Tanque Verde Ranch

Wow - what an incredible experience we had at the ranch. The rooms were clean, incredibly spacious and quiet. The views were amazing and we had so much fun trying different activities. We were at the ranch for our daughters wedding and everyone at the ranch were just incredible. Always happy - willing to help and very supportive. I honestly could not think of a better place for the wedding, which was a small intimate gathering on the cactus lawn and then reception in the beautifully set up Saguaro room. The setting was perfect - food was amazing and the service was TOP Tier!

Tanque Verde is an absolutely beautiful ranch located beside the Saguaro National Forest in Tucson, Arizona. Whether riding horses, swimming, hiking, or gathering for a meal, you are sure to have an incredible experience. There are activities for every age and stage. The wranglers made each ride unique. From watching the sun set to greeting the day, riding to the cowboy breakfast, we enjoyed seeing the desert in all of its glory. The food was phenomenal, and the staff was helpful and kind. This was one of the best family vacations we have ever had. I highly recommend!

We had an incredible experience at the Tanque Verde Ranch Cookout! The setting was beautiful—from the short desert walk to the event area, to the charming entrance, warm lighting, rustic bar, live folk/country music, and large fire pits surrounded by tables. The food exceeded expectations: perfectly seasoned, cooked beautifully, and plenty of delicious options. After dinner, we enjoyed playing horseshoes, which was a fun way to wrap up the night. The staff were incredible and helpful and attentive!! This was such a memorable evening, and we plan to return soon—next time for the sunset horse ride before the cookout. Highly recommend!

Really wonderful place. Beautiful setting, extremely friendly staff, great food. Wifi is adequate - coverage is good, but speed is a bit lackluster. The loping check seems a bit... subjective. We witnessed highly qualified riders get rejected while newbies got through. Those are the only two negative points I can offer. The staff, food, rooms, setting, hikes, and everything else are phenomenal. My company did a retreat here, and we would do it again without question.

We had such a great time at Tanque Verde Ranch. The views, the lodging, and the food were all amazing, and the horses are extremely well taken care of. The staff overall was wonderful and made the stay really comfortable. The only thing I want to be honest about is that I wish the wranglers had been a bit friendlier. Some of them had a little bit of an attitude, which took away from the experience just a tiny bit. Aside from that, everything else was fantastic. The pool area is beautiful, and there’s such a good variety of activities — yoga, rides, hikes, biking, you name it. One thing I wish they offered is some live music or a bonfire in the evenings, just something to make the nights feel a bit more special. I completely fell in love with one of the horses, Scotch — he was my little ranch crush. Overall, I would absolutely return and can highly recommend the ranch with just a couple of small suggestions for improvement.

Amazing staff and amazing place. Very accommodating and friendly. The food has been amazing. The staff are always happy to help and give you great advice. The horse riding is by far the highlight and the wranglers and instructors make everyone comfortable and feel safe. I really liked this about the place. All ages and riding abilities. Cannot recommend highly enough. Thanks Bill for your great instruction!

We LOVE coming to TVR with our group each year! The wrangler staff are SO helpful, friendly, & accommodating, the horses are well trained and (for the most part) eager to do a good job for you! Our group is experienced horsewomen of all disciplines, and we always enjoy the riding, but beginners are equally well accommodated and safely. Rooms are so comfortable with beautiful views of the saguaro-studded desert, the food is delicious and nutritious (plus yummy treats), and if you’re tired of riding, the activities are fun, or you can just chill by/in the pool or hot tub. The staff is wonderful! I can’t wait to come back next year!!

We spent a week here. When my wife walked in to our rooms, her jaw dropped -- such a great setup, plenty of space, clean and well put together. The kids loved kids camp, getting to work with and ride the horses. I had a chance to ride several different ways -- walking horse ride, penning (a game of riding horses to herd cows into pens), horsemanship lesson (learning to ride better and hit the faster gaits), and mountain biking. Each experience was better than the last.||||The staff are all very friendly and attentive, thinking of things before you ask and getting everything just so, such warm hospitality making us and our kids feel welcome and part of the family.

