We have been to Tanque Verde twice, and absolutely loved it both times. The staff are so friendly…read moreand welcoming, and most of them have been there a very long time. There are a wide assortment of rooms. Last time we had a nice Casita. This time we were in a smaller room, but it still had a wood-burning fireplace, which was so cozy on chilling evenings, The property is beautiful, the trail rides are wonderful and the desert landscape is stunning. It is such a treat to be around and ride the horses. We also went on great walks, hikes. They also have tons of activities I'd like to try next time, like pickleball, tennis, archery, fishing, etc. The pool area and Jacuzzi is so relaxing and beautiful. My husband loved the saloon, and it was a fun watering hole for happy hour. I was doing Dry January, and the bartender made me a tasty mocktail, and we met some nice people. The food was very good. We were there for Friday prime rib night, which was awesome, and loved the salad and soup bar. Looking forward to our next trip and hope to bring more family or friends next time!

This review is for Tanque Verde Guest Ranch, where I stayed for a local art retreat…read more Upon Arrival: The two front desk clerks were busy when I arrived, so Valorie who works up front offered to assist me. My room request was accommodated which I appreciated. Valorie gave me several documents to be aware of, including the list of events at the Ranch, costs and requirements. While I was going to be involved in the art retreat all day during my stay, to know these options existed was great and perhaps if I return I would take advantage of them. Be sure to get a map of the property so you can find your room and know where to park if you have a car! While buildings are marked, there are twists and turns on the roads into the property and within the property, so it is helpful to have a map you can use throughout your stay. Guest Room: Was clean upon arrival. There was an extra blanket in the closet which I appreciated since it got down to the 40's at night during my stay. The water in the shower came out nice and hot! There is a coffee pot with regular and decaf coffee stocked each day, iron and ironing board, a small mini fridge for beverages, a safe in the clothes closet, but no microwave. Therefore, for those of you who have gotten used to a microwave in the room, be aware the Ranch does not supply one, but there was coffee, hot water and tea in the restaurant building which you can access along with granola bars and fresh fruit. There was a fireplace in my room, but there was not any wood in the fireplace nor outside the room door. Because the fireplace was around the corner from the bedroom, I did not call the front desk to inquire about having a fire started or wood delivered because I prefer to have eyeballs on fire at all times and a fire would not have been in my sight had I gone to bed while it was still smoldering. Food: Considering the kitchen staff was serving a large number of people at the art retreat at the same time, they did a good job of getting the food out on time, items kept up with being supplied, and having the guests beverages brought to tables timely. Issue: There was a barbecue on Wednesday night which was a great idea with music and large pit fires going to keep us warm because it was chilly outside. But the outdoor temperature made it hard to keep the food warm and by the time we went through the food line and sat down at one of the picnic tables, the food was cold so we passed on this meal after realizing the food temperature issue (chicken, beef, ribs, mac and cheese, and beans). Grounds: There was a fairly decent rain storm a day prior to the Retreat arrival, which resulted in the horse barns, stable areas, and the cattle areas were soaked and muddy. This meant the manure was also being trampled into the mud. Therefore, the smell of manure permeated the Ranch until everything had a chance to dry out by the end of the week. The Ranch hands used machinery to pile up the waste to try to get it out from underneath the animals, but the smell was what it was due to the circumstances. I only bring it up to say, if you don't mind this odor or if you are going to be at the Ranch when rain is not in the forecast, this won't be an issue. But, it is a "Ranch" so some things mixed with mother nature, cannot be avoided! Overall, I found the grounds to be quiet. I heard the guests next to me coming and going when they slammed their room door, but otherwise, it was quiet, which I very much appreciated, since I went there for a personal art Retreat. Staff: The staff at the Ranch were all very pleasant and tried to make people happy. There are golf carts to get people where they are going, or for those who do not want to walk on the uneven surface or prefer not to walk for any reason. Staff tried to make the stay enjoyable. Memorable Issue: There was a power outage during our stay at 8:00 PM. Our group was in The Barn when this happened. Staff said this has never happened before. We were instructed to head to reception so we could be directed accordingly (guest rooms needing a fire for heat as an example). By the time we got to reception flash lights and lanterns for light were all distributed because there was a large group on-site. Therefore, one of the staff walked me back to my room with their cell phone light. When we got to my room I told him my phone flash light only had about 26% life remaining on it. A staff member came with a flash light about an hour later. I believe the Ranch would benefit from a disaster kit which is kept on-site with at least one flashlight per room (among other items) that can be distributed to guests. The electric came back on about 1:00 am, but it was a cold dark night with no heat with the outside temperature in the 40's that night in the dark. This brought my overall rating down to four stars as a result. Overall: This would be a great family vacation or to stay at if you love dude ranches and horses!

Fantastic experience Superior wranglers…read moreDelicious food friendly service Wonderful to see owners socialize with guests Will return!!

one of the nicest experiences i've ever had. came here for my birthday trip and it was truly…read moreamazing! food was spectacular, service and hospitality was amazing, and scenery was so beautiful!

My husband and I (late 60's early 70's) had a good time on the trail ride. The horses appeared…read morehappy and healthy, all the staff were very friendly and helpful from the initial reservation call to when we disembarked the horses. They narrated some of the highlights of what we were seeing during the ride and that was enjoyable.

