 |
Dude ranches (like Echo Canyon Guest Ranch, pictured) rely on nature for unrivaled décor and recreation. |
Building a themed event from the ground up can be daunting, not to mention expensive. That’s why venues offering ready-made atmosphere and décor can be a meeting planner’s boon. Following are some examples of event venues whose built-in themes mean there is little or no assembly required. Dude ranches
Dude ranches are oases of authentic western Americana, complete with working cowboys, strutting horses and colorful terrain. Colleen Hodson, director of the Cody, Wyo.-based Dude Ranchers’ Association (www.duderanch.org), which represents more than 100 properties west of the Mississippi, says their appeal for meetings is a secluded atmosphere and sense of place. “Since there are no distractions, the creative juices start flowing,” she says. “It relaxes everyone and encourages out-of-the-box thinking.”
Another perk: Service tends to be more personalized at a dude ranch. “You get one-on-one attention here,” notes Hodson, “which is difficult to get at a hotel, when four other conventions may be going on at the same time.Ranch pricing tends to be all-inclusive, encompassing accommodations, three meals a day, and activities such as cattle-pinning and ropes courses. Amenities vary from place to place, ranging from resort-like pampering to what some folks might consider “roughing it” (no spa, no LCD TVs, no golf courses). Some of the larger venues can accommodate groups of up to 250 people.Among venues on the higher end of the scale is the 79-room Rancho de los Caballeros (www.sunc.com) in Wickenburg, Ariz. The ranch’s 20,000 acres feature 18 holes of golf, a spa and a 4,500-square-foot conference center. Groups can enjoy special evenings and entertainment at no additional charge. A popular choice is a Southwestern-themed event, hosted by chef Mamma Lupe, who presents a delectable spread of traditional Mexican dishes, like enchiladas, handmade tortillas and carne asada. For added flair, sombreros, Mexican blankets, piñatas and handpainted wooden cutlery are part of the package. Mariachi and flamenco bands can be hired for an additional fee.In La Veta, Colo., the Echo Canyon Guest Ranch (www.guestecho.com) covers 60,000 acres designated by the U.S. Department of the Interior as a National Natural Landmark. Groups of up to 50 can meet at the property’s Longhorn Conference Center (which is A/V and Wi-Fi equipped) and partake in pistol shooting, archery, cattle drives and country-western karaoke. Varied nightly entertainment, including cowboy singers, movies (guess what genre?) and Texas Hold ’Em poker tournaments, are part of the package. A 12,000-square-foot lodge with two lounges, a 5,000-square-foot covered deck and a game room accommodates groups of up to 40 for overnight stays.
 |
Red, white and majestic: The Battleship Missouri Memorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii |
Battleships
“Where else can you see from the Statue of Liberty all the way up to the George Washington Bridge?” asks Sarah Schiller, director of sales and special events for the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum (www.intrepidmuseum.org). The museum, of course, is the former USS Intrepid, an aircraft carrier that saw active service from World War II through Vietnam and is now parked on the Hudson River near midtown Manhattan to offer a unique experience to visitors, including groups of up to 3,000 for events. This majestic venue will reopen in November, following a two-year refurbishment.
Along with new areas of the ship opening to the public for the first time (such as the crew quarters and the forecastle), a number of new event-ready amenities include an enhanced sound system on the large hangar deck and a giant video wall for welcome announcements and branding.
Besides having the sheer size and capacity to hold groups of thousands, aircraft carriers and battleships have acres of history to explore, giving planners rein to play up patriotic, naval or aviation themes. As with the Intrepid, these vessels usually offer stunning views of the cities in which they are docked.
Other event-ready ships:
• The Battleship Missouri Memorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; (808) 455-1600; www.ussmissouri.com/event-planners
• The Battleship Massachusetts Memorial, near Providence, Mass.; (508) 678-1100; www.battleshipcove.org
• The USS Yorktown Aircraft Carrier at Patriots Point in Charleston Harbor, S.C.; (866) 831-1720; www.patriotspoint.org
 |
| Water world: Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, Calif. |
Aquariums
The $250 million Georgia Aquarium (www.georgiaaquarium.org) is big on themed events, notes Will Ramsey, the facility’s director of group sales and events. The venue, in Atlanta’s convention center district, opened to the public in 2005 and was built with an eye on group business.
The aquarium’s 16,400-square-foot Oceans Ballroom, which accommodates up to 1,200 for a banquet, offers up-close views of its two largest watery habitats, a 6.3-million-gallon whale shark tank and a beluga whale tank. A wave-like ceiling and LED light fixtures in the shape of jellyfish do much to enhance the underwater atmosphere.
A buyout of the aquarium allows groups of up to 5,000 to enjoy an opening reception, a banquet and the freedom to meander through the facility’s glowing marine life exhibits.
In Long Beach, Calif., the Aquarium of the Pacific (www.aquariumofpacific.org), just a short walk from the convention center, hosts groups large and small. The venue’s Café Scuba, which overlooks Long Beach’s Rainbow Harbor, a Sea Lion exhibit and the Lorikeet Forest, is ideal for a gathering of 50, while the Great Hall, adjacent to the Blue Cavern exhibit, is a three-story replica of a dive site off nearby Catalina Island and can seat up to 400.
For a minimal rental charge, the aquarium makes available colored linens and centerpieces that play up the aquatic theme, including images and models of deep-sea plants, rocks and fauna.