Chalet in Bighorn no. 8, AB

Tacansina Ranch-Designer Home East of Banff National Park

Tacansina Ranch-Designer Home East of Banff National Park

Photo gallery for Tacansina Ranch-Designer Home East of Banff National Park

The breezeway at night.
Private kitchen
Snow and ski sports
Interior
Property grounds

Overview of Tacansina Ranch-Designer Home East of Banff National Park

4.9 out of 5 Exceptional
4 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 10223 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Free WiFi
  • Outdoor space

Check out the area

Bighorn no. 8, AB
  • AirportBanff, AB (YBA)71 min drive

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

East Bedroom

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bed

Living Room 1

1 Queen Bed

North Bedroom

3 Single Beds

South Bedroom

1 King Bed

West Bedroom

1 King Bed

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

Guest House Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet

Main House Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Tacansina Ranch-Designer Home East of Banff National Park

It is a beautifully designed ranch house with an equally stunning view of the mountains of Banff National Park. Set on 480 acres of foothills between Calgary and Banff/Canmore, the ranch sleeps 10 people. This is our hiking and skiing basecamp.

THE RANCH HISTORY:
According to the Cochrane Historical Society, our ranch was first created in 1889 and was known back then as 'The Ripley.' The first family that owned it raised Galloway and Hereford Cattle in the valley and had built a house, a stable and lime kiln by what they called 'Ripley Creek', now known as Baymar Creek, which empties into Ghost River. Old First Nations trails cross our ranch as well as old and current wildlife trails. When the Palliser expedition came from the north in 1858 to go through the Banff area, they crossed Deadman's Hill, which essentially is the hill or ridge that our house and our cabin are situated. It was called Deadman's Hill because of a First Nation story of a major battle along the Ghost River (Formerly Deadman's River).

The space:
You will not find another ranch house designed like this. It has massive log beams holding up the roof and floor to ceiling windows on the south and west sides.

The ranch house itself is actually two buildings (main house and the guest house) connected with a large outdoor covered patio space that we call the breezeway.

The main house is a fully open space with logs arranged to form 2 adjacent hexagons, 12 inch thick cement walls that encase floor-to-ceiling windows across the south and west sides of the structure. It has a large wood-burning fireplace in addition to the in-floor heating to create a cozy space when you relax on the couches or the murphy bed. The kitchen is fully functional, with the centre-piece of it being a 15 foot long island. The main house bathroom is stunning with a huge bathtub and shower area and tile throughout.

The guest house contains 4 bedrooms with a total of 2 king sized beds (they split into 2 twin beds each), 1 queen sized bed and 4 single beds. It has warm cork flooring, its own 1/2 bath and high ceilings. It is much more utilitarian and simple than the main house.

Around the house you will find a rundle stone patio on the southwest side with a firepit and seating around it. Between the two buildings is the 800 square foot breezeway, with a 16 foot long handcrafted wood table with benches (created using timber from the property).

Guest access:
Guests will have access to the ranch house and the land. There is a log cabin on the property, but it is not available for use.

Interaction with guests:
Feel free to ask us any questions that you may have regarding your upcoming stay and suggestions on what to do in the surrounding area.

The area:
The ranch and the area that it is located is the foothills of Alberta, the land just before the start of the rocky mountains. The ranch house sits on the top of a ridge about 25 km west of the mountains, which can be seen from the house and many other vantage points across the property.

The area is pristine wilderness and ranch lands, with forested foothills covering most of the area except for the bottom of the valley where native grasses are predominant.

There is a significant amount of wildlife that call this area home. This includes black bears, grizzly bears, deer, wolves, cougars, elk, moose, coyotes, badgers, hawks, bald eagles etc.

Just 2 km hike to the north of the ranch house is the Ghost River and to the south about 10 km is Ghost Lake, which is a reservoir with inflow from the Bow and Ghost Rivers.

On a clear day you can see downtown Calgary to the east and if you look to the west you will see a wide swath of mountains, including devil's head and devil's gap, which is the valley leading to Lake Minnewanka of Banff National Park.

Getting around:
Our ranch is a rural property so having a vehicle to get to and from the ranch is a must. If you come in the winter, having a vehicle such as an SUV is a very good idea since the drive way is a 2 km long gravel road that is snow plowed, but requires good ground clearance and good tires.

Other things to note:
ATV's, snowmobiles, motorbikes or any off-road vehicles are not allowed to be used at the ranch. It is protected land under the Nature Conservancy of Canada.

Property manager

Claire Steinmann and Michael Bussoli
Premier Host
Premier Host

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Outdoor space

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector and a first aid kit

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

North America

Frequently asked questions

Is Our Basecamp For Adventure In Banff And The Rockies pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Our Basecamp For Adventure In Banff And The Rockies?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Our Basecamp For Adventure In Banff And The Rockies?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Our Basecamp For Adventure In Banff And The Rockies located?

Located in the mountains, this family-friendly chalet is 8.4 mi (13.5 km) from Ghost Lake and 8.4 mi (13.5 km) from Bow River. Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre and Mt Yamnuska Trailhead are also within 25 miles (40 km).

Reviews

4.9

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 5 - Excellent. 63 out of 70 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Good. 4 out of 70 reviews" "
Rating 3 - Okay. 3 out of 70 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Poor. 0 out of 70 reviews" "
Rating 1 - Terrible. 0 out of 70 reviews" "

4.8/5

Cleanliness

4.9/5

Check-in

4.9/5

Communication

5/5

Location

5/5

Listing accuracy

Reviews

5/5 Excellent

Mark K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Back to nature
Had such a wonderful stay in a very unique house that was set up perfectly for our weekend getaway with a group of friends. High end finishings as all around, yet able to get back to nature with incredible views in a serene location.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

5/5 Excellent

Courtney B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Incredible!
I’m embarrassed it’s taken me so long to review such an incredible property. We came here for my husband’s birthday last year. I was looking for somewhere memorable and unique where we could have our kids but it also be somewhere special for the adults. We had the most amazing time! The property and house are breathtaking and very well equipped. The hosts were wonderful and very accommodating. We tell everyone about our stay here. It’s a must visit! Thank you so much for having us, we would love to visit again in the future!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

5/5 Excellent

Kale L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stunning
Was an amazing trip. Middle of nowhere. No outside noise or distractions. Beautiful views. Open to roam but great to just sit and lookout to the mountains. Highly recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

5/5 Excellent

Robyn A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Unique getaway spot
We had an amazing stay! The ranch is a very beautiful location and was a perfect get away for our family. Unique layout with bedrooms in a separate building. It was nice to have the space for our dogs to also enjoy! The hosts were lovely and very responsive! We would very much recommend this spot!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

5/5 Excellent

Marika L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A little treasure
Our family had a great time at this property, everyone was so impressed. Such a beautiful place to stay at!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

About the host

Hosted by Claire Steinmann and Michael Bussoli

Host profile image
We are two entrepreneurs that work hard and play hard. Claire is an architectural designer, that also has built a line of custom kitchen cabinets, called "STiL". Michael is a realtor in Calgary. We have 4 beautiful kids and we love to play at the ranch.

What makes this property unique

Our ranch is unique because the design of the home is stunning, the fact that our guests can access 480 acres of forested foothills, and it has world-class views of and great proximity to the Rocky Mountains of Banff National Park.

Premier Host

Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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