This place checks all the boxes. Authentic experience, beautiful and I mean stunningly beautiful…read moresurroundings next to the Saguaro National Monument, East next to a wash with views of the mountains. The ride through the monument isn't too long or too short, just right. Definitely check this place out!

Tucson Mountain Stables is tucked away behind White Stallion Ranch. Booking was super easy. I…read moreplaced a phone call, spoke to Bob, and made the reservation. He was quite friendly and provided specific directions to the location. Google Maps will get you there. Signage is minimal so drive slowly so you don't miss the entrance. Upon arrival, we checked in and were paired with a horse. I had the pleasure of riding Gunsmoke. After a brief tutorial (left, right, stop, and go), we were ready to ride off into the sunset. Parts of the terrain were a bit rocky, which was a little intimidating, but Gunsmoke was able to navigate without any difficulty. Our guide was friendly and attentive. Definitely add TMS to your activity list if you're ever in the area! Our guide was super friendly and attentive.

An amazing experience was had…read more This is located near the dude ranch. Reservations are a must. We reserved for the sunset ride. We were quickly given an easy 1-2-3 of steering and handling the horse. I had the pleasure of riding atop of Romeo. The staff were pretty reserved and friendly. The ride was about 1.5 hours long thru a desert path. It was amazing to see the horses navigate in incline and descent rocky terrain. They would halt or slow down walking until they got good footing. Depending on the weather bringing sun shades, water, mask for dusk, proper attire would be recommended. However, I was not fully prepared. With that being said I still was ok without and had an amazing time anyway.

I cannot say enough good things about this place! I'm a…read moremiddle-aged man, who has always wanted to learn how to ride horses, and I finally took the plunge to commit to ten lessons of Western riding. The ranch is beautiful, and just five minutes from my house. The horses are beautiful, healthy, and well-cared-for. David, the owner, Jordan, and all of the instructors are wonderful people and excellent at teaching you all that you need to know. If you live on the east side and want to learn to ride, this is the place to go.

I had a great experience my first time here and have been back every few weeks because of it. The…read morestaff are all friendly and excellent at what they do. A great place to get back to a better way of life.

The trainer Scott is a certified judge , teaches children to older adults , lovely view , bathrooms…read moreand friendly owner Becky

My daughter has been taking riding lessons wth Kate for a few months. We love Lucky Charm, they are…read morevery professional and teach riding in an encouraging and positive way. The ranch itself is a beautiful property and always has people around who are friendly. There are benches and chairs around the arenas so parents or family can watch the lessons, which is awesome. There are also a number of arenas including a fun obstacle course type arena. The tack room and barn are super cute and seem to have varying sizes to accommodate everyone.

We recently had the most wonderful trail riding experience at Rockin' Star Ranch with family…read moreranging in age from 2 to 72, and every single person had a fantastic time! The horses were thoughtfully matched to each rider's size and experience level, and it was clear how well cared for and well-trained they all are. The guides were absolutely phenomenal -- not only friendly and professional but they went above and beyond, even riding backwards at times to capture incredible photos and videos for us! As someone who tends to be nervous around horses, I was given the most patient, gentle, and intuitive horse, which made the entire experience enjoyable and safe. When my 2-year-old decided he had to ride with Mama AFTER everyone was saddled up, they went out of their way to help us rearrange and make it happen -- and I still felt safe and confident holding him, which speaks volumes about both the horses and the staff. We've been to Rockin' Star Ranch a few times over the years, and it's always been a special place for our family. In fact, our now 12-year-old once rode the same sweet pony on a lead ride that our 2-year-old recently did -- a true testament to the love, care, and longevity they provide for their animals. Every single interaction we've had with their staff has been warm, professional, and full of kindness and patience. They are always happy to teach, answer questions, and help everyone -- from total beginners to more experienced riders -- feel welcome and confident. I can't recommend Rockin' Star Ranch enough for families or anyone looking for a safe, fun, and memorable horseback riding experience!

After an extremely disappointing ride in Benson, with horses that could barely move I was beyond…read morefrustrated... and having only one day to myself in AZ while on a work trip I was feeling down. I called a bunch of places, and this one answered. Oh my word, this was exactly what I needed! Chris is an incredible, experienced, and funny guide, and the ride was FUN. He even took videos and photos and shared them after the ride. I lost my keys, and he helped me find them at the end of the ride, which was extra time and effort. Iris and Stormy are awesome horses, Stormy helped with finding the keys. I would say this is the single best trail ride I've ever done, and I ride A LOT but usually have a "no trail" rule--most trail rides are a snoozefest experience, and I would straight out recommend lessons with a trainer instead. Chris' place does fun trail rides, lessons, parties, you name it.... And such great horses. Can't recommend them enough!

Came here for Valentine's Day without knowing anything about the trail or horses. My boyfriend and…read moreI had an amazing time! Perfect weather and our tour guides were greats. Highly recommend Jay and Larry. Definitely plan on coming back another time to ride a horse!

Wonderful 1.5 hour ride into the Ricon Mountains. Horses are…read morevery nice and beginner friendly. Took my 10 grand daughter who had never ridden before and Jay our lead wrangler was amazing with her. Kind and encouraging. Jay was very knowledgeable and had a lot of interesting history and facts about the area. Highly recommend the Saguaro Stable for a great ride.