The morning haze fades away, and the sounds of birds chirping and the breakfast bell is all that can be heard for miles around. It’s a new day at Rancho de la Osa.
Ranch de la Osa is a dude ranch located in Sasabe, Arizona right on the Mexico border.
It is where you come to escape it all, with its intoxicating mix of the rolling desert landscape, pink-brushed sunsets, and coal-dark skies illuminated by thousands of stars.
Keep reading to discover what you can expect while staying at Rancho de la Osa and why you need to add it to your Arizona bucket list!
What to expect when staying at Rancho de la Osa Dude Ranch
Table of Contents
- Where is Rancho de la Osa located?
- The history of Rancho de la Osa
- Accommodations and Amenities at Rancho de la Osa
- Activities offered at Rancho de la Osa
- Exploring the surrounding area
- A few things to note:
Rancho de la Osa is a hidden desert gem. It was listed as the Inn of the Month by Travel & Leisure Magazine and made the list of 54 Great Inns compiled by the National Geographic Traveler Magazine.
Rancho de la Osa is run by Ross and Lynne Knox who do a fabulous job ensuring that each guest feels like family.
It is also one of three dude ranches owned by the True Family.
We have been fortunate to spend time at their White Stallion Ranch and Tombstone Monument Ranch. Each ranch is so unique with so much to offer.
Staying at a dude ranch is an unforgettable experience. The all-inclusive package includes access to daily horseback riding, ranch activities, and three hearty meals a day.
Where is Rancho de la Osa located?
Rancho de la Osa can be found in Southern Arizona about 70 miles south of Tucson.
It is located on the outskirts of the small border town of Sasabe just a few miles north of the Mexico border.
The ranch is discreetly situated adjacent to the sprawling Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge.
The history of Rancho de la Osa
I was completely blown away to learn the rich history of this small ranch tucked into an untouched corner of the state.
Rancho de la Osa is touted to be Arizona’s most historic ranch with roots beginning in the early 1700s as an Indian village.
Jesuit missionaries traveling with Father Kino from Spain built a mission outpost on the property in 1720 that still exists.
Today, the building serves as the Cantina and is considered to be the oldest continuously occupied building in all of Arizona.
You’ll notice that the shape of the building resembles a cross, which was a common construction of missions.
In the late 1800s, the land was purchased by a cattle ranching tycoon who transformed the acreage into a cattle ranch.
He built the Hacienda in 1889 which now serves as the dining hall, office, and lodge.
The land was originally part of Mexico, until the Gadsden Purchase in 1853 when it became part of the United States territory.
However, in 1916 Pancho Villa attempted to reclaim Rancho de la Osa during the Mexican Revolution.
During the raid, a cannonball from the attack was lodged into the stucco wall of the Hacienda and is on display today.
Louisa Wetherill first opened its doors as a guest ranch in 1926. Louisa was a well-respected archaeologist and historian of the Navajo Indians.
She had set out to find a lost Navajo tribe in Southern Arizona. She didn’t find the tribe but instead founded the guest ranch.
In 1985, she was also elected into the Arizona Women’s Hall of Fame.
As a side note, her husband Richard Wetherill is credited with first discovering the expansive Mesa Verde ruins in Colorado.
Richard (“Dick”) Jenkins and his twin sister, Nelli, were also notable owners of the ranch.
Dick was the chairman of the Arizona Democratic Party and would often open the ranch to political leaders.
A few such favored guests were President Lyndon B. and Lady Bird Johnson, Vice President Hubert Humphrey, President Franklin D. and Eleanor Roosevelt, and Supreme court Justice William O. Douglas.
Senator Adlai Stevenson, a two-time presidential candidate, even built a home on the ranch.
An important event in history also occurred at the ranch. After WWII, William Clayton drafted the Marshall Plan in the room that is now known as the “Clayton House”.
The Marshall Plan, also referred to as the European Recovery Program, was an important American initiative that provided critical post-war financial aid to European countries.
In the Hacienda you can view original photos chronicling the history of the ranch and its guests.
These include a framed photo of the Marshall Plan being drafted, a photo of Eleanor Roosevelt riding horses at the ranch, and an autographed photo of President Johnson to Dick Jenkins.
The ranch was also discovered by Hollywood in the 1950s and several movies were filmed here, including the John Wayne western classic, Hondo.
John Wayne was a regular guest at the ranch, along with early movie stars like Joan Crawford, Tom Mix, and Caesar Romero.
Authors Margaret Mitchell and Zane Gray, along with director Victor Fleming were also drawn to the tranquility of the ranch.
It is believed the Margaret Mitchell even wrote portions of “Gone with the Wind” while staying at the ranch.
Rancho de la Osa stands as a living museum with history woven in every detail, painting a romantic picture of simpler times.
Accommodations and Amenities at Rancho de la Osa
The ranch offers 19 guest rooms, many of which have historical significance.