I don't even know where to begin because my Tanque Verde Ranch experience was absolutely enchanting and down to earth for my soul. Right upon checking in, I was warmly greeted by Cheyenne to which she explained everything I needed to know and answered my questions about my ranch stay. I showed up a bit earlier before check-in to which I wanted to fully utilize the activities I signed up for with my all-inclusive package. The front desk graciously held my belongings plus even took them to my room once it was ready. The next two days flew by for me! I made the best use of my time coordinating stuff ahead of time. I did horse walks, basic and intermediate horseback riding lessons, axe throwing, archery, yoga, meditation, intermediate bike rides (bumpy in the desert and fast paced but still enjoyable and exhilarating), BB gun range, visited the nature center, made use of the indoor pool and whirlpool. I love keeping busy and best of all there were moments I could rest as well so had the balance of this trip to a T. I ate exceptionally well. The food they had varied according to the time of the day, like breakfast and lunch having a menu and buffet option and dinner being menu-based. The service was hospitable and folks constantly bussing tables/making it presentable for the next person. As a solo trip I felt safe and relaxed at TVR. I can't sing enough praises for this delightful ranch. The nighttime sky is also a sight to behold..something about the Arizona sky is quite dreamy and mystical. Next time I ever visit the ranch I want to make sure I do it on days where they do the cookouts and hopefully will get to try other activities like the evening stroll or fishing. There's so much more I could add but just know if you're looking for a place that's serene, welcoming, and not astronomical priced, TVR is the spot to check out. Keep calm and ride on!!

Fathers Day brunch. Food that was available was good. Last available reservation was a 1:00 reservation. When we got there, we found out they would close at 1:30. The waitress said they might put more food out, wasn't sure. A very odd choice of sides including a couple of sour oysters, of course everyone dropped the oysters to the side. A few of us were able to get a portion of prime rib before they ran out, we just shuffled what we had around the table so everyone got at least a small portion. We were told they would bring another prime rib out but never did. Don't recommend for brunch.

Fathers Day brunch. Food that was available was good. Last available reservation was a 1:00 reservation. When we got there, we found out they would close at 1:30. The waitress said they might put more food out, wasn't sure. A very odd choice of sides including a couple of sour oysters, of course everyone dropped the oysters to the side. A few of us were able to get a portion of prime rib before they ran out, we just shuffled what we had around the table so everyone got at least a small portion. We were told they would bring another prime rib out but never did. Don't recommend for brunch.

Great family spring break dude ranch! Nice, not too fancy just right. The staff and service were superior. The kids programs & all inclusive experience was a double thumbs up! We were able to ride horses and do all the activities, but did need to pay attention to the scheduling with the front desk. All of our waitlisted activities were accommodated!

The outdoor event at Cottonwood is amazing, the food is delicious and the music was excellent. Highly recommend for guests visiting Tucson.

Great ranch to enjoy the Sonoran Desert and the suguaros. The room we stayed in was aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The porch view was amazing and soothing. The breakfast was great. The dinner was wonderful except the plant based option.

We are local and spent an amazing weekend here for my birthday! It was cozy and very relaxing. We didn't partake in all the activities but prefer to make our own schedule. We enjoyed great meals in the dining room, hiked the beautiful trails, for a hot lava rock massage in the spa (wonderful), and watched the horse turnout! It was perfect for what we wanted and the staff was awesome too. Pricing isn't bad-some recent reviews state otherwise, but I guess it depends on what you think is pricey for the experience. The room was large and had a beehive fireplace. They also delivered a fire kit to the room when we called. On a hike we encountered a pack of curious javelina at the homestead. Such a cool experience. I'd love to return for horseback riding and maybe a craft. Lots of history here, so take advantage!

We came for the cowboy cookout, but because of the rain it was moved inside. There was no clear sign directing where to go, no staff anywhere to tell you that you were headed in the right direction, and when we found where to go my dad opened a door and was snapped at that they weren't ready. When it did open we got in line, but then were told to go to a separate line to pay. The second line didn't have our reservation information, so wonder why we even made a reservation. It's a nice venue, but it's either understaffed or doesn't have competent staff. The food was not hot or even warm. I am assuming this was due to being inside, but the baked potato could not even soften the butter packet. I will say that our server getting drinks, Aidan, was super helpful and responsive. I wish we could have just tipped him I would probably skip the cowboy cookout if you are not getting the full outside experience. The outside experience in the past was great.

Food was fine, barbq and salads. Restaurant was empty and quiet. Service was friendly but slow considering our party of 9 was the only diners. Rustic setting appropriate for a guest ranch.

We made reservations for Sunday brunch. Nice setting at the ranch dining room with roasted prime rib, omelette station, charcuterie, ravioli, baked salmon, and a good selection of salads and dessert. Service was excellent and food was very good, especially since it was a buffet. I would consider it a good value for what was served. Just remember that you're at a ranch!

wow we really loved it here!! everyone was so helpful and friendly and the setting was eye candy! gorgeous views from every spot and the grounds are enchanting. loved the view from our room and the food was great (we did cowboy dinner and breakfast buffet). turkeys and javelina (and a cute ranch kitty) roam the property, pool and hot tub are great. was there for just one night so didn't participate in the many activities offered. just a couple drawbacks, the flies are a bit out of control (I get it, there are horses), and the drinks are pretty light on the pour. overall, such a great experience!

