Tombstone Monument Ranch: The Ultimate Southwest Family Vacation

When you think of the Southwest, there truly is nothing that embraces the history and culture quite like a dude ranch stay at Tombstone Monument Ranch in Arizona.

The ranch is located only a few miles from the infamous town of Tombstone, a town rich in history and scandal.

You’ll find yourself riding horses along the same dusty trails that were frequented by miners hoping to strike it rich, Indians protecting their territory, and outlaws hoping to escape.

A stay at Tombstone Monument Ranch truly is one of the best family vacations in the Southwest!

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*Updated August 2023

What It’s Like to Stay at Tombstone Monument Ranch

Table of Contents

• A brief history of Tombstone Monument Ranch
• Things to do near Tombstone Monument Ranch
• Accommodations at Tombstone Monument Ranch
• Amenities at Tombstone Monument Ranch
• Activities at Tombstone Monument Ranch
• The best time to visit Tombstone Monument Ranch
  • Other dude ranches you might be interested in:
• What to bring during your visit:

A brief history of Tombstone Monument Ranch

The ranch had humble beginnings as a small cattle ranch that was homesteaded by the Trappman’s in 1880.

In the bar area, you can still view the original root cellar from the Trappman homestead. They also used the underground tunnel to escape Indian attacks.

Other interesting artifacts can be found around the ranch, including the remains of an original 1880s adobe wall and a hand-dug well. The kids also thought the Apache huts were a cool discovery.

The Dragoon Mountains can be seen to the east of the ranch. This is where the famous Apache Chief, Cochise, kept his stronghold.

Another famous landmark in the area is Ed Schieffelen’s monument. Schieffelen is the founder of Tombstone and the first prospector to find silver in the area.

When others learned that he was coming to this area to seek riches, they told him “The only stones you’ll find will be your tombstone”. Which is how the name ‘Tombstone’ came to be.

After his death, his brother commissioned a monument to be erected at the site where he hid from the Apaches.

He is laid to rest under the monument, which is a large-scale version of the pile of rocks prospectors would use to stake their claim.

During your stay, you’ll have the opportunity to visit his grave and monument located .5 miles from the ranch on a horse or ATV ride.

Other sites that can be reached by horse or an ATV tour include petroglyphs, an old miner’s camp and the remains of the old railroad trestle.

Things to do near Tombstone Monument Ranch

While staying at the ranch, you’ll want to spend time in the town of Tombstone less than 3 miles away.

Here, you’ll have the chance to watch a re-enactment of the gunfight at OK Corral.

You’ll also be able to walk the same streets and visit some of the same saloons that were frequented by the Wild West’s most notorious outlaws and most renowned heroes.

For more details and recommendations, be sure to check our guide, The Best Things to Do in Tombstone.

If you have time, I would also recommend taking a few hours to explore the nearby town of Bisbee. It was once a booming mine town, but today it has become a hub for artists, hippies, and free spirits.

It is located about 40 minutes from the ranch and not many tourists make it to this remote living ghost town. Check our guide for the Best Things to do in Bisbee for recommendations.

Accommodations at Tombstone Monument Ranch

You’ll find that Tombstone Monument Ranch is a replica of the real town of Tombstone.

You’ll walk along the boardwalk past buildings such as the jail, grand hotel, courthouse, and newspaper printing shop.

All of which are actually the guest rooms. Each room is unique and is decorated to reflect the style of the era.

The vintage rooms are clean and well kept with comfortable beds and modern conveniences.

We stayed in Doc Holiday’s dentist office and the boys thought it was the coolest thing ever.

Our room was outfitted with a king and queen bed, as well as a dining area with a fridge and coffee maker.

The highlight was the back porch with rocking chairs overlooking the Dragoon Mountains. You could find us there every evening watching the summer monsoons rolling in.

Amenities at Tombstone Monument Ranch

The ranch may have the feel of an old mining town, but it doesn’t lack in modern conveniences. Such as a swimming pool.

The kids loved cooling off in the pool during the day and soaking in the hot tub under the stars at night.

The swimming pool is located adjacent to the saloon where you can order a soda or Wyatt Earp’s favorite drink from the bar. You’ll also find a pool table and couches to relax and unwind.

The dining hall is found in the back of the saloon. The all-inclusive ranch serves up three hearty meals a day.

They serve a buffet-style breakfast and lunch, and a three-course plated dinner.

The food was delicious, we always walked away with our belts loosened a notch. The decadent desserts were, of course, the crowd favorite.

If you’re staying on a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday you’ll be spoiled with some cowboy grub at a chuckwagon breakfast.

You can find the daily dinner menu posted outside the dining hall. If you have special dietary needs, let them know and they will be more than happy to accommodate.

And if you ask nicely, they’ll even let you ring the dinner bell!

Wi-fi is available, as well as cable TV in each of the rooms. There is also a guest lounge stocked with games, books, a computer, printer, and a small gift shop.

There are also a few outdoor game areas around the ranch, like a cornhole toss and a horseshoe pit. Picnic areas and fire pits are also scattered throughout the ranch.

A large red barn is also located on the property that can be reserved for weddings or events. Below you’ll find a map of the ranch:

Activities at Tombstone Monument Ranch

One thing we love about staying at a dude ranch is the wide variety of activities that are available at no extra cost.

Horse riding is always the top favorite activity. Each day you’ll have the opportunity to sign up for slow and fast trail rides.

The minimum age is 5 years old to ride a horse. The minimum age is 8 years old to participate in a fast ride. Everyone who would like to go on a fast ride must pass a basic riding test first, regardless of age.

There are a variety of trail rides available. Such as historical rides to explore mines, or long rides into the town of Tombstone.

