We had so much interest in the April 13-15, 2012 workshop that David and the Saunders’ Ranch decided to add a second Weatherford, TX workshop March 30 – April 1, 2012!
To register, visit email tess@drsphoto.net or call 208.726.5191 ext. 15.
White Stallion Ranch workshop updates!
The Stoecklein book, Dude Ranches of the American West, features a satisfying excerpt describing the beauty anyone can find at the White Stallion Ranch workshop on January 12-14, 2012!
Dude Ranch book exerpt:
White Stallion Ranch
Tucson, Arizona is one of those sprawling, fast-growing Western cities built around great weather, natural beauty, and a relaxed lifestyle. It also has the distinction of being the longest continuously inhabited settlement in the United States. Leaving civilization behind and crossing the Tucson Mountains means going through the mountain pass where the Butterfield Stage was robbed of $500,00 of silver in 1873. That pass and the dirt road that follows mark the entrance to the White Stallion Ranch. The peaks of the Safford and Panther mountains loom majestically behind the ranch in one of the most picturesque spots in the Southwest. The ranch has been featured in countless movies and television shows since the 1940s as it represents a classic picture of Arizona with rugged mountains, tall Saguaro cactus, and untouched land.
The ranch itself dates back to the turn of the century when it was a working cattle ranch. In 1940, Max Zimmerman, a liquor store owner, bought the property and added guest accommodations. Legend has it that he used the ranch as a retreat for his “special” friends from the liquor business. A couple decades later, a Colorado oil man, Allen True, and his wife, Cynthia, were searching for a new life and good weather and decided to purchase the ranch in the 1965 and bring their sons there.
Their decision was prompted by Allen’s return to Denver after a trip to find a full-force blizzard raging. He had endured cold and snow throughout his life, but had finally had enough. He decided on the spot to move to Tucson and boarded a plane that very night. Upon his arrival, he found over 30 dude ranches in the area and several for sale. White Stallion was in the most remote location and seemed the most likely to succeed over the long term with Tucson’s rapid expansion. Initially, Cynthia was resistant to buying a dude ranch, as they had no experience running one. But finally, as she loves to tell the story, “I told Allen that as long as I could look at those mountains every morning I wake up, I would let him throw our life away.”
Allen and Cynthia went to work immediately to upgrade the buildings and facilities and put the ranch back together. Much of the original land had been sold over the years, but they were able to expand the property from 200 acres to more than 3,000. Today, Allen and Cynthia’s sons and their wives own and operate the ranch. Russell and Michael feel privileged to honor their parents’ legacy and protect the ranch and share it with guests.
Though still a working cattle ranch, White Stallion has upgraded the accommodations and added may comforts to the lodge and facilities. Southern Arizona architecture is greatly influenced by its Spanish roots, which is evident in the ranch buildings. The original ranch house, now the main dining room, is a 100-year-old adobe structure. The arches, sweeping patios, stucco walls, fountains, and southwest warmth and décor, mixed in with the spacious and beautifully landscaped desert grounds create a classic Arizona ranch setting.
Western Horseman: Book Review
Here’s a wonderful book review that our friends over at the Western Horseman magazine recently published in their December issue. Click here to read the review: Ranch School 101 Review
