Rancho de la Osa
The Most Historic Place in Arizona!
March 17th-18th, 2025
$599 Single Room Occupancy—$479 Double Room Occupancy—$429 Triple Room Occupancy
High in the Sonoran Desert of southern Arizona, the 590-acre Rancho De La Osa is surrounded by 120,000 acres of Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge. Historically rich, Rancho De La Osa’s headquarters was originally a village for Tohono O’odham Indians, possibly dating back to the Hohokams. The ranch is also home to the oldest continually used building in Arizona—built by Jesuit missionaries in 1720—to be used as a place of worship, a trading post, and an inn for travelers. In 1916 Pancho Villa attempted to take the ranch, leaving a cannonball lodged in an adobe wall. Following the Gadsden Purchase of 1853, the ranch became part of the United States and was purchased in the late 1800s by cattle baron Colonel William Sturgis, who built the great hacienda. In 1925 Louisa Wetherill, a noted archaeologist purchased the ranch and opened it to guests the following year. By the 1930s Rancho De La Osa became a political hotbed, hosting President Lyndon Johnson and his wife Lady Bird, Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Senator Adlai Stevenson and many others. William Clayton famously wrote the Marshall Plan in what is now known as the Clayton House. Hollywood celebrities who visited the ranch included Joan Crawford, Tom Mix and John Wayne, just to name a few. Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone with the Wind, spent time at the ranch and Zane Gray regularly wrote there. Today Rancho De La Osa offers a remarkable guest ranch experience, with fabulous food—much of it locally sourced—and a great wine list. There are endless activities to keep you busy from sunup to sundown, although many guests are drawn to the ranch for its tranquility and remarkable scenery.
Day One: We’ll leave the Valley with a stop for lunch on self, and a little sightseeing, in the charming artist’s hamlet of Tubac. Later, back in the Transits, we’ll head for Sasabe, Arizona, where the adventure really begins! We’ll check into our rooms and take some time for a refresh, before heading into the dining room for a fabulous dinner, included.
Day Two: A delicious breakfast will be served buffet style in the dining room, included. Following breakfast the morning is yours to enjoy at your leisure. Rancho De La Osa is a wildlife photographer’s dream, and you’ll want to discover every corner of this fascinating property. Several ala carte activities are available at an additional cost, including horseback riding. Whether you’re an experienced rider or have never been on a horse, the Rancho de la Osa wranglers will match you with an appropriate horse and lead you on a scenic ride. Early afternoon, we’ll enjoy lunch in the dining room, included, before getting back on the road. We’ll explore an incredibly scenic loop tour of Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge, as we sightsee our way back to the Valley. This whirlwind tour includes so much!
