What others say about Madera Ranch

A winding mountain road through a dense pine forest with mountains in the background and partly cloudy sky

For me, the solitude of the journey on the last leg of the trip to Madera Ranch has been labelled by me as “the road to my paradise.” Solitude broken only by the occasional deer and most definitely a cow or two on the road into Madera. Once through the gates at Madera we are usually greeted by the resident herd of deer or the wild turkeys (no, I’m not referring to Diane and Doug! Ha). Everyone we have met so far has been very friendly and helpful. The staff at the Ranch have been very accommodating and willing to go the extra mile to ensure our experience has been a good one. The time spent at our lot this summer has been filled with more work than relaxation in an attempt to ready it for a more relaxing summer next year. The lake was warm this summer and we enjoyed the fishing and water sports. Being surrounded by forest and having mountains in the distance has made for some very memorable sights and sunsets. Looking forward to seeing what life is like in the winter at Madera Ranch!

— DC, Calgary AB

Large lots with wilderness around them

Boats anchored near a rocky shoreline with tall trees and hills in the background on a clear, sunny day.

The first time we had ever visited Lake Koocanusa we ended up deciding on a lot at Madera ranch.  We were taken aback by the large lots even with more wilderness around them, and just a nice short walk to the lake with nice neighbors and park management plus the fact that our daughter also has a lot there.

—   M & M, Calgary AB
A campsite with a large trailer, two gazebos, wooden chairs, and a fire pit surrounded by rocks in a forested area.

My little piece of heaven

Our family has camped at Madera for 4 years now. In that time we have missed maybe 3 weekends during the summers. I love being out here & refer to it as my little piece of heaven. No one truly understands how amazing it is until they come and visit. Most of our friends have joined us at Madera once they’ve seen it with their own eyes. We have many memories & have seen our daughter grow up out here along with everyone else’s children. We’ve watched our daughter learn how to ride a bike, swim & catch her first fish. Its the best place on earth for familes. I wouldn’t change a thing about it.

—  B & M, Chestermere AB

  • The things that we really like about our place is the absolute quietness. The lake is always warm and calm which makes water sports so much fun. It’s a place our family calls our second home where all of our neighbours are respectful and helpful. We always say, “If you are lucky to live at the lake, you are lucky enough!”

    — G & R, Calgary AB

  • Madera Ranch is a hidden paradise. We searched many RV sites before buying at Madera Ranch and nothing compares to the beauty, tranquility and design of sites. The owners are hands on; they are there to help you if you have any questions or concerns. From swimming in the crystal blue water, sunning on the sandy beach, boating, hiking, ATV’ing, visiting with other Koocalotters or just relaxing, Madera Ranch has it all. We just love it!!

    —D & J, Parksville BC

  • My List: 1. Peaceful times to just relax and read 2. Slow paced lifestyle 3. Time to unwind 4. Getting to know new neighbours 5. Old friends popping by for a visit 6. The liberty to develop our own sites to our liking but keeping within the guidelines set out by Madera 7. It is neat to see the creativity people have in making their lots “home” 8. The gorgeous lake! 9. The willingness and help extended by park staff to help get the heavy work accomplished

    —BJ, High River AB

  • Well…we really, really love it down at Madera/Lake Koocanusa! What is about Madera that is important to us? Having a “spot at the lake” has been so good for our family to spend time together – both on the water and at our site. The peacefulness and quietness of Madera slows us down. Every year we have these plans that we will go and see this or that and once we get there, we never want to leave – we just enjoy the time right there at Madera! The non powered activities such as running, biking, walking/hiking and kayaking are superb – not to mention the hours that we log on the lake in our boat! And another huge bonus is the Kookalotters that we have met – many with similar interests as us! Thanks Doug and Diane, Merv and Mavis for all you have done!

    —G & K, High River AB

Madera – a lifestyle choice I wish I made earlier in life

— KT, High River

A scenic view of a lake with a sandy shoreline, surrounded by pine trees and mountains in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Why I love Madera Ranch, let me count the ways. In no particular order what I like most about Madera is:

  • The sense of community …

    • we all have similar interests, we are happy because we are on vacation

    • as an owner you really do care about the resort and want to make it the best it can be. There is a strong sense of pride amoung the membership.

  • The lake …

    • is the best you will find within 3 1/2 hours from Calgary

    • an easy drive south through the foot hills and then west into the Kootenays, is relaxing all on its own

    • the water is warm enough that no wet suit is required

    • skiers and boarders don’t have to get up early or wait until dusk for the “glass”

    • the beach is only accessible from shore (by boat) or through the Madera property … as close as it gets to being a private beach!

  • Relaxing at Madera …

    • being able to have access to a reserved site only 3 1/2 hours away 7 days a week is fantastic

    • no more putting a tent up on a site on Tuesday just to have a site for the weekend

    • when I get there for the weekend all I have to do is put away groceries and turn on the fridge

    • no more going out for the weekend and not knowing who my neighbours will be or how loud they will get on the weekend

    • no more dragging the RV out and back every weekend. This saves wear and tear on my vehicle as well as the RV itself … not to mention the fuel savings

    • I forgot to mention the frustration of backing into my own driveway at home at midnight because I couldn’t even find an overflow gravel pit to camp in for the weekend

    • we can get to Madera and back for a weekend on $50 now instead of $100 just to get to Kananaskis (not much swimming there and always crowded)

We were looking for a quiet place to relax and found Madera. This summer I spent two weeks out there and during mid-week there were only 3 other families at their sites. Even the weekends are uncrowded and quiet.

Speaking of saving money, not only can I leave my RV out there all winter, I don’t have to pay for RV storage. We spent a total of 26 nights out there this summer. Compared to $47 per night at a nearby facility, that would be over $1200+ in camping fees alone so it’s easy to see how convenient being at Madera is.

Being at Madera Ranch is a lifestyle choice I wish I could have made earlier in life. Now that my children are both grown, they can go down anytime they would like to as well. I look forward to many more years of making memories with them and maybe a few grandchildren as well.

“A Piece of Uncongested Brilliance”

A young girl in a pink hoodie and jeans watching another girl swinging on a tire swing in a forested park.

What don’t we love about Madera!  Peace, tranquility, nature, the smell of the trees, we very much enjoy the natural environment; the low disturbance development – the care that went in to keeping the place as natural as possible while providing serviced lots.  Days like when we were out on the lake and it was like glass! and saw only 2 other boats in 20 km of lake – that’s what we’re talkin’ ’bout!.  And then the very next day, enjoying a quad ride up to the top of Mount Fitzpatrick.

—   K & L, High River
A bird in flight against a forested background.

We have been at Madera since its beginnings and have enjoyed many hours of boating on the lake, relaxing with a book on our deck or playing games in the trailer, interacting with other Koocalotters, and just generally relishing the quiet and unhurried environment. It’s a terrific place to get away to!!

— BW, Calgary, AB

RV West Magazine