Rates Note:

Transfer and Other Charges:

Riding Program:
The ranch is situated on two hundred acres of prime Georgia farmland.  You can horseback ride for hours and not leave the ranch. Whether you want to ride lazily through lush wooded trails or lope across beautiful open meadows, the ranch is big enough to accommodate any of your needs.
Horseback rides are scheduled twice daily, seven days a week. If you’re a beginner, don’t worry – riding lessons are available and horses are personally assigned based on your riding experience and preferences. Riders must be 9 years or older to ride on their own on the open trails.

The relaxed riding program even allows guests the unique opportunity to ride on their own if they desire, but small guided groups are always available. You’ll be encouraged to groom and help tack the horses for a true hands-on and bonding experience. Whether you want to ride lazily across beautiful open pastures, or trot through lush wooded trails, the ranch can accommodate your needs. And if you feel up to the challenge, they offer an optional 9+ mile trail ride at nearby Hard Labor Creek State Park for an additional fee.

Madison area

Seasons
Georgia’s mild climate allows the ranch to operate as a year-round, full-service guest ranch.  This liberty facilitates staffing the ranch with mature, non-temporary, knowledgeable professionals who care about your satisfaction and enjoyment. 

It is usually hot and humid in summer, while winter tends to be mild. Spring and autumn are the ideal times to visit.

Lightweight cotton clothes and rainwear. Warm clothing for evenings in the spring and autumn, during the winter season and in mountain areas.

The common dress is casual; no dress code is in effect for any of the activities.  It is recommended you wear jeans or riding pants for horseback riding and boots are recommended over sneakers.  Don’t forget your swim suit, a hat with a brim, and sunscreen.

Delightful accommodations are available in 14 clean, individual guest rooms throughout the 12,000 sq. ft southern-style mansion. Our rooms are divided into 5 categories; 1-5 with 5 being the highest. The package is designed for you to receive the best available room category available at the time of checking in. If you want to secure a high category - a supplemental charge may apply.

Rooms without DirecTV receive about 40 standard broadcast stations (i.e. CBS, NBC, etc.)

Meals:
Guests rave about the food. Prepared fresh daily by our private cook.  The all-you-can-eat full country breakfast buffet will satisfy the heartiest of appetites. Lunch is served daily as our featured meal where guests are treated to an enormous spread, and of course there's dinner later. Our meals feature a delightful mix of international cuisine as well as American favorites. After dinner enjoy a night of fun and games. Guests have been known to dance, play cards in the game room, relax on one of the outside decks under the stars, or chat with other guests in our unique western saloon type setting. You can also use the ranch's central location as a "home base" to visit some of Georgia's many attractions.

Breakfast - 8 a.m.          Lunch  - 1 p.m.                   Dinner - 6 p.m.

Unlimited soft drinks as well as tea, coffee, fresh lemonade, snacks, fruit and fresh baked desserts are available 24 hrs a day!
Special dietary meals and requirements are also available by request.  Please note:  Smoking is permitted only on outdoors and /or on outdoor decks and patios.

Our newest amenity is an aqua massage bed. This is a very unique and highly specialized machine. A spray bar traveling shoulder to toe shoots heated, pulsating water from your centerline around to your sides. Rest assured - you remain clothed and dry for your privacy and comfort. Our aqua massages are a perfect way to ease those sore muscles from time spent in the saddle or the trip here. It is reported that 10-15 minutes on the aqua bed is therapeutically equivalent to a 60-minute personal massage. Aqua massages are not included in our packages, but are quite reasonable on an a la carte basis.

Other Amenities:

Tack:		Western
Horses:		Paint, Quarter, Appaloosa
Pace:		Moderate with trots and short canters - riding up to 4 hrs a day. 9:15 & 2:15 (up to two hours each, guided or on your own at wrangler's discretion) | Walk | Trot | Canter |
Level:		(2 to 4 out of 5)    Novice+ - Intermediate for self guided
Age:		Min 9 for riding / 3 nr
Weight:		Max 250 lbs
Riders:		Min 2 riders	Max 8 riders (per riding group)	Max Capacity 35

Horses (AQHA & APHA) are assigned based on riders' ability and preferences. 

