Policies & Guest Information

Policies & Guest Information

At Rye Meadow Ranch, our goal is to provide a safe, enjoyable, and authentic farm experience while prioritizing the health and well-being of our animals and guests. We appreciate your understanding that life on a working ranch comes with a little dirt, a few bugs, and lots of memories.

Booking & Cancellation Policy

  • Full refunds are available for cancellations made at least 48 hours before your scheduled visit.

  • Visits may be rescheduled up to 24 hours before the scheduled time.

  • In the event of severe weather or unforeseen circumstances requiring closure, guests will be offered the option to reschedule or receive a full refund.

  • Exceptions due to illness or emergencies may be considered at the discretion of Rye Meadow Ranch.

  • Rye Meadow Ranch reserves the right to postpone or cancel experiences due to weather, animal health, safety concerns, or other unforeseen circumstances.

Working Ranch Disclaimer

Rye Meadow Ranch is a real, working cattle ranch and agritourism operation. Our property contains livestock, fencing, uneven terrain, natural vegetation, and environmental conditions typical of Florida farms.

Guests should expect:

  • Grass, dirt, mud, gravel, hay, manure, and uneven ground.

  • Livestock odors and natural agricultural conditions.

  • Insects and wildlife common to Florida, including mosquitoes, flies, bees, spiders, snakes, and fire ants.

  • Weather conditions including heat, humidity, rain, and wind.

The health and well-being of our animals and guests are extremely important to us. We regularly clean and maintain our cattle areas and utilize routine pest control and fire ant treatments. Despite these efforts, insects and wildlife are a natural part of Florida and may still be present. Guests should expect authentic outdoor ranch conditions and dress accordingly.

Attire & Footwear

Guests will be interacting with live farm animals and spending time outdoors.

Please wear:

  • Closed-toe shoes or boots suitable for walking on uneven ground.

  • Comfortable clothing that you do not mind potentially getting dirty.

  • Weather-appropriate attire, including sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses.

Our Highland cattle are friendly and handled regularly, but they are still animals. They may rub against you for attention, and they relieve themselves on their own schedule. Contact with dirt, mud, hay, and manure is possible.

Animal Welfare & Guest Conduct

At Rye Meadow Ranch, the health, safety, and well-being of our animals always come first. Our cattle are handled regularly and enjoy interacting with visitors, but they are living animals—not props or pets—and deserve to be treated with kindness and respect.

To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone:

  • All guests must follow instructions provided by ranch staff.

  • Animals may only be fed approved treats or feed provided by the ranch.

  • Chasing, yelling, rough play, climbing on animals, or behavior that may stress or endanger the animals is prohibited.

  • Children must remain under the direct supervision of a parent or guardian at all times.

  • Guests who fail to follow safety instructions or whose behavior poses a risk to people, animals, or property may be asked to leave without refund.

Rye Meadow Ranch reserves the right to end any interaction or experience if we determine that an animal requires rest or that conditions are not in the best interest of the animal or our guests.

Because animals are living creatures with individual personalities and needs, Rye Meadow Ranch cannot guarantee specific animal interactions, behaviors, poses, or participation during any visit or photography session.

Health & Sanitation

Agricultural environments naturally contain dirt, dust, manure, hay, pollen, and microorganisms.

Guests are encouraged to:

  • Wash or sanitize their hands after interacting with animals.

  • Wear appropriate clothing and footwear.

  • Avoid touching their face while interacting with livestock.

  • Notify staff of allergies or concerns before participating.

Guests who are ill or experiencing fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or other contagious symptoms should reschedule their visit.

Guests who are pregnant, immunocompromised, have severe allergies, asthma, mobility limitations, or other medical conditions should consult their physician and exercise their own judgment before participating.

Property Rules

For the safety of our guests, animals, and property:

  • No smoking, vaping, alcohol, illegal drugs, or firearms are permitted on the property.

  • No pets or outside animals are allowed.

  • Guests may not enter pastures, stalls, barns, or restricted areas unless directed by ranch staff.

  • Guests are responsible for supervising children at all times.

  • Guests are responsible for their personal belongings. Rye Meadow Ranch is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged property.

  • Guests are responsible for any damage caused by themselves or members of their party.

  • Rye Meadow Ranch reserves the right to refuse service or remove any guest whose behavior is unsafe, disruptive, abusive, or harmful to animals or property.

Photography

Guests are welcome to take photos and videos for personal use during their visit.

For professional photography, Rye Meadow Ranch has partnered exclusively with Dakin Images. Dakin Images is the only photographer authorized to conduct professional photography sessions on the ranch. Outside photographers, commercial photography, styled shoots, or other professional photography sessions are not permitted without prior written approval from Rye Meadow Ranch.

By entering the property, guests acknowledge that photographs or videos may occasionally be taken by Rye Meadow Ranch and may be used for promotional or social media purposes. Guests who prefer not to appear in photographs should notify staff upon arrival.

Weather Policy

Ranch visits are outdoor experiences and may proceed during light rain or typical Florida weather conditions.

However, visits may be postponed or canceled due to:

  • Lightning

  • Severe storms

  • Excessive heat

  • Flooding

  • Animal health concerns

  • Unsafe conditions

If Rye Meadow Ranch cancels a visit, guests will be offered the option to reschedule or receive a full refund.

Parking & Personal Property

Guests park vehicles at their own risk. Rye Meadow Ranch is not responsible for damage to vehicles, theft, or loss of personal property.

Guests are encouraged to secure valuables and lock their vehicles during their visit.

Liability & Assumption of Risk

Rye Meadow Ranch is a working cattle ranch and agritourism operation. Participation in ranch activities and interaction with livestock involve inherent risks that cannot be eliminated without changing the nature of the experience.

These risks may include, but are not limited to:

  • Unpredictable animal behavior.

  • Bites, kicks, scratches, stepping, rubbing, or sudden movements by livestock.

  • Uneven ground, holes, mud, rocks, roots, and slippery surfaces.

  • Exposure to insects, fire ants, wildlife, and environmental allergens.

  • Exposure to dirt, dust, hay, manure, pollen, and naturally occurring microorganisms.

  • Weather conditions, including heat, humidity, rain, lightning, and wind.

  • Contact with fences, gates, ranch equipment, wheelbarrows, tractors, utility vehicles, and other agricultural infrastructure.

By entering Rye Meadow Ranch and participating in any activity, guests voluntarily assume all risks associated with visiting a working ranch and agree to exercise reasonable care for their own safety and the safety of others.

Parents and guardians are responsible for supervising minors and assume responsibility for their participation.

Failure to follow instructions provided by ranch staff may increase the risk of injury and may result in removal from the property without refund.

Florida Agritourism Warning

WARNING

Under Florida law, an agritourism operator is not liable for injury, death, or damage to, or loss of, a participant in an agritourism activity conducted at this agritourism location if such injury, death, damage, or loss results from the inherent risks of the agritourism activity. Inherent risks of agritourism activities include risks of injury inherent to land, equipment, and animals, as well as the potential for you to act in a negligent manner that may contribute to your injury, death, or damage or loss of property. You are assuming the risk of participating in this agritourism activity.

Pursuant to Section 570.88, Florida Statutes, this warning is posted throughout the property and applies to all visitors and participants.

By booking or participating in activities at Rye Meadow Ranch, guests acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agreed to these policies.

These policies are subject to change without notice and are intended to supplement, and not replace, any waivers, releases, notices, or protections provided by applicable law.