Sign-ups are available at the front desk and must be filled in before 9 pm the night before.

We love that you are assigned a horse for the duration of your stay. The boys looked forward to visiting “their” horse each evening at the corral.

They were also excited to find that boots are available for use during your stay. There is a stash of cowboy boots and hats available at the old corral if you can find your size. Riding helmets can also be found here.

My youngest had just turned 8 and was excited to go on a fast ride for the first time. After attempting his fast riding test, LJ (the wrangler) could tell that he wasn’t quite ready.

She was confident that with a private lesson he would be able to attain the skills and confidence needed.

We booked a lesson and were amazed at how much he learned. Private lessons are available for $20 and I would highly recommend it for beginner riders.

Not only was he able to participate in the fast rides, but he also loved being a part of the team penning and barrel racing.

Team penning is available for all guests and the boys loved working together to herd cattle into the pen.

Barrel racing is also available upon request for an additional charge. I was amazed to see what my boys were capable of doing with the horses. I loved seeing their confidence and smiles grow!

LJ did a phenomenal job working with them. In fact, we were so impressed with all of the staff.

Everyone is so kind, welcoming, and helpful. By the end of our stay, we were sad to say our good-byes and we promised to return.

Archery was the second favorite activity for my boys. They loved improving their skills on both the traditional bow and composite bow.

Jeff was a very patient teacher and by the end, they were pretty accurate with the targets and zombie dummy.

A bow and arrow are now at the top of their Christmas wishlist.

The BB guns were also a hit. Literally. They loved testing their skills and accuracy while channeling their inner cowboy.

ATV tours are also available at an additional cost and this was definitely a highlight for all of us! It was such a blast as Michelle sped up hillsides and bumped along rocky ravines.

We rode through the wash lined with ribbons of green shrubbery and towering cottonwoods rustling in the breeze.

Then we headed up through the vast desert dotted with sagebrush and cholla cactus.

We discovered an old mining camp and petroglyphs as she shared insights into the history of the area.

We saw some wildlife and watched as the rain clouds rolled across the sky. It was such a fun and memorable experience!

While you’re there, check the calendar for the ‘special of the day’. Often times other tours are available at an additional cost, like an Indian experience in the Dragoon Mountains.

We didn’t make the tour, but we talked to other guests who went and they loved it. They met with an Indian guide who shared fascinating stories as they toured different historic sites.

Activities are also held at the ranch each evening, such as live music or card games.

Our favorite was the night Wyatt Earp came for a visit to teach us how to play Texas Hold ’em.

He was not only a great teacher but also very entertaining. He had us laughing throughout the night and kept my boys captivated for THREE HOURS!

I finally had to drag them away from the table at 10 pm for bedtime!

I’ve never gambled before, but thoroughly enjoyed the evening as well. I even won the last all-in round with a full house. Just sayin’. Don’t worry, real money is not involved.

The best time to visit Tombstone Monument Ranch

I’ll be honest, I was a little nervous to visit the ranch during an Arizona July.

However, I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was about 10-20 degrees cooler than the Phoenix Valley.

The ranch sits at a little higher elevation so while the Valley had highs in the 100’s, some days we only got to the upper 80’s.

Don’t get me wrong, it was still hot, but it was much more bearable than I had anticipated.

During the peak heat of the day, we would cool off in the pool or play games and watch movies in our air-conditioned room.

We also loved visiting in July because it is the start of the monsoon season. If you’ve never experienced an Arizona monsoon, you’re in for a treat!

Monsoon season is my favorite time of year as Mother Nature puts on a spectacular show. And there is no better place to experience the show than the wide-open spaces on the ranch.

In the evenings the storm clouds would roll in, producing the most vibrant sunset.

The clap of thunder would echo throughout the night, and the crack of lightning would illuminate the sky.

And there is nothing more soothing than falling asleep to the sound of rain pelting on the windows.

It is absolute heaven and the rain also helps cool down the sweltering heat.

Another bonus of visiting in July is that summer is the off-season so the rates are lower and the crowds are much smaller.

For most of our rides, we were the only ones signed up. It was nice getting that personal one-on-one instruction and time with the wrangler.

We got a chance to really get to know LJ, she was so great!

Their busy season begins around Thanksgiving and continues through the holidays into the spring. You’ll find the best weather during fall and spring.

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Other dude ranches you might be interested in:

• Tombstone Monument Ranch
• Rancho de la Osa
• OTO Dude Ranch

What to bring during your visit:

• Sunscreen and SPF chapstick is a must. You’ll be outside the majority of the day so be sure to lather up.
• I would recommend bringing a hat to shield your head and face during the rides. I didn’t wear one for one of the days and my head got sunburned right along the part in my hair. Of course, my boys loved wearing their cowboy hats like real cowboys.
• We love unwinding with some card games, board games, and books in the evenings. They do have games and books you can borrow, but I also packed some of our favorites.
• It’s important to stay hydrated, especially in the summer so be sure to bring plenty of water. The rooms have refrigerators to keep the water cold. There is also a water dispenser in the dining hall.
• I brought a backpack to carry water, sunscreen, snacks, and my camera so that I didn’t have to keep going back to our room.
• The meals are very filling, but with young kids I would recommend bringing snacks in case they get hungry between meals.
• There are several fire rings throughout the ranch. Bring s’mores ingredients and roasting sticks for a fun evening around the campfire.
• Pack goggles and arm floaties for the pool, if needed.

We absolutely loved our stay at Tombstone Monument Ranch. Our days were filled with outdoor adventures and our evenings were filled with warm baths, card games, and rocking on the porch while watching the sunset.

The boys were exhausted and happy each night as I tucked them in. It was such a memorable experience and one that we will be talking about for years to come!

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