Stunning saguaro views! Situated within walking distance of the edge of Saguaro National Park East, it's hard to beat the desert scenery of this rustic ranch. It's not a showy resort but isn't trying to be -- it's more of a lodge feel, with a casual vibe centered on outdoor activities that fit the surroundings. Wish there were more evening entertainment options that made use of the beautiful outdoor spaces...a little acoustic music, more al fresco dining, etc.

From the horseback rides to the buffets there want a miss during our stay at Tanque Verde Ranch. They front desk staff was friendly and knowledgeable and eager to please. They activities were plentiful. Nature Walks, Archery, Cowboy Cookouts, Horseback riding and riding to breakfast, Mountain Bikes... fishing and more. The Falconry class was epic. Jeffrey the Hawk was a hit. Rotating dinner menu was a nice touch. ( only downside is they ran out of the dinner specials VERY early. Twice during a 4 day stay. Like 7:00 early when the mess-hall opened at 6. Please fix this. Or don't mention the specials we can't have. We missed Sea Bass and Prime Rib by having a 7:00pm sitting. ) A high point was Desiree the Bartender at the Dog House Saloon. She was attentive even when she was buried 5 people deep. She is a whirling dervish of service. Pay her more! Or get her some help. The bar menu at The Dog House has great wings, a burger, nachos or just chips and salsa. Great trip for couples, family or business team-building. ( we saw two weddings while we there.) 5 stars.

My partner and I live in Tucson and decided to try the cowboy cookout a few Saturdays ago. The location is amazing; sadly, the food was underwhelming--the steak was overcooked and they gave us one little triangle. I expected better. I recall years ago the open air mesquite tri-tip they used to cook up at McGraws and had my taster set for that mouth-watering food, so the disappoint was sincere. The music was GREAT! The older gentleman on the guitar was a godsend. Thank you!! My real problem was the inefficiency. We had to wait in line to pay and we couldn't pay until a certain time--and then we were told we had to wait around the small area until we paid--we couldn't go grab a table. It was so weird. Like who makes you loiter before you queue up? And then it was one credit card reader for the whole damned lot of us. Ridiculous. THEN stand in line for the bar with ONE slowwwwww bartender. From a business perspective there were just people standing around (or lining up) ready to GIVE THEM OUR MONEY. Only they couldn't be bothered to take it fast. I don't know who runs the place, but they are missing a huge opportunity to make that place grand. It felt so... eastside. I wish I felt compelled to take out of town guests there, but I don't. It's just so beautiful. Sad it isn't managed better.

Beautiful venue. Attended a wedding here and can say there are amazing views of the desert flora and southwest culture generally. Service was bar none. Bea in particular went ABOVE and beyond. She remembered guests and small quirks associated with the event. Absolute A+!

An amazing outdoor adventure for the whole family. We had a blast at Tanque Verde with our two boys and highly recommend them for an action packed getaway. So many fun activities on-site that you literally never need to leave. Our favorites included many mountain bike rides (with an incredible guide, John), sunset horseback trail ride, informative nature center visit and a morning hike. Kids club made for some options for just adult time and the pool was a great place to relax. If we had been there longer we would've explored even more. Each day we all were exhausted from doing fun outdoor activities (most included when you get the all-inclusive package). A solid amount and quality food at the main dining and alternative at the saloon will keep you recharged. Reservations are as easy as using OpenTable for each meal- perfect! Everyone was kind, supportive and inviting. The only way to make this stay better would be dusting longer than 3 nights so we could do more, a server at the pool (or a bar) and a refresh of the accommodations (clean but dated). Book a stay for your family and you won't be disappointed.

WOW!... Did I mention 'WOW'?!! To ring out 2020 and hopefully a better 2021, my wife got wind of the Tanque Verde Ranch and it's incredible list of activities. We decided on the 'Cowboy Cookout' on a cold December night, midweek. Chicken, ribs, BRISKETT, Cod, salad, watermelon, drinks, hot cocoa, coffee, beers all wrapped around numerous picnic tables lit by roaring pit fires for warmth. On top of this was a live acoustic guitar player playing wonderful country -western tunes with an incredible voice. Really, this is how to bring in the new year, fun, dancing and a perfectly cooked meal - all you can eat BTW! Need to check this out; we've been here 5 years and never knew this place and it's 'Resort' existed. Basically get on Speedway, head east until the road ends, literally. Absolutely going to head back with out of town guests! On site bar, bathrooms, LED light hanging lights and courteous employees makes this a choice place to not just practice social distancing guidelines, but to get out and see God's earth in a gorgeous little spot in Tucson. Check. Them. Out!