All riding is done in Western tack and saddles for our program. 
Riders are welcome to bring their own Western or English saddle if the wish, but naturally our bridle and bit must be used. 

You'll be encouraged to groom and help tack the horses for a true hands-on and bonding experience. Whether you want to ride lazily across beautiful open pastures or trot through lush wooded trails, Southern Cross Ranch can accommodate your needs.

Morning ride - 9 a.m.   Afternoon ride - 2 p.m.

Passports

Valid passport required by all nationals referred to in the chart ; validity varies - for most countries the passport must be valid for at least six months from the date on which the holder enters the USA. If not, the holder will be admitted until the expiration date on the passport; check with the embassy (see Contact Addresses).

Passport Note

(a) For nationals included in the Visa Waiver Program (see below), passports must be valid for at least 90 days from date of entry.

(b) All travellers entering the USA under the Visa Waiver Program require individual machine-readable passports. Children included on a parent's passport also now require their own machine-readable passport. Travellers not in possession of machine-readable passports will require a valid USA entry visa.

(c) Passports issued on or after 26 October 2005 will need to have a biometric identifier in order for the holder to travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Machine-readable passports issued between 26 October 2005 and 25 October 2006 require a digital photograph printed on the data page or an integrated chip with information from the data page. Machine-readable passports issued on or after 26 October 2006 will require an integrated chip with information from the data page (e-passport).



The US has announced new measures that require all travellers to provide details online 72 hours prior to travel.

ESTA: The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) came into force on 12 January 2009. It is a fully automated, electronic system for screening passengers before they begin travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. ESTA applications must be submitted at least 72 hours before travel to the USA. Some websites may charge you for the service but you can apply online for free at www.dhs.gov. The granting of an ESTA does not guarantee entry to the USA.

New Requirements for Travellers: As of 23 January 2007 all persons, including US citizens, travelling by air between the USA and Canada, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport, or other approved document, when entering or re-entering the USA. Similar requirements for those travelling by land or sea will be introduced on 1 June 2009.

For further details about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, visit the website of the US Department of State: (website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html).

Visas

Not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days except:

1. nationals of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovak Republic, who do require a visa.

Visa Note

(a) Landed Immigrants of Canada and British residents of Bermuda who are citizens of, and have valid passports from, Commonwealth countries or Ireland are not eligible to enter the USA without a visa. (b) All passengers using US airports for transit purposes are required to obtain a transit visa. This does not affect qualified travellers travelling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program. (d) To qualify for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program, nationals must travel on a valid passport, for holiday, transit or business purposes only and for a stay not exceeding 90 days. (e) Passengers must have the full address and ZIP code of where they are staying in the USA to be able to fully complete the I-94W form. Note: Airlines are also required to collect passenger details, including the address of their first night's accommodation in the USA, before they board the aircraft. (f) 2. Holders of UK passports with the endorsement British Subject, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Protected Person, British Overseas Citizen or British National (Overseas) Citizen do not qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. A passport which states holder has right of abode or indefinite leave to remain in the UK does not qualify for visa free travel. (g) A visa does not expire with the expiry of the holder’s passport. An unexpired, endorsed visa in an expired passport may be presented for entry into the USA, as long as the visa itself has not been cancelled, is undamaged, is less than 10 years old and is presented with a valid non-expired passport, provided that both passports are for the same nationality. (h) Nationals of countries not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Types of Visa and Cost

Tourist, Business, Transit and Student: US$131.

Validity

Visas may be used for travel to the USA until the date it expires. Some visas are valid for multiple entries. The length of stay in the USA is determined by US immigration officials at the time of entry but is generally six months; there is, however, no set time.

Applications to:

Embassy or consulate (see Contact Addresses).

Working Days Required

Usually five after interview. Some cases may take up to 12 weeks – check with embassy/consulate.