Tanque Verde Ranch

Wow. 5 stars was an easy call, but please read on because there are some things I wish I knew! I called the trip a cowgirls dream in the title but I do think the place has a plethora of non-horse activities. The food- incredible (think juicy steaks, lobster bisque with chunks of lobster, carvings stations, the works). Beds comfortable. Didn’t spend much time in the room because who would with all their great activities? The main thing is the lope check. I am a very experienced rider (age 5 to 39). My mom and sister own and ride horses at her house. We all 3 failed the lope check. After I took a lesson (not private, a group included lesson) and told Lia (the most amazing wrangler!) that it was my goal to pass the lope check, she got me there!! But when I go back, I will probably book a private lesson from 7-8am (the only time they do privates) on the first day with Lia (Walker and Sage were also great, and you gotta love the old time cowboys, Joe and Curly). And then the lope check if right after that (offered at 8 or 1:30pm). So that’s my new plan. I hope you go to Tanque Verde. It is magical. Riding through the 45 foot tall cacti, I felt like everything was surreal and I was on a movie set or something. I cannot wait to go back. Also, I was impressed with all the staff, including the front office who was regularly making sure we got into any activities we wanted, and were all-around happy with our stay. The answer is YES!!! My nieces and nephews loved all the kids activities. Brother loved rock climbing. The Cowboy Cookout BBQ has live music and is boatloads of fun. You’re going to make lifetime memories here. Enjoy!

My grandparents came to this dude ranch annually in the 60’s and early 70’s. Growing up, we had an old black-and-white photo of them on horseback in front of huge cacti on our mantle. Ive always been curious about the place and wanted to check the place out for myself with my family for “spring break”. Our expectations were sky high and i was afraid this trip would be a letdown, but it was quite the opposite. It was the best family experience i could ever have imagined— a dream come true. The ranch is so special and its history is so unique— you can imagine exactly what it would have been like to visit back 100 or 200 years ago. It definitely has that wild west vibe with cacti and dust and old historic structures, lodges, dining areas, and a cool, old bar, the dog house— set in front of a dramatic backdrop of saguaro cacti and mountains. It’s perfect! Exactly what I imagined a dude ranch to be. Our twins (age 5) attended the kids camp daily and LOVED it! They did every activity imaginable from horseback riding to tennis, fishing, swimming, and making crafts and slime. They even had a kids playground. While at the ranch, we did the breakfast ride, which was amazing and the breakfast was delicious with homemade pancakes, bacon, and fruit. It was set up on picnic tables with red tablecloths at a dilapidated homestead surrounded by mountains and saguaro cacti— perfect!! We did the cowboy cookout twice, which was fun and delicious! A band played and it was set out in an open field with wild hogs roaming around.The kids were able to run around with their new friends from camp and we had friends from tucson join us one night. The drinks were delicious and the food spread even better. We are the rest of our meals in the dining hall, which was perfect. Every meal was wonderful and the prices totally reasonable. There was always a great selection of food for the kids. It was so easy to walk to breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The staff was great and so friendly, including, the wait staff, camp counselors, front desk, wranglers and hiking guides. We enjoyed horseback riding, hiking, and my husband ride his mountain bike daily— all from our doorstep. We hit the large pool every afternoon, which the kids loved. The place is a true gem and there are few places that exist like Tanque Verde Ranch these days! We made so many memories and we definitely be back next year— and hopefully one day, our family will have a plaque on the dinner table as one of the families coming for decades. Thank you Tanque Verde for an incredible 7 nights!

Great escape in the Sonoran Desert for travelers and families looking for a true western experience. Great dude ranch experience with many other fun activities like hiking, mountain biking, nature walks and more. Wranglers are first class with focus on fun, horsemanship and safety. Staff, food and accommodations are first class.

The ranch staff was so nice and friendly, starting with our shuttle van driver from the airport! While the ranch had all-time highs of heat, it was still a great time, thank goodness for AC! Mom and son trip for us and we were first timers - book your activities early!

We stayed for a week with our kids and grand kids (6 - 13) and loved the whole experience. Everyone to the person had a great time and enjoyed the ranch a ton. The grounds are expansive, with incredible views of the mountains, and adjacent to state and federal lands. Rooms were spacious with nice patios and good views. We stayed on an all inclusive package and felt it to be a good value. There are a wide range of activities and lots to do. The younger kids loved the kids program. Adults loved the activities too and a few late afternoons on the patio at the Dog House saloon. The staff was super friendly and service was really good. The food was terrific and the Cowboy Cookout is a great time. This was our second visit and we plan to return.