Came here from NJ to enjoy an all inclusive weekend with my husband and we had such an amazing time! We loved how authentic and historical the ranch was. From the moment we stepped into reception until the very last dinner we thought every thing was great. Melanie at the front desk was so welcoming and helpful at answering all of our questions and scheduling our activities. We stayed in the Desert Garden Casita. We enjoyed how close it was to everything. It was very spacious and rustic. Im sure the fire places come in handy during the winter but be prepared because the rooms do smell smokey. The food was even really good, probably one of the best filets I've ever had. We absolutely loved all of the horse back riding activities. The sunset ride was incredible. I feel in love with the desert sunset and my horse Roman! My husband and I are both beginners and took 2 walking rides and the horsemanship lesson before attempting the loping test. Fortunately we both passed. The lope ride was pretty incredible and such an adrenaline rush. The horses go way faster on the lope ride than in the arena so I totally get why they're strict about the test. Some of the other activities were a little underwhelming but the horse rides made the whole trip worthwhile! Marty and Josh were great teachers and led great rides. Thank you everyone for such a fun experience. We can't wait to come back (before those darn loping cards expire haha) in the near future!

It's an ok place, but way overpriced. 2.5 stars. We spent one night to celebrate our anniversary. The cheap room cost us $460. The first room they offered me would have been $1000 a night! Those prices are what you pay for high end, luxury hotels. After making the reservations and discussing further with my wife, we decided to not stay there and find a less expensive option. Unfortunately, the ranch has a 30 day no cancellation policy, which was discussed AFTER I booked the room. We made our reservation within 30 days and were told we could move it to a different date, but would paying the full price. So with that, we stayed the night. After checking in, we discovered our $460 room was simply adequate at best. There's no fireplace in the room, no tv (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), no mini fridge. We had two beds, a table with a couple chairs, and one fairly comfortable leather chair on the side of the room. The view out the back window was of a dead cactus laying on the ground and a bunch of tall weeds in a field. The shower didn't even look great. We decided to just wait until we got home the next day for showers. Another issue with the room was the thermostat. To be fair, we did not contact the front desk. We were tired from the horse ride and had already changed into our night clothes. It was 54F in the room when we got there. My wife turned it up to 75 just to get it warmed up. It went to 78, then stopped running until it was low 70s, then it kicked on and went up to 81. This continued throughout the night. The air blew directly into our faces the entire night and switched from hot air to cold air. But was always running. The positive I will say was the pillows were wonderful to sleep with and the beds were decent. But again, it's a $200 ok room, not $460. Breakfast was included in the price of the room. If we had to actually pay for it out of pocket, the bill came to a little over $27 for both of us. No idea what they actually charged us for it. Plenty of food options, as you can order off the menu plus get food off the buffet. I got a pancake which you needed a knife to cut as a fork wasn't going to do it. Eggs were lukewarm at best. Standard buffet food. I also ordered an eggs benedict from the kitchen which was decent, although the chef put red peppers on it even though I specifically requested to not have them. My wife has food allergies and ordered an omelet with ingredients known to be safe. Her omelet came out with additional items added into it, so she couldn't eat it. And I only got one cup of coffee. After all the food was eaten and we showed we were ready to go, a gentleman finally came and asked if I wanted any more coffee. A good 15 minutes too late. The ranch itself is right next to the Saguaro National Park and is in a beautiful setting. Definitely a pretty setting for a wedding, which there was one going on the day we were there. They offer horseback riding for $95 a person. It was an hour and a half ride and very beautiful. I definitely recommend taking them up on that. You don't have to stay on property to partake in some of the activities they offer. They also offer spa packages, but again way overpriced. An hour long massage was $225. Rubs Massage is 15 minutes up the road and you can get an hour massage for around $100. They have a very beautiful outdoor swimming pool and hot tub, with amazing views of the Rincon Mountains and the national park. I'm not sure if the pool was heated, but it looked inviting. Overall, the ranch has beautiful scenery and is a nice place to go and relax for a night or two. The downside is the prices are more than double what they should be and adequate is the best I can say for the food. Just to give you a comparison, my wife and I stayed on a private island in Seychelles. The huge hut we had actually had a second floor in it and the back deck had stairs going down right into the Indian Ocean where you could drink your wine and watch the sunset. With private dining, boat rides, snorkeling around the island, a mini fridge, room service, etc. That room was $400 a night and that was just last year.

can for cowboy cookout buffet variety of proteins and good bread, live music, dusty outdoor eating but with horseshoes, lassoing, and kid friendly food choices. fruit, cookies and cobblers also crowd pleasers

Well, on the positive side, The staff was courteous and friendly especially the wranglers The first issue is if you booked through any agency other than the ranch they do not honor whatever amenities such as all inclusive. They bill you a la cart and give you the bill when you check out. We could afford it , but over a thousand dollars for the week. Staff kept saying it was included. NOT. The room was horrible. Extremely small one chair, one dresser, no shelves, and no shelves in the bathroom. The power outlets were hanging out of the wall unfastened and no light in the closet. The drawers fall out of the one dresser. The room is a fire hazard. Do yourself a favor,,,do not go there.

