Parker Ranch
Parker Ranch
4.5
Monday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
The Parker Ranch Family Estate (also known as the Historic Homes & Gardens) was home to the Parker family from 1879 to 1992. From these homes the Parker's ran a cattle empire that survives to this day and at its height spanned half of the Big Island. Open Monday through Friday, from 8:00am until 4:00pm for free self-guided tours which includes a 20 minute video on the history of the Ranch.
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4.5
179 reviews
Excellent
89
Very good
58
Average
24
Poor
4
Terrible
4
Anne G
Hilton Head, SC30 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Honestly a bit disappointing. Lovely ranch with old homes but the story is told through old.photos and pictures. We actually learned more about Parker Ranch and the Hawaiian cowboy culture from our tour guide on day two of our trip. Once at the ranch, we watched a lovely video made by the Yeti folks a few years ago but no one spoke to us other than setting up the VCR. I expected a bit more…
Written 31 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pfefmeister
San Francisco, CA4,373 contributions
Feb 2021 • Couples
Evidently, due to COVID, the ranch and museum is closed until further notice. The closet thing to Parker Ranch is the strip mall featuring the Parker Ranch Store. Big letdown. Is it worth it for the ‘scenic’ drive - I say NO.
Written 5 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dil345
Georgetown, TX989 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
This was a nice place to visit, even on a rainy day. The history of the ranch is interesting to learn about. There is a video in one of the smaller buildings that is good to watch. It is worth a visit and does not cost anything.
Written 17 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RFAnderson
San Diego, CA82 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
We got to see some of the north side of the island on the bus ride to the ranch. Informative presentation around a campfire about the cattle ranch history and process. Followed by very good buffet accompanied by husband wife band. Then cattle roping experience, branding and s’mores. Staff was very accommodating and friendly.
Written 16 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rockyisle
The Villages, FL703 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
Great history of the ranching life of the Parker family. Don't miss the video on the family and ranching life. Very interesting.
It's a self guided tour. Nicely laid out, easy to follow. Views from the house are stunning.
It's a self guided tour. Nicely laid out, easy to follow. Views from the house are stunning.
Written 29 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Debbie A
Boston, MA158 contributions
Sept 2022
Had been to Waimea before, but didn't actually stop at the ranch. Self-guided tours are available of the 2 homes from the Parker Ranch Family, though the days they are open are limited as are the times each day. John Palmer Parker, who started the whole operation, was a sailor from New England. You can see his roots in the homes. Honestly one of the best parts was the lady working the check in desk. She had worked at Parker Ranch sincd 1994 (I believe) and she was full of extra information. It was a lovely visit!
Written 14 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FlowersNQuilts
Pendleton, OR229 contributions
Feb 2023
Ranch house on upland grassland with nice artifacts and art. Small house on the property as well. Great video made by Yeti coolers in the main area. Nice bathroom, house doable for folks who are not great walkers.
Written 15 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
denham_10
San Francisco, CA37 contributions
July 2011
Folks,
If you like riding stay away from this company Cowboys of Hawaii and this ride the Historic Tour of the Parker Ranch. If you like a riding with exhausted horses and going out for a ride in a large circle in a line, this ride is perfect for you.
We asked if this ride was suitable for advanced riders and were assured it was. This turned out to be completely untrue. The guides took us on a walk around the Parker Ranch to look at one stone horse pen around an airstrip and then back to the start. Although advertized at 2 hours we completed it in 1.5 hours at a walk. We asked to lope but the poor horses could only manage a few yards.
The ladies that guided us chatted among themselves the whole time about their families and made occasional comment about the ranch. This is advertized as a historic ride, the only thing historic is the customer service, the ride itself and the horses.
After completing the ride we complained immediately both to the guides and to the phone service. The phone service assured us that we would not be billed then billed us anyway. We are now fighting the charge with the credit card company.
Avoid this company at all costs. They do not provide to us the service as advertised.
If you like riding stay away from this company Cowboys of Hawaii and this ride the Historic Tour of the Parker Ranch. If you like a riding with exhausted horses and going out for a ride in a large circle in a line, this ride is perfect for you.
We asked if this ride was suitable for advanced riders and were assured it was. This turned out to be completely untrue. The guides took us on a walk around the Parker Ranch to look at one stone horse pen around an airstrip and then back to the start. Although advertized at 2 hours we completed it in 1.5 hours at a walk. We asked to lope but the poor horses could only manage a few yards.
The ladies that guided us chatted among themselves the whole time about their families and made occasional comment about the ranch. This is advertized as a historic ride, the only thing historic is the customer service, the ride itself and the horses.
After completing the ride we complained immediately both to the guides and to the phone service. The phone service assured us that we would not be billed then billed us anyway. We are now fighting the charge with the credit card company.
Avoid this company at all costs. They do not provide to us the service as advertised.
Written 10 October 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kerrylim
Sun City, AZ15 contributions
We stopped at the Parker Ranch Historic Homes during our last visit to the Big Island. What a delightful surprise!
The opportunity to walk through the original, 100% koa wood home of this remarkable family is a real privilege. In almost any other setting, visitors would have to settle for peeking through windows and standing behind barriers. Here you get to actually touch history.
In the big house, the treasures are almost endless. The experience is enhanced by a lively and thoroughly enjoyable presentation by a docent. We were guided by "Minty" Joekes and while we haven't heard any of the other docents, I am hard pressed to believe they could outshine her knowledge of the family or demonstrate more obvious affection for her subjects.
Rain or shine - don't miss the chance to tour the Parker Ranch Historic Homes.
KH
Oakland, CA
The opportunity to walk through the original, 100% koa wood home of this remarkable family is a real privilege. In almost any other setting, visitors would have to settle for peeking through windows and standing behind barriers. Here you get to actually touch history.
In the big house, the treasures are almost endless. The experience is enhanced by a lively and thoroughly enjoyable presentation by a docent. We were guided by "Minty" Joekes and while we haven't heard any of the other docents, I am hard pressed to believe they could outshine her knowledge of the family or demonstrate more obvious affection for her subjects.
Rain or shine - don't miss the chance to tour the Parker Ranch Historic Homes.
KH
Oakland, CA
Written 27 December 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marie B
W Tisbury7 contributions
Nov 2012 • Solo
I ended up being the only one she took for the 2 hour horseback ride. The day was a misty, rainy day which came and went about every 15 minutes. I still had fun! I felt like a cowgirl riding the range and checking out my herd of horses and cattle. The woman who took me riding (I feel bad I don't know her name) was very nice and knew about the Parker Ranch. Whatever questions I asked her, she knew the answer. I saw a couple of small herds of horses and a small herd of cattle. Expect a lot of rough land that you will be riding up and down it. My horse was calm and gentle and would stop for me to take pictures. If you love horses and riding in the open plain, then this is a great place to go riding. If I come back to the Big Island again, I will definitely go riding there again.
Written 2 December 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lee H
Kent, Washington
We visited the Parker Ranch a few years back and watched the movie telling about ranch facts and history. One of the facts that amazed me was the number of miles of fence line. Please refresh my memory. We look forward to our next visit Thank You Lee Heemink
Written 9 February 2015
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