Walker Family Wildlife Ranch

How we do it . . .and why

HOW TO RESERVE A COTTAGE

A couple of years ago we streamlined our reservation process to be a bit easier to navigate. Instead of relying on back-and-forth emails as in the past, the current procedure allows you to fill in a single form to request dates for reservations. Simply click the link above, find your preferred dates on the calendar of availabilities, and then follow the links to the reservations form. Once we have reviewed your request, we will email you back with an approval and ask you to confirm that the information is correct. That's all there is to it. It should be fairly easy to understand, but if you have trouble, please visit the following How to Reserve tutorial:

Be sure to refresh (ctrl-F5) each page to make sure you're seeing the most current updates.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Why are memberships now required?

A: In keeping with our mission to protect the wildlife and the ecosystems here on our family ranch, we are gradually steering away from one and two night rentals and more toward extended-stay vacationers. Being Member Only allows us to cater to our long-tome friends and guests while discouraging the weekend party crowd who might not have much interest in our mission. That is also why we generally extend early-bird booking privileges to those who have historically, for a number of years, reserved multiple cabins for 4 or more consecutive nights at a time. That period is generally in mid to late January.

Q: Is there a way we can get onto the early-bird list for next year?

A: That is not a list you can get onto by request, as it is based solely on members' individual history with us. To reserve early, you need to have been an extended-stay guest for several recent seasons. It also helps if your family is one of those that has been coming here for generations, and we know you well.

Q: Would it be beneficial for us to contact you by email?

A: Yes, absolutely. It tells us that you are enthusiastic, and we do take that into consideration. However, please do not email us to book a summer reservation. There is a new process for that.

Q: Are you still asking for three choices, as in the past, and taking reservations by email?

A: We are steering away from doing it that way. Instead, we are suggesting that you have several options in mind. But, rather than send them to us, you should look at the calendar on our new Availabilities page, determine what appears open and available, and then submit a request for the slot of your choice by filling out the form. That is all explained on the next page, accessed from the button above.

MORE FAQ. View all.

CLICK HERE for details and photos of the cottages

A GENERAL OVERVIEW

For many years, we rented our three cottages to the general public. However, that has now changed as we continue transitioning away from focusing on summer recreational activities, like tubing and kayaking, and toward our new mission: preserving the wildlife and returning the local ecosystem to it's original, natural state. Effective January 1, 2018, we began maintaining our facilities exclusively as the guest quarters for our family ranch. And the cottages are now available only to our own friends and acquaintances, and a few dozen others who have already registered as partners and members.

Each year during the months of January and February we have typically begun scheduling reservations for the upcoming summer season. And that has not changed. As you probably know, competition for the best summer slots is always very intense. Since we only have three cottages, it is simply impossible to get everyone a prime weekend in July or a holiday. While we value each and every customer, we try to give top priority to those families who have been returning year after year, often for decades, and those who regularly book blocks of four or more nights in a row, by allowing them to beat the crowd and pre-book in advance. Although we realize that this does drastically limit the choices remaining for everyone else, it is much easier and more cost effective for us, thereby allowing us to keep our nightly rates comparatively low.

WHO GETS A MEMBERSHIP?

If you have stayed with us in recent years and we have you in our records, you probably already have a membership. Memberships are free and stay in effect as long as you remain active. Rather than manning an around-the-clock phone, we do nearly all our contacts with members by email. And we occasionally will send out updates to our most active members. It is very important, therefore, that we have a current email address on file for you. Please contact us if you feel we may have incomplete or outdated information. Also, it is to your benefit to get in the habit of checking your email inbox and other folders frequently, especially if you are thinking about staying with us in the summer, so you don't miss something important from us.

WHAT IF WE'VE STAYED THERE IN YEARS PAST?

It is always wonderful to hear back from old customers. We are pretty flexible on memberships and we will certainly try our best to accommodate those of you who have stayed with us before but may have fallen out of touch. It also may be that you have stayed here fairly recently, but under someone else's name. You may be eligible for a membership. Please select CONTACT US below and follow the instructions. We will then be able to advise you as to how to apply for a membership and whether we still have any slots available for cottage reservations.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER

As you make your plans for a summer vacation with us, please keep a few important things in mind:

• We generally begin scheduling cottage reservations for May-Sep on or around February 1st each year. However, as mentioned, some select members may have already booked some slots prior to that. And there may be some slots that we set aside for our own purposes. That explains why some slots may be unavailable, even on day one.

• Don't forget the off-season (Oct-Apr). It is beautiful time of the year to commune with the wildlife and enjoy a respite in the country, without the noise and hubbub of the tubing and tourist crowds. Those reservations can be made almost anytime simply by shooting us an email. And there should usually be plenty of openings to choose from. (And, by the way, it's a good way to get acquainted with us and to get on the prime member roster for the future)

• Scheduling reservations is complicated by the fact that some people only need one cottage for two or three nights, while others want all three for up to a solid week or more. And, not surprisingly, weekends and holidays are always in high demand. So, you can understand how difficult, if not impossible, the task is. What we typically do is afford special consideration to those guests who have been coming regularly for many years---and especially to those who consistently book extended stays year after year. We allow those members to schedule their reservations first; and then we work in the shorter-stay guests where we can. We also pay attention to matters like payment history, prior cancellations and no-shows, compliance with rules, and how tidy things were left afterwards in determining who should get the highest priority for future reservations.

• Remember, we do not book single nights. Each reservation must be at least 2 nights.

• Prior to getting with us on a reservation, it is best to have at least 3 or 4 alternate dates in mind, to give us more flexibility, in the event that your first choice is unavailable. The information we will need will be (1) which cottage(s); (2) the check-in date; (3) the check-out date; and (4) the number of nights.

• If you need back into this MEMBER PORTAL, the required password is walker.

• If you have further questions, please first visit our main website at pointcreek.com.
If you need to email or call us, follow the links and instructions under "Contact Us".