Just America

Holidays & Flights to the USA, Canada & the Bahamas

White Stallion Ranch

Tucson is one of those southern Arizona towns that has blossomed in the desert. Located about two hours south of Phoenix, this is an old city in American terms that draws on Mexican and American influences. The White Stallion is such an establishment, the buildings all have a hacienda look about them. The cottages are spread around the single storey ranch house where guests meet for a pre dinner drink in the friendly bar. The True family who run the place are very much Stars & Stripes folks. Despite its proximity to Tucson (approx. 17 miles), the ranch is cut off from the suburbs by a small range of mountains.

Meals that are served here are generally a self-service buffet style but with the option of a barbeque at least once a week, weather permitting. Breakfast rides take you out into the unique environment of the Saguaro National Forest where you will see familiar cacti of all shapes and sizes - most every plant has a prickle of some sort out in the desert. The scrambled eggs, hash brown and pancakes taste pretty good in the chilly morning air.

Your accommodation is also adobe style, a number of semi-detached casitas or cottages in blocks of four are offered. Some have interconnecting doors for those larger family groups. Others are very much for the single traveller with just a bed and bathroom but always with the desert close to your front door. Around the casitas is a cactus garden with the names of all the spiny succulents just nearby. A petting zoo with emus and pot-bellied pigs will keep the kids happy.

The desert is a pretty harsh place for man and his stock but the riding at White Stallion still offers the opportunity to walk and lope but you will need a reasonable skill in horsemanship, you do not want to be left amongst the cactus beds.

Each week sees the wranglers showing off their skill at the ranch rodeo with roping, steer wrestling and barrel racing. Afterwards relax in the ranch house with a cold beer, wine or soda pop.

The ranch is closed in the summer and opens its doors from October through to May. You may start your stay any day but there is no riding on a Sunday. An early booking is recommended due to the high number of returning guests. Transfers are available from Tucson Airport for stays of more than four days.

• Licensed bar
• Entertainment
• Riding
• Rodeos or Gymkhanas
• Spa, Jacuzzi or hot-tub
• Western dancing
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Guest capacity - 75