Tucson Dude Ranch and Guest Ranches
There are 11 Dude Ranch or Guest Ranch Locations in Tucson AZ
City Slickers was a move based on three guys in search of a new chapter in their lives. Many consider it the ultimate dude ranch movie.
City Slickers put the spotlight on what was once a popular vacation choice – the dude ranch. Today, the term “dude ranch” is now “guest ranch”.
How The Dude Ranch Began
In the late 1880’s, ranchers in the Wild West would provide food and lodging to travelers crossing deserts lands on their was west. It was a common courtesy.
And in many cases the traveler provided the rancher some welcomed company.
As time went on, it became more acceptable for the guests to give some amount of payment to the rancher. In the 1920s and 1930s, cars made travel a whole lot easier. This allowed more people the ability to experience the “old west” by spending a vacation on a dude ranch.
These travelers turned many ranches into destinations for full-fledged vacations. Through this evolution the dude ranch was born.
Today, there are many different types of ranch vacations one can experience on almost every budget and interest. Both the dude ranch and guest ranch can bring back the feel of the old west. Many with a level of comfort and luxury never imagined.
What Is the Difference Between a Dude Ranch and A Guest Ranch?
If you are considering a “ranch” vacation, here are a few things to know when choosing between a dude ranch and a guest ranch.
- A dude ranch is a place where you can experience some of the real life on a working ranch. Guests can learn how to ride and care for horses. Fishing trips, informal rodeos, and family-style meals are common.
- A guest ranch is a place that will offer many other activities that have nothing to do with ranching at all. Guest ranches may have facilities such as pools, tennis courts, hiking trails and yes, horses to ride. In many cases they will be in, or near, an urban area that offers additional “things to do”.
- Dude ranch vacations are typically all-inclusive. The costs include lodging, meals and all ranching activities. At a guest ranch, you may have to pay extra for activities such as riding, hunting or fishing.
- Dude ranch vacations are usually for a minimum of one week. A guest ranch will accommodate shorter stays including just one-night.
Guest ranches are more prominent in Tucson. And let’s be clear, we are not talking bedrolls on rough wood floors and water you pump from a well down the hill. Guest ranches in and around Tucson offer the authentic Southwest without sacrificing things like hot tubs, WiFi, and great big comfy beds. Ok, that could be an oxymoron.
Many move stars, dignitaries and millionaires visit Tucson’s guest ranches. President Kennedy, Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracey, John Wayne and the Vanderbilts have graced Tucson’s guest ranches.
Tucson Dude Ranch And Guest Ranch Locations
There Are 11 Dude Ranch and Guest Ranch Locations in, and nearby, Tucson AZ. These include:
In the immediate Tucson area –
Hacienda del Sol has provided a delightful escape for over 65 years. This beautiful facility sits on thirty-four acres of natural desert landscape with 30 guest rooms. The Casita Grande is reputed to be the secret hideaway of Spencer Tracy and Audrey Hepburn. The Hacienda del Sol is has undergone a renovation and expansion program that added 32 more rooms.
Tanque Verde Guest Ranch is situated on 640 acres in the Rincon Mountain foothills on Tucson’s east side. It borders the Saguaro National Park East and Coronado National Forest. This family owned guest-ranch began as a working cattle ranch in 1868. It became a dude ranch in the 1920s.
White Stallion Ranch is a family owned-and-operated, 42-room guest ranch is also a working cattle ranch located on 3,000 acres on Tucson’s west side, adjacent to Saguaro National Park West in the Tucson Mountains. Guests can watch the Longhorn cattle herd coming in to water and then have cocktails at a bar featuring saddles as bar stools.
Along with Old Tucson, Westerns were filmed on the White Stallion. It also boasts an excellent riding program.
Paniolo Ranch is a destination for guests from around the world. Activities include hiking, cycling, sight-seeing in the breath-taking Sonora desert.
Near Tucson
Apache Spirit Ranch is on the outskirts of Tombstone, about 70 miles southeast of Tucson. It opened in 2010 for high-end travelers with a desire to experience the American Old West. The ranch covers 272 acres, on the site of a long-gone homestead owned by a German immigrant, in Cochise County, homeland of the Chiricahua Apache Indians.
Rancho de la Osa is just 65 miles from Tucson. This 300-year-old property was established as a guest ranch in 1923. Rancho De La Osa’s history has been preserved in the beautiful, hacienda-style buildings that rest in the rolling Sonora Desert grasslands of Southern Arizona
Circle Z Ranch can be found in Patagonia, Arizona, 65 miles south of Tucson and 15 miles north of the Mexico border. The Circle Z opened in 1926. It is considered the oldest continuously operating dude ranch in Arizona. Guests stay in one of the seven Mexican-style adobe cottages on the property.
Triangle T Guest Ranch is in Texas Canyon, in the foothills of the Dragoon Mountains, about 60 miles south of Tucson. This historic guest ranch offers spectacular hill-and-boulder scenery. Amenities include horseback riding, cowboy entertainment, campfire barbecues, hayrides, a saloon and restaurant, and excellent hiking and bird-watching opportunities.
Elkhorn Ranch is found between the scenic Baboquivari Mountains and the spacious Altar Valley about 50 miles southwest of Tucson. Riders of all ages and abilities are welcome.
El Rancho Robles Guest Ranch is located about 30 miles north of Tucson in Oracle, Arizona at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains. El Rancho Robles offers the opportunity to enjoy a romantic wild west holiday with the perfect mixture of adventure and relaxation.
Tombstone Monument Guest Ranch offers delicious ranch cooking, an amazing number of guided activities, the elegance of a Southern Arizona western resort, and a staff dedicated to make your stay something truly special. Your all-inclusive western resort includes three meals per day, accommodations in an authentic guest-house, snacks, guided trail rides, wireless Internet, Jacuzzi and heated pool, entertainment, and guided desert adventures.
World Class Luxury Spas In Tucson AZ
Canyon Ranch is located on Tucson east side. Guests and residents have access to spa services, enrichment classes, exercise classes, cosmetic services, healthy dining, and various resort facilities.[2] Preventative and diagnostic medical services.
Miraval is a wellness luxury spa resort dedicated to inspiring Life in Balance. Miraval’s focus on sustainable living, casita-style guest accommodations and the spectacular Life in Balance.
Conclusion
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