Avoid this place like the plague. Went there for brunch with my family And the food was adequate Like something you would get at a Denny's. The wait staff didn't seem to care, there were flies everywhere in the dining room that came for the corral 300' away. You had to keep on pushing the flies away between everybody between every bite. I guess that's what you get for going there please it's almost 60 years old, Now I know what the early cowboys felt like esting out in the open.

great resort. but if you are looking to actually ride and are an experienced rider this isn't the place for you. everything else about the place is fantastic except for their horse stock. i understand that most guests are new at riding and they need rather 'tame' mounts, but both my wife and i have been riding since we were kids, and alot was hard ridint. snow, rain, wind, cattle round ups etc. i rode three times and just gave up. but again, other than that, i highly recommend the ranch. just saw the other review on cowboy cookout. we didn't want to even do it but that's all they offered that night. it also rained so was moved indoors. it was the only meal we had there that was really lacking and for 45 bucks a head. the rise and shine deal was very good. that's all we wanted to pay for and the rest was ala carte.

My family and I stood here for my sisters wedding. The wedding was amazing (though the planner could have been better) and the venue was gorgeous but the actual hotel is a different story. The rooms were ugly. If you don't decide to stay in a 600$ suite then you stay in a basement looking room. The room made my family and I feel scared, as though it was a nightmare. The brick walls made it feel like we were living in an abyss (but maybe that's your thing). Throughout our whole stay the room was very very humid and hot. We put the AC as low as it could go (67) and still it stayed the same sticky air. There are LOADS of flies throughout the ranch which makes perfect sense, but when we walked into the room we quickly spotted a fly laying on our pillow. The pool, buffet breakfast etc... is good, but due to the room situation I would not stay there again nor recommend it to anyone.

First, the grounds are beautiful and definitely a hidden gem! Beautiful location for special events, photos, etc! Beautiful horses to enjoy, too. Front desk personnel are polite and helpful. I booked some spa treatments for 3 of us for a girls weekend. Sadly, when we arrived, they were only able to accommodate one of us. BOO! They were very apologetic and ended up comping our luncheon and cowboy cookout. Double YAY! The cowboy cookout was under the stars and they have a huge spread of delicious BBQ food and sides. They even had dessert! Their cobbler was divine. Lemonade, water, and tea are also included. There's a bar that serves beer and wine, but that's not included in the price. The live music was a perfect addition to the evening. There's dancing to be had and roping for the kiddos. Also, don't worry about being cold, as there are fire pits and warmers to keep you comfortable on any chilly night! Overall, their cowboy cookout is a great dinner experience! Call ahead for reservations.

What a great experience. We booked this trip as a late Father's Day event. We got here Friday and enjoyed a delightful pasta with mushrooms and squash and the kids had pasta with butter and chicken tenders. Spent the next morning with Stephen, the best and most patient fish instructor. My 7 year old caught at least 10 fish and had a great experience. We dined at the Cottonwood cookout - steak, chicken, pulled pork and an array of salads and vegetables. The apple cobbler was fantastic. Father's Day morning went for a lope check and here's where everything falls apart. I've been riding the past 10 years and have lope checked a dozen times. I climb on the horse and can tell this poor white haired sweaty horse is not happy. We all set up to lope check and then come back for the rest of the group waiting for the ride. Turns out none of us passed. My horse didn't want to lope and the corridor was so short I had no time to get acquainted with my horse. I suspect a short corridor as the problem because all the others dude ranches in the area that I've stayed give you a long stretch to warm up to your horse. I later went to the front desk to provide feedback from my experiences and how they differed from the one at their ranch and all I got was a "I'm sorry you had a bad experience", and a sense that the wrangler runs the show and he picks and chooses who he lets on the rides. Loping horses is something I enjoy doing and d'ospite the other great experiences here, I don't think I'll be recommending this place nor coming back.

We took guests for riding and did not partake this time in anything else. Check-in and all forms filled in smoothly. The riders had a marvelous time. A great local option. We have been many times. You do not need to be a ranch guest.

I love coming here. It's so peaceful and beautiful. My son loves it too. We like to visit the horses and just watch them.

