Cottonwood’s Blazin’ M Ranch Wild West Dinner Theater Town hosted more than 200 visitors for a night of live entertainment, music, activities and an Old West chuckwagon supper Thursday, Sept. 1.
“We do this three nights a week,” Blazin’ M’s co-owner Ryan Glass said.
Glass and his wife Leila have been at the helm of Blazin’ M since 2021 after purchasing the business from long-time owners Lori and Dan Mabery.
“Lori has stayed on as a consultant and books all of our group packages, which has been great,” Glass said. “She’s helped with the transition a lot.”
In addition to operating the ranch, the Glasses both perform in Blazin’ M’s Western Stage Show as “Tex Wesley” and “Dinah.”
The Glasses both have a background in theater and relocated to Arizona to realize their dream of operating a family entertainment center.
“It’s been a blast ever since we bought the place,” Glass said.
New Additions
While Glass said he doesn’t intend on changing the ranch’s original look and offerings, he does plan on adding several elements to eventually grow the business.
A couple of new additions include an Escape Room, which is operated by Cottonwood’s Constant Evolution Escape Rooms, and the Red Garter, an old-timey photo studio where visitors can dress in period clothing and have their photos taken by “Ansel Shutterlens,” a skilled photographer who bears a striking resemblance to the American landscape photographer Ansel Adams.
Other upgrades include a new wedding venue and retreat center, which are still in the early stages of development.
“We’re going to do artist retreats, spiritual retreats, all sorts of good stuff,” Glass said. “[Currently] we do weddings in our Big Barn.”
Glass’s other ambitions include a potential land lease agreement with Dead Horse Ranch State Park to develop additional camping and “glamping” opportunities, as the ranch’s 8.7 acres are surrounded by 90 acres of state park land with multiple Verde River access points.
“We want to respect the outdoors and nature but also Dead Horse Ranch State Park,” he said.
Meanwhile, Glass is working on building out a smaller glamping operation at Blazin’ M, where visitors will have the opportunity to experience the outdoors while staying overnight in decked-out covered wagons.
“[The wagons] actually have bathrooms and showers inside,” he said. “There are two Queen beds, power hook-ups, USB ports and air-conditioning. We’re also going to put in a few dry-camping RV spots and little circles of teepees and wagons.”
Western Stage Show
Blazin’ M currently has about 25 employees, including management, who perform a variety of duties including organizing and operating activities, serving dinner and in some cases, performing in the stage show.
The Glasses’ son, Nico, aka “Carl,” is following in his parent’s footsteps with his own performative “Legendary and Most Un-Famous” tractor tours around the ranch.
On show nights, the ranch opens its gates 5 p.m., then visitors have approximately an hour and a half of free time to enjoy a variety of activities such as mechanical bull riding and axe throwing at the ranch’s Frontier Town, before the dinner bell is rung at 6:30, sharp.
Dinner is served in the Big Barn, where guests are seated 12 to a table. The close seating arrangements encourage visitors to chat and get to know one another before the stage show, which begins at 7:30.
The stage show runs just over an hour, and features music from the Blazin’ M Ramblers band, led by multi-instrumentalist Eric “Wildman” Williams.
Williams and his bandmates interact with a cast of colorful characters such as “Hoppy Cumberbund,” portrayed by actor Rob White, and his love interest “Fancy,” portrayed by actress and singer Charleah Allen.
Songs include a variety of country, Western and blues classics ranging from Dolly Parton’s “9-to-5” to Patsy Cline’s “Crazy” to Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again” and Muddy Waters’ “I Just Can’t Be Satisfied.”
Throughout the show, the audience is encouraged to clap and sing-along as the characters attempt to drown their sorrows in “Tennessee Whiskey,” find new inspiration in the “Cowboy Code of Ethics” and come to terms with the modern-day frustrations of Facebook gossip.
There is truly something for everyone as visitors of all ages can be seen laughing and cheering throughout the performance.
On the way out, visitors are offered one last chance to purchase souvenirs as the entire Blazin’ M staff, including the Glasses, wish everyone a good night and safe trip home.
Few places in the Verde Valley match the Blazin’ M’s level of genuine hospitality and unique offerings; the ranch is truly a must-see for locals and visitors alike.
More information about Blazin’ M can be found at blazinm.com
