Arizona
Rancho de la Osa: Ranch Life on the Southern Border
Program No. 23771RJ
Experience life at the most historic ranch in Arizona. Enjoy tranquil trail rides near the Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge, and learn about grooming, ranch crafts and ancient history.
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6 days
5 nights
14 meals
5B 4L 5D
4
Ranch Activities, Local Culture
Sasabe, AZ
6
Program Concludes
Sasabe, AZ
At a Glance
Experience authentic ranch life, surrounded by the stunning landscapes of southern Arizona and the Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge. Hop into the saddle of gentle horses to ramble along easy scenic trails where John Wayne and Pancho Villa once roamed. Learn skills from roping to caring for ranch animals, and study the rich history of the area. Get hands-on lessons riding horses, making tortillas and take part in a tequila tasting. Plus, choose an extra activity each day, from off-road UTV adventures to sport shooting. This ranch adventure that will give you a window into ranch life on the Southern border.
Activity Level
Outdoor: No Sweat
Riding horses and UTVs, getting on and off horses, walking up to a mile daily on unpaved desert terrain.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Take a field trip to the U.S.-Mexico border to get a better understanding of life on the border.
- Explore the high desert grasslands and wetlands of the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge.
- Enjoy a variety of hands-on classes at the Ranch, from trail riding and roping to dance classes, tortilla making and tequila tasting.
General Notes
Due to the nature of this program, listening devices are not available. Select dates can be taken back-to-back with a sister program, “Ultimate Old West: The White Stallion Ranch Experience (#20193)”. Please check Dates and Prices of both programs for availability and then contact the Ranch directly to make arrangements.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Jerry Freund
Jerry Freund was born on the plains of western Kansas. He has explored the natural world and the world of Native Americans for most of his life. His love of Navajo culture and their weavings has intrigued him for more than 60 years. Though retired, Jerry continues to work in an art gallery of Western art that specializes in Native American art.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Jerry Freund
View biography
Jerry Freund was born on the plains of western Kansas. He has explored the natural world and the world of Native Americans for most of his life. His love of Navajo culture and their weavings has intrigued him for more than 60 years. Though retired, Jerry continues to work in an art gallery of Western art that specializes in Native American art.
Diego Dunn
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Diego Dunn has extensive knowledge about the desert and edible plants, studying under Charles W. Kane and Peter Bigfoot. He is the owner of Desert Gatherings, which sells native desert seeds and makes products such as prickly pear syrup, hot sauce, and cactus jelly. Diego now uses his knowledge to teach others about the edible Southwestern desert.
Angela Collick
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Angela Collick, a native of rural Michigan, has been in the hospitality industry for over 30 years. She has experience in managing restaurants, real estate, the medical field, and event coordination for banquet centers and weddings, plus a love for interior design. Angela is a huge animal lover and had her own small farm before joining True Ranch Collection as the ranch manager at Rancho de la Osa in Arizona during the winter season and Circle Bar Ranch in Montana in the summer season.
Jaye Wells
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Jaye Wells is a designer, developer, and entrepreneur; he is a managing partner of Rancho de la Osa. He attended the Memphis College of Art and Parsons School of Design and specializes in restoration, home design, historic preservation, and museum work. As a lifelong fly-fisherman and shotgunner, Jaye founded sporting apparel and gear manufacturing companies. Jaye has also founded several nonprofits. In 2014, Jaye and partner Russell True founded True Ranch Hospitality, which aims to preserve and manage historic guest ranches across the American West.
Suggested Reading List
(8 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Rancho de la Osa: Ranch Life on the Southern Border
Program Number: 23771
True Tales and Amazing Legends of the Old West: From True West Magazine
Early Tucson (Images of America)
Levi's & Lace: Arizona Women who Made History
Cowboys & the Trappings of the Old West
Medicine in the Old West: A History, 1850-1900
Dude Ranching in Arizona (Images of America)
Line in the Sand: A History of the Western U.S.-Mexico Border
Tucson: The Life and Times of an American City