After a 20 year break we decided to return to TV. We had a chance to experience many horse ranches around the world and TV is still a good starter spot but not great. The accommodations have gotten better and the bar/wait staff were very nice. We were not keen on the over crowded cowboy cookout with so many non-compliant for Covid, but that was just poor timing. The staff did their best. We should have arrived a day later. The worst part were the young wranglers and the older one Joe. They would start rides with no instructions. Go wordlessly for long distances or just buddy up with one like age rider and gab the whole time. Joe did not say one word or instruct the new riders so they were all straggled out on our ride. The certification is a bit of a joke, so get that somewhere else. Our last ride was with Curly and he saved the stay. He was everything a wrangler should be and he should be cloned or at the very least set the example for the younger wranglers. Before that last ride we watched an inexperienced rider get thrown to the ground and NO staff responded. It was three guests that had to jump in and check on her until a manager came along. The wrangler JOE just walked away with the horse. It was nuts. Taking this ranch off our world list and hope you get Curly if you go. BTW - we mentioned all of this upon check out and were never contacted.

Loved the TVR resort! As much horseback lessons and riding as you can consume, plus swimming, archery, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, cookouts, bar&drinks, pool table&foosball, informative nature walks & talks, craft lessons, gift shop and tons of food. Every staff member from horse wrangler, to airport shuttle driver to dining staff to archery, to front desk and housekeeping was as guest-focused, cordial and accommodating as can be! This is a vacation experience beyond compare and not to be missed. What are you waiting for? Just do it! (Not a paid advert... just a totally fulfilled guest!)

We booked Tanque Verde for a week family vacation and were terribly disappointed with the food situation. The website details an impressive menu, but when you arrive - bait and switch! You have to eat at the buffet every night! The chef will prepare for you cold hamburgers and hotdogs, no buns, congealed pasta, fish squares that are frozen in the center, watery salad dressing and crumbs at the dessert bar. For the daily ranch price we paid, it is inconceivable that a nice evening meal is not served.

This was a terrific find from someone in my work group. The next time I'm in Tucson, I'll be sure to come here again. The food and music was terrific and I enjoyed the family friendly atmosphere.

I had the Absolute pleasure of a brief but magnificent stay here at this property where Exec Chef Janet Balderas takes the reins methodically. The most friendly as well a beautiful staff made our experience second to none! Breath taking views for days coupled with true Americana cooking at its finest to say the least. If your looking for a truly unique experience with sharp attention to detail this is no doubt your ideal destination!

This was one of the worst dining experiences I've had in Tucson---and I've lived here a long time. We had guests from out of town visiting Tucson and they wanted to take us out to lunch. We looked at OpenTable and found the Tanque Verde Ranch. The Menu for lunch looked very good---not an extensive menu, but a good combination of sandwiches, salads and other lunch fare. I made the reservation and we took a 35 minute drive to get to the restaurant. So far, so good. The setting is beautiful. We found our way to the restaurant and were promptly seated. The waiter brought us water and we were starting to wonder where the menus were when he told us that lunch was a buffet and "we could go through as many times as we like". What happened to the lunch menu???? We were hungry; we had driven 35 minutes to get to the restaurant so we decided to partake of the buffet. Our first mistake was not asking how much it cost (more later). There was one server handling the buffet. Due to COVID restrictions everything must be served by the server. (a good thing). Salads included mixed greens with a choice of a few dressings----nothing special about the salad. There were a few other cold salads---a greek pasta salad, etc.. They had run out of the "daily special" salad. We ate our salads and went back for the main course. This is where it went down hill. The enchilada was dried and tasteless; the quesadilla consisted of nothing more than a tortilla cut into fours with cheese---no flavor whatsoever. The chicken entree with a salsa was the most edible of the selections; although the chicken was not tender Desserts were laughable...Cut out sugar cookies in the shape of Saguaro Cactus---with so much green food coloring that your mouth and teeth turn bright green with a single bight as well as dried out cupcakes with inedible frosting. We decided enough was enough and asked for the check. Imagine our surprise---$108 for four people for a disgusting lunch----when in fact, we were expecting the lunch menu they advertise on OpenTable. $108 plus tip for the worst meal I have had in Tucson at any of the dozens of restaurants that I have frequented. It is a shame. The restaurant is in a beautiful location, The location, however, does not compensate for the disgusting food, the laughably high cost and the false adverting that the Tanque Verde Ranch engages in . AVOID this place... I was embarrassed to have taken out of town guests .

Absolutely gorgeous place. Had such a fun time. My good friend Andy Hersey was playing out among the cottonwoods. There were cowboy waltzes and amazing dinner in the most incredible setting.

This place is amazing, fun, and relaxing. We ate here for breakfast and it was top notch dining. The breakfast buffet was full of fresh eggs, meats, fruits, cereals, oatmeal, and potatoes. The buffet also had a lot of drinks to choose from like milk, oj, fruit juices, and coffee. My wife ordered the waffles and fruit plate, it came out fast and fresh. The serving size was very filling. The view and atmosphere here was very welcoming and relaxing. The walk around the property afterwards was beautiful and we will most definitely be back to stay in the resort and enjoy the amenities next time. Keep up the great work here, you are creating a very awesome cowboy type experience. And I can't wait to check out all the fun next time.

