by Casie Bazay | Photos courtesy of Greg Guerrero
In the heart of West Tulsa, spanning Lookout Mountain and Red Fork Mountain, is a unique ranch that offers visitors beautiful views of nature and wildlife and downtown Tulsa. RFM Ranch, owned by RFM Enterprises, leases 190 acres of its land to Tulsa Trails West (TTW), where people can participate in a time-honored western tradition — horseback riding.
According to Greg Guerrero, managing member of Tulsa Trails West, the mission of Tulsa Trails West is twofold — to give everyday people the opportunity to have a great experience with horses and to help revitalize this once vibrant, historic area of Tulsa.
Although Oklahoma is home to thousands of horses and many horse owners, the majority of people do not get to regularly experience the joy of horseback riding. In the past, the area had several stables where one could rent a horse to ride. However, because of liability issues and the rising cost of keeping horses, those places have dwindled to a mere few.
Many Tulsans remember Brashears Riding Stables in east Tulsa, which once rented out riding horses by the hour. Although Brashears is no longer in operation, one of the family members, Earl Brashear, is now a part of Tulsa Trails West.
Guerrero said, “Tulsa Trails West exists because a number of years ago, Earl took me to ride trails in southeastern Oklahoma, where we all had a great time. I thought it was a pity that there was nowhere to experience this kind of thing around Tulsa. Now we have it — a place where everyone can experience horseback riding.”
Although RFM Ranch has been around for some time, Tulsa Trails West officially opened to the public in 2022. In the first two years, it hosted a fall festival, and guided trail rides began in 2023. The ranch has also held riding camps and paintball activities for kids, but Guerrero says it now focuses on guided trail rides to make them the best experience possible.
Guerrero also stressed that riding and working with horses are not an essential part of most people’s lives today, but a long historical relationship exists between humans and horses, and it is worth remembering and experiencing.
Renewal of the Red Fork Area
Tulsa Trails West is just north of Red Fork, which became a booming oil town in the early 1900s. In 1927, the city of Tulsa annexed Red Fork, and it became an area of heavy industry. Although this led to enormous economic contributions to the city, it also diminished the luster of living in the area.
In the mid-1990s, environmental laws dramatically reduced the detrimental aspects of heavy industry in the area. With its proximity to River Parks, the Gathering Place, and other reenergized parts of Tulsa, the Red Fork area is now experiencing renewed potential for development.
“The RFM Ranch and TTW are passionate about helping to grow this renewed potential, in part by revitalizing the adjoining Lookout Mountain and Red Fork Mountain areas,” said Guerrero.
Horses and Rides at TTW
With the help of operations manager Tiercy Jarvis, TTW offers guided trail rides throughout most of the year, depending on the weather. Visitors must make online reservations in advance for the trail rides, and for $60, they get a mandatory riding lesson of 20 to 30 minutes, followed by a one-hour guided trail ride.
“The lessons are the most enjoyable part for me,” said Guerrero. “It’s like magic when you see something click in the beginning riders’ heads and they realize how to guide their horses all on their own. Our horses are well trained, but you need to communicate with them correctly to get the correct results.” Guerrero said the riding lessons go a long way in helping to prepare riders for trail rides.
For each group of 10 to 12 riders, two or three staff members ride along, striving to ensure the safety of all guests.
Three miles of trails meander over diverse terrain on the ranch, and more trails are planned for the future. Along the trail, riders not only get great views, but they also might see Tulsa’s first oil well (the Sue A. Bland #1) and one of the largest collections of Depression-era rock graffiti in the Midwest.
TTW offers rides most Fridays and Saturdays during the summer, at 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 12:30 p.m. However, as the weather grows warmer, the rides might be limited to morning times only.
Children aged 10 and older can ride by themselves, but children 12 or younger must be accompanied on the ride by an adult. All riders must sign a release waiver, and helmets are required for children. There is also a 250-pound weight limit for riders.
Tulsa Trails West is located at 3401 South 29th West Avenue. More information can be found at tulsatrailswest.com.
