I began this post with lament on the eve of our last night at the Ranch. As our week of organized chill drew to a close, I began to reminisce on the amazing experience which was our past 7 days. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Tucson Mountains and Saguaro National Park, White Stallion Ranch is an amazing dichotomy of a place, offering as much or as little as you might want in terms of activity on your vacation. I would say that I couple it to an all-inclusive in Mexico or the Caribbean, maybe without the endless pool party and tequila, however, White Stallion is……just notably superior. *However, as an aside, the Ranch does offer a pretty sweet pool and a full bar, operating on the honor system, stocked with beer, wine, liquor and their pre-made regular and prickly pear margaritas (I highly recommend!).*
The WOW factor of this Ranch resort is- by far- the exceptional service. If there was something that they didn’t offer, the True family and their extraordinary staff would make every attempt to accommodate. Their personal touch goes beyond ensuring that guests are delighted and comfortable. The personal “story” attached to the Ranch is what I found amazing and this is shared in your encounters with the family, at social hour, mealtime or during the family-run rodeo.
*Don’t take my word for it. White Stallion Ranch is nationally recognized for its exemplary service, the recipient of numerous awards, and has been listed prominently on many “Best Of” lists and rankings.*
Back to the activities and overall feel of the place…..As I type this, I am focused on the fact that my arms are quite sore on account of the pairing of rock climbing, swimming and a round of Top Golf (also relatively close to the resort) over the course of a 6 hour period. Other, more extreme, activities on offer include shooting with numerous cool guns of differing calibers, archery, UTV rides and e-Biking, just to name a few. These are just the non-riding related activities which is part of what makes this ranch so equally appealing to those who ride and those who would rather not. For the riders in your group, there are a variety of slow and fast riding options, some that were, in my opinion, far more interesting then your standard trail or flat ride (which they, of course, also offer). We participated in cattle sorting and team penning which we felt were true “dude ranch” experiences involving cattle. Super exciting stuff.
All of these activities are set against the backdrop of a beautiful, exceptionally run resort operation with all of the creature comforts of home and amenities that you might expect in a high-end offering. Well-appointed rooms are flanked by a beautiful pool, hot tub, spa offering massage and facials, fitness center, secluded adults-only serenity area, lit tennis and basketball courts, game room, theater, playground, and a petting zoo. Given the variety of activities and expanse of the resort and surrounding mountains- over 3,000 acres, there really is something for everyone to be taken at any pace.
Given its proximity to Tucson, we were able to fit a few side trips into our day’s Ranch activities. The Pima Air and Space Museum is approx. 20 min away by car. For a more considerable detour, both Tombstone and Bisbee– both old west boomtowns- are accessible within a 2 hour drive. I would highly suggest a day tour if time allows, or perhaps consider tacking on a few days, using Tombstone as your base of operations before or after your stay at White Stallion Ranch. The True family owns a property in Tombstone, the Tombstone Monument Ranch, which operates in a similar fashion to White Stallion. I can’t comment specifically on that offering as I have not yet had the opportunity to stay there…….but I’ll be back in December to do just that.
To provide the full picture, I have included my family’s schedule for the week:
Sunday | Arrival and a rest day for the horses. We chose cocktails and leisure by the pool until: 6:00 PM- Social Hour 7:00 PM- Dinner (Bacon Wrapped Chicken Skewers and ??) |
Monday | 7:30 AM- Breakfast 8:30 AM- Shooting .22 caliber 10:30 AM- Cattle Sorting 12:30 PM- Lunch (Turkey Sandwiches or Spaghetti Marinara) 6:00 PM- Social Hour 7:00 PM- Dinner (Meatloaf or Baked Chicken) |
Tuesday | 6:30 AM- Rock Climbing 8:00 AM- Breakfast 8:30 AM- Shooting Black Powder Rifles 10:30 AM- Shooting .45 caliber 12:30 PM- Lunch (??) 2:00 PM- Leatherworking 4:30 PM- Team Penning 6:00 PM- Prickly Pear Margarita Wagon Ride 7:00 PM- Dinner (Chicken Parmesan or Pork Loin) 8:00 PM- Gunslinger and Roping Show |
Wednesday | 8:00 AM- Breakfast 10:30 AM- Fast Ride (1/4 of Us); Pool Time (1/4 of Us), Rouxxnd of Golf at local course (1/2 of Us) 12:30 PM- Lunch (Chicken Caesar Salads or Pizza) 1:30- Side trip to Pima Air and Space Museum 4:30 PM Rodeo 6:00 PM- Social Hour 7:00 PM- Dinner (Chicken Enchiladas, Tamales, Bean and Cheese Burritos, Fajitas) 8:00 PM- Desert Critters Show |
Thursday | 6:30 AM- Rock Climbing 8:30 AM- Breakfast Side Day Trip to Tombstone** Dinner with family in Tucson (however the dinner offering this evening was Steak) |
Friday | 8:00 AM- Breakfast 10:30 AM- Fast Flat Ride (1/4 of Us); side trip to Top Golf (3/4 of Us) 12:30 PM- Lunch (Reubens or Grilled Chicken Sandwiches) 2:30 PM- Pool Time 4:30 PM- Fast Mountain Ride (1/2 of Us); UTV Tour (1/2 of Us) 6:00 PM- Social Hour 7:00 PM- Dinner (BBQ Chicken or BBQ Ribs) |
Saturday | 6:30 AM- Rock Climbing 8:00 AM- Breakfast 10:15 AM- Checkout/Departure |
Notes on the above: · I’ve only listed main courses on the meal notations. I assure you that these all come with fixins and dessert. · Although the schedule above doesn’t represent it, we could have ridden twice daily if we wanted. With only one true horse rider in our group, we wanted to experience all of the other activities as well. Slow and fast ride options were offered at those twice daily time slots. An aside here is that many additional ride options (and additional time slots for all activities) are offered in season. We visited in the low season. **Tombstone- Possible Day Trip Sights to See (links below): · OK Corral– there is a museum and gun show reenactment here as well · Tombstone Courthouse and Museum · Drink Tombstone Sarsaparilla Root Beer · Eat at The Longhorn or the OK Cafe or one of the MANY cool saloons (most were sadly closed due to COVD restrictions when we were there including the coolest Crystal Palace Saloon) | |
Beyond the setting, service, activities and amenities, we need to talk about the food. Oh my, the food. Offering three square meals a day, the food can be described as high-end comfort food. Think hearty portions of beloved favorites such as BBQ Chicken, Meatloaf, Brisket, Ribs, Steak, etc… served with varying sides and salad, each better then the next. Breakfast was a solid offering of eggs (cooked your way), buttermilk or blueberry pancakes, French toast, bacon, sausage, toast and a daily special. Lunch was hearty fare such as burgers, hot dogs, pasta, salad, chicken sandwiches and the like. With COVID, what once were buffet meals are now plated and served, with guests picking their desired dishes and sides. And then there is the dessert- which you should absolutely save room for since a different item is presented each evening and there are a variety of cookies offered every day at lunch (and like Pringles you can’t have just one). I really just can’t say enough about the food- fresh, hearty and plentiful. Bring your loose jeans and belt with extra notches or plan to do some laps in the magnificent pool……
Regardless of your specific itinerary or the activities chosen to fill your active or relaxing holiday, rest assured that you will leave this place feeling as if you were a part of it…..and with a longing to return.
I thank the True family and their amazing staff for giving us a wonderful Ranch experience. You all are exceptional and show passion and purpose for what you do. Thanks again and see you in December.
Detailed pics of our specific accommodation within WSR, The Hacienda, can be found on my Trip Advisor post at atlsuburbanite.