We did the 3 squares and a bed package and had a wonderful time! We wanted somewhere our 8 year old daughter would love, and she absolutely did. She went to the kids camp two days in a row. She got to ride horses, learned archery, made candles, and she made new friends. She absolutely loved it. While she was at camp my husband and I got to hike, ride, and just enjoy the scenery. The food was great, the people are all very friendly, and the grounds are beautiful. The all inclusive option would be worth it if you plan on doing more than one activity a day. One suggestion, don't use the wood they provide for the fireplace. Several of the cabins, including us, tried and all ended in getting smoked out. We will be going back next year!

This place is a little slice of southwest paradise. While we only attended the cowboy cookout, it certainly left an impression on us. The picnic table area is adorable and romantic, yet not so formal that you can't wear jeans or bring the kids. There was great music and the prickly-pear margaritas were top notch. The food? Delicious and well worth the price. The staff also took my food allergy seriously. Keep an eye out for javelinas at night -- we had a few wandering around the picnic area. Luckily, the staff brings golf carts to transport you back to the parking area after the cookout. Such a great time. We'll be back.

We celebrated our anniversary at the dining room at Tanque Verde Ranch. The food was fantastic. I had scallops; my husband had the pork chops. Both were top notch. The server was attentive and friendly. Beautiful location.

To celebrate my birthday, I arranged for a 50 min. private horseback riding tour with my husband, daughter and grandchildren (6 and 8) at the Tanque Verde Guest Ranch. We are all "city slickers" - new to riding - but the staff at the ranch are such pros that they put us all completely at ease. It was an amazing experience to ride through the desert landscape and soak in the beauty of the mountains and other scenery. I should tell you though that in September, even at 930 am in the morning, it began to get warm - I'm glad that we didn't go any later in the day. All in all, it was a wonderful family experience. Highly recommend!

Tanque Verde Ranch is great! i was the dishwasher for about a year. i enjoyed my job there, of course:) the staff was okay. your employees; when they go to work it is like another stressful world to them. it is another stressful life you go into working there. the chefs ( chef ryan) to be specific. that grown man has an ego so big, he didnt like me but i had done my job how my old chef (janet) who you all know is the best chef to encounter. he is a new chef at the ranch and i had been there a year already, as a dishwasher. i am 20 years old with 18 brother and sisters. my job was my pride to feed mines and he took it from me. his ego took it from me. now my review is to say, the bosses need to be around more and hire employees with amazing hearts not big nasty egos as a grown man disliking a 20 year old doing his best work to provide like the grown man i am. thank you for your time. ~ Alexander Amadeus McAllister

This ranch was presented to us as a five star resort. Well, it was really very disappointing. The amenities were at most lacking - shut down indoor pool, three out of five machines in gym not working, terribly disorganized sign-up method, and worse communication among the coordinating staff. This was supposed to be a horse ranch for all ages, and levels. But, the workers reflected a tired, and less than enthusiastic manner. In many cases, their decisions were based on how much they wanted to do, rather than on how much fun the guests could have. As two examples, our lesson was cut short because they said we were too many to redo a skill, and everyone who tested for the lope failed, including expert riders. This, while the trainers kept looking to the side to all this waiting to go on a trail ride. Because all failed, the lope class was automatically cancelled. The food was good, but on three occasions, dinner serving took over an hour and a half, as did one lunch. By giving this ranch a two, I am doing them a favor, only because the attitude of those at the front desk was very welcoming.

Nice ranch and generally nice staff, but they couldn't have dropped the ball more on our last trip. I made my reservation about 45 days before we went and immediately signed up online for various activities. But u can't schedule any types of lessons or private rides for kids so I wrote my specific requests in the comments. 5 days no reply. Submitted online contact form again with specific details about what I wanted to pre-schedule. 5 days no response. Sent 3 emails to dude@tvgr.com. No response. Called and left message for client services to get back to me. Nada. They absolutely suck at getting back to you. Somehow 3 days before our trip they replied confirming our pickup at airport, but no comment whatsoever about my numerous activity requests. Of course I replied right then, again nothing. Upon arrival it was clear the disorganized operations were going to continue. I told them my experience and they barely apologized and said they can't accommodate any of my requests. I pressed and they made some moves to get me 1 lesson and 1 private ride for my daughter. The only reason we go there is for her to get direct instruction. If we just wanted group walk rides we can do that in LA. They told me to talk to Tracy who heads up the kids program the next morning. This chick is about as sour as a box of Warheads. Cranky and could barely be bothered with my requests. Needless to say, she didn't help and after repeated attempts to get someone to fulfill our requests, that we made a month ahead of our trip you'll recall. On Sunday with only a few hours left and my daughter nearly in tears, I got a text saying "we can't accommodate you". I replied to that saying I was frustrated and that there doesn't even seem to be any reason to try and schedule things ahead of your trip because you guys just "wing" it when you get there anyway. The person simply replied with "agreed". That was the last I ever heard about it. No apology. No compensation. No special offer for next time. My daughter still likes the ranch, but honestly I don't see how we can return. Note this was our 3rd year in a row.

