated experiences in scenic US locations. Comparable in philosophy (premium outdoor accommodations + experiences) though at a fundamentally different price tier.

Direct peers

• Kualoa Ranch: Hawaiian adventure ranch offering horseback riding, ATV/UTV tours, boat cruises, and private event venue rentals on hundreds of acres. Closest comparable operating model to Cedar Creek's multi-activity ranch structure.
• Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center: Operated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources adjacent to Starved Rock State Park, this lodge and conference center is the principal overnight and event venue in Cedar Creek's core catchment. It competes for the same Chicago-area weekend and event business.

Broad incumbents

• Under Canvas: Glamping operator with safari-inspired tent accommodations near national parks. Direct comparable for Cedar Creek's wagon and teepee overnight concept, though at a more upscale price point and at larger scale.
• Blackberry Farm: Luxury resort and working farm in the Smoky Mountains offering horseback riding, animal encounters, culinary experiences, and event venues. Premium-end comparable demonstrating the upside trajectory of the agritourism/ranch hospitality model.
• Grand Bear Resort: Indoor water park resort near Utica, Illinois, mentioned on Cedar Creek's own site as a nearby attraction. Competes for family overnight and weekend trip dollars from the Chicago market.

Regional players

• Tan-Tar-A Resort (previously Tan-Tar-A Estates): Lakeside resort at the Lake of the Ozarks offering horseback riding, boat cruises, fishing, and event venues in the Midwest. Directly comparable activity mix to Cedar Creek in the same broader region.
• Dundee Resort & Golf Links: Midwest family resort with horseback riding, fishing, and event facilities. Comparable scale and activity mix within driving distance of Chicago.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtiktok.com/@ccrstables
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CedarCreekRanch
• Facebookfacebook.com/CedarCreekHorseRanch
• Instagraminstagram.com/cedarcreekranch2000
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cedar-creek-ranch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cedar Creek Ranch