Book a stay in John Wayne’s favorite room, or stay the night in the room where Margaret Mitchell penned chapters of “Gone with the Wind”.
Franklin D. Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor, preferred to book separate rooms so you can have your pick of which to stay in.
Or be treated to President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Presidential Chamber.
The rooms vary in size and bed arrangements to accommodate for the needs of each guest.
Each room is outfitted with a wood-burning fireplace or stove, a heating and air conditioning unit, a hairdryer, Wi-Fi, and even an essential oils diffuser.
We stayed in the Franklin Roosevelt Presidential Suite with a king bed and two twin beds.
Other amenities at the ranch include a heated swimming pool, the self-serve bar at the Cantina, a large dining room and lodge, outdoor patio seating, and a conference room perfect for use during retreats.
The patio is draped with outdoor lights and serves as a beautiful wedding dinner or event venue.
You’ll also notice the large swaying eucalyptus trees that stand out as an oasis against the desert backdrop. We were told that these were planted in hopes of raising koala bears on the ranch. Apparently, they weren’t the right type of eucalyptus trees, but I thought that was a fascinating insight!
Guests are served three delicious meals daily by the talented chef, Chase. And yes, much to the joy of my boys, dessert is served every night.
Meals are served buffet-style then enjoyed family-style around the large wooden dining table in front of the hearth.
Being a smaller ranch, this really gives guests the opportunity to talk and get to know each other.
One of my favorite memories during our stay was eating dinner together in front of a crackling fire while rain poured outside.
By the time we left, we all felt like family and it was sad to say goodbye!
Activities offered at Rancho de la Osa
The all-inclusive package allows access to the daily activities offered at the ranch. The activities vary each day and sign-ups are available at breakfast.
Horseback Riding
Each guest is matched up with the same horse for the duration of their stay.
It is always fun for the boys to feel some ownership of “their” horse and they love to visit them throughout the day in the corrals.
Guests must be 5 years old to ride, and 8 years old to participate in fast rides.
The wranglers are wonderful to help instruct each guest and ensure that they have a safe and comfortable ride.
Each day a longer trail ride lasting about 3 hours and a shorter 1-hour ride are offered. The short rides may also include a fast ride with periodic loping.
There are a variety of trails around the ranch with some leading through the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, along the border wall, or through the nearby wash.
While on the ride, you’ll be surrounded by the vast high desert terrain with tall grass, low-lying brush, prickly pear cactus, and the occasional cholla cactus.
You’ll notice that the iconic Saguaro cactus don’t populate this region as the elevation is too high for them to thrive.
UTV Tours
We had the opportunity to take a UTV tour to the Presumido Ruins and Tohono O’Oodham petroglyphs.
The gravel road leads up and over the pass where you can see the border wall in the distance.
As you make your way down into the valley, you’ll find Saguaro cactus dotting the hillside and desert blooms in the spring.
The trail follows along an abandoned freight line used for transporting goods in the late 1800s and leads to the remains of a historic trading post and homestead.
Portions of the adobe walls still remain as well as the “refrigerator” used to keep food cold.
A short walk down the trail will lead to the petroglyphs carved long ago on the canyon walls.
We also took a fascinating UTV tour to the Mexico border.
The bollard-style fencing runs right through the center of town with Sasabe on the US side and El Sasabe, Sonora on the Mexico side.
The wall continues to traverse along the mountainside for a few miles east and west of the town until coming to an abrupt end.
On our tour, Ross took us to the east end of the fence then up to a lookout point with views stretching over to the towering Baboquivari Peak.
This 7,730-foot mountain peak is a regional landmark. It is a popular place for hiking and was originally known by the natives as a place rich in flint used to make arrowheads.
It is said that “Baboquivari” translates to “the place of the mother lode of flint”.
All along the border wall and scattered throughout the desert, you’ll find water jugs used by the immigrants with a sticker bearing the image of Baboquivari.
It is used as a point of reference for immigrant travel and a symbol of freedom.
Adam, one of the ranch wranglers, also pointed out a carpet shoe that is often found in the desert. These shoes are constructed using carpet as the sole in order to avoid leaving footprints in the dirt.
We then drove to the western end of the fence and stopped along the way to chat with a border patrol agent. It was interesting to hear his perspective and experience.
Just an hour earlier helicopters were circling above, he said the activity is constant.
They use helicopters, drones, horses, and even blimps to monitor the border. The area is heavily patrolled and we always felt safe on the ranch.
We also stopped in the small town of Sasabe.
On the US side, you’ll find a post office, a public K-8 school with an average of 25 students, and a small general store with 2 gas pumps.
Sasabe was once known as a hub for cattle trading and we stopped to explore the old cattle yard and corrals.
The old weigh building still exists with the remains of the once top-of-the-line cattle scale used to weigh the cattle as they came through.
Other UTV tours include driving through the Buenos Aires Wildlife refuge and exploring the remains of the abandoned Garcia Ranch.
Target Shooting
My boys were excited to try their hand at target shooting and felt like real cowboys.
Adam did a wonderful job teaching gun safety and awareness, as well as tips for improving aim.
He had a few .22 long rifles and shotguns to choose from. Ryder preferred the small .22 with less noise and kick-back, but Maddox loved shooting clay pigeons with the 12-gauge shotgun and he had a pretty good aim!
By the end, my boys were comfortable loading the guns and their accuracy improved.
Archery
My boys fell in love with archery when they tried it earlier at Tombstone Monument Ranch, so much so that I bought them each a set for Christmas.
They were thrilled to find out that archery was also offered at Ranch de la Osa.
Once again, Adam did a great job instructing the guests on safety and technique. He had a variety of bows and three targets set up so that multiple guests could shoot at one time.
Fat Tire Electric Bike Tours
Take a guided tour along the desert trails on an electric mountain bike.
These unique bikes have the capability of reaching speeds of 20 miles per hour, or guests can leisurely pedal along.
The bikes are heavy, so for safety reasons children must be 12 years or older to participate on the guided tour.
We will just have to come back when my boys are old enough to ride them!
Other activities at the ranch:
- Guests can have the opportunity to learn how to herd and pen cattle just as it is done on a real working cattle ranch.
- Lunch rides are also offered on occasion. This includes a horse trail ride to a designated area where lunch is served on picnic tables outdoors.
- Evening activities are held throughout the month and may include a cowboy poetry night by the legendary Ross Knox (who currently runs the ranch with his wife, Lynne). People pay good money to hear him perform, so it was such a treat to have our own private show! He truly is talented and left us all laughing and in awe at his clever rhymes. Other evening events include cowboy singing with Joe Bar or campfire songs.
- Croquet is also set up in a designated area in front of the Hacienda. My boys had never played before, so it was fun to teach them something new.
There are also 5 ranch dogs that my boys fell in love with. I think their favorite daily activity was playing with Jiggs and Bravo!
Exploring the surrounding area
Guests are free to explore the surrounding area. A small trail near the corrals leads to a historic cemetery.
Here you’ll find the graves of Louisa and Richard Wetherill, and Dick and Nelli Jenkins.
Several Mexican Federally that served in the Mexican revolution are also buried here, along with peasants in unmarked graves.
Many guests also enjoy taking a day trip to Tubac, a little over an hour northwest of the ranch. This unique town features eclectic shops, art galleries, colorful courtyards, and cheerful cafes.
Arivaca is also a small town nestled on the eastern side of the Buenos Aires Wildlife refuge about a half-hour from the ranch.
Explore nearby hiking trails then grab a bite to eat at the Arivaca Soul Food Restaurant while taking in the panoramic mountain views at this historic 1800s settlement.
The Brown Canyon Hike is located within the Buenos Aires preserve and is a popular 4-mile hike that leads to a natural stone arch.
Hikes are held on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from November-April with a charge of $5 per person. Lynne can assist in making reservations from the ranch office if needed.
Lynne can also recommend other hiking trails in the area or the best spot for stargazing.
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Here are a few more dude ranches that we would recommend:
A few things to note:
- As you are nearing the ranch you will most likely get a notification from your cell phone company that you are entering Mexico. In order to avoid international rates, turn off your roaming. You can also call your carrier to clarify if there is an issue.
- Staying at the ranch truly is an opportunity to unplug and unwind. You won’t find televisions in the room and the wifi is often spotty, so come prepared with books to read and games to play and enjoy escaping the distractions of daily life.
- Be sure to pack sunscreen, SPF chapstick, and a hat. The trail rides are through open terrain with full sun exposure, so be prepared.
- Bring refillable water bottles to take on the rides. Saddle pouches are available if you ask the wrangler.
- Pack long pants and closed-toe shoes for the horse rides. Riding helmets are available upon request.
- If you would like to visit the ranch for a day trip, reservations are available with advance notice for day rides and meals.
- The busy season is November-April with rates decreasing in the summer months. Although the temperatures do get hot in the summer, the ranch lies at a higher elevation so expect temperatures to be between 10-20 degrees cooler than the Phoenix Valley. Visiting during the monsoon season in July/August is also a special treat as the spectacular lightning storms light up the desert night sky.
We truly loved our experience at Rancho de la Osa.
I fell in love with the history and the photogenic sunny pops of color. The activities kept our days full and we hit the pillow each night exhausted and happy.
Lynne and Ross welcome each and every guest with open arms.
Each of the staff members were so friendly and I appreciate that they make the effort to know each of the guests by name. That can’t be an easy feat with so many guests coming and going!
When it was time to say our goodbyes, we were doling out bear hugs and promises to return. And that is a promise I hope to keep.
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[…] *And if you’re interested in staying at other dude ranches in Arizona, check out our guides for Tombstone Monument Ranch and Rancho de la Osa! […]