My dad happened to get a room at the Tanque Verde Ranch via insurance, after we had a serious garage fire. I was genuinely optimistic about getting my dad checked in there, after the traumatic experience. I had heard generally good things about the location, and even had a friend who used to work there as a horse wrangler. My dad stayed at, "Mi casa- su casa." There were supposed to be kitchen amenities as part of the room... all I can say is, at least there was a fridge. The room had no microwave, no toaster, knives that wouldn't cut butter, a very dinky coffee maker, and a stove top that looks like it was built in the 1970's. There is no TV. My dad went back to his house, and got a TV and a coffee maker. We told our insurance people the situation, and they convinced the front desk to send a microwave to the room. My dad said, "man, if I were paying full price for this place...I would feel pretty ripped off." At least, there is wi-fi, so that was good. Restaurant is way overpriced. Bad experience with the horse riding too: I spent last summer in Ohio riding horses. For four months, I loped bareback onto a stage, every single day as part of an outdoor drama I did. I also took seven two-hour long western saddle style riding lessons while there. And, I was voted most improved rider at the end of the four months. I would describe my horse riding experience as an experienced beginner, to an intermediate level rider after this four month intensive. They have a free "lope check" here, to make you eligible to do some rides. So I thought, why not check it out? It is off season here in Tucson, so maybe that is why this was such a negative experience. But it is surely poor business practice, even in off season, to treat a guest this way. I arrived at 6:45 am (as recommended) to sign a "don't- sue-us" waiver. No problem there. The nice lady at the front gives me instructions on how to get over to the horse riding area. Here's where things got interesting. I walk into the horseback riding area around 6:55am: nobody there. I walk through the back doors to the stable area...nobody there. I look around for a while, and I find a guy there working on a buckskin horse. Nice guy. He's just a contractor there he explains. We get to chatting a bit, and he explains he is from CA. After a while, I say, "listen, I'm here for a lope check...do you know who I might ask for help with that?" He goes, "oh!" and looks over at where people are supposed to be helping me already. "Yeah um, let me see where those girls are at. Proctastinating!" he says lightheartedly. So the girls come around the corner. Immediately, I am instructed to get on a horse they have saddled. Nice to meet you too? I pat the horse for a second, trying to get a feel for what the heck kind of horse I am going to be riding. A fairly typical thing for a person trying to lope a horse to do, I imagine. The girls are chatting between themselves at this point. At best, I seem to be somewhat of an inconvenience. I attempt to ask some questions about the horse to help me feel a bit more comfortable (it's been about a year since I've ridden a horse). No time for that buddy! Next thing, I am being led over to a riding ring. Both girls are still having their conversation. Aren't I a guest at your ranch? I already signed your waiver, so don't worry I won't be suing you anyways. Is this how you treat a guest doing the lope check? It's off season. Shouldn't that be a fine time for guests to come ride your horses, and maybe even get some EXTRA attention from your employees? Instead, I got the cold shoulder. The girl does one example of what I am supposed to do. Trot, then lope. Then she says, "ok, your turn." It feels like a job interview. I don't get a warm-up lap? Just show up at 7am, and lope this horse you've never met before? Perhaps if I were a professional rider, or rode horses everyday myself, I could. The level of experience I had may have been somewhat inadequate, but I sure wasn't being given the benefit of the doubt! I have the guts to try to lope a horse, so clearly I'm not a total novice... I go for it. The stirrup is too long on one side. I don't feel like asking her to adjust it again. I eventually get the horse up to a lope speed for maybe a second or two on my third lap. It feels good to be loping on a horse again. The ladies inform me I have failed the lope test. What a huge surprise! I can though, they inform me, take a lesson or do a walking ride. We make our way back up, and I hop off the horse. I know neither of the names of the two trainers. And they sure as hell don't know mine when I walk out. I wave goodbye to the guy from CA. I am sitting back in my car by 7:14am. Won't be recommending this place to friends or family. And I certainly I won't be shelling out hundreds of dollars for one of your hour long horse riding attractions any time soon. My dad asked the insurance to find him an Air bnb, ASAP. He was there for about one week.

These past few days, relaxing with my daughter and grandson, have been so refreshing. The Ranch is so peaceful and literally transports you to a simpler place and time, while still having the modern amenities we like. Things