European catalog features Oklahoma ranches

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Europe's largest ranch tour operator is featuring Oklahoma in its annual catalog for the first time. <br><br>Ranch America, whose spring catalog was distributed to more than 40,000

Wednesday, December 11th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Europe's largest ranch tour operator is featuring Oklahoma in its annual catalog for the first time.

Ranch America, whose spring catalog was distributed to more than 40,000 tour operators, already has made one European an Oklahoma tourist.

A British woman spent one week in November at the Hitching Post Bed and Breakfast and working ranch near Kenton. Guests at the ranch can horseback ride, help herd and brand cattle, and mend fences.

It was the woman's first visit to the United States.

In fiscal year 2002, more than 21,000 international visitors signed guest books at Oklahoma welcome centers. About 7,000 of those were from Europe.

Germany, England and France were among the top ten countries represented.

Five more Oklahoma ranches are highlighted in the British publication: Cedar Canyon Lodge and working ranch near Freedom, Coyote Hills Ranch near Cheyenne, Double J Ranch near Shawnee, Ellington Ranch near Seiling and Island Guest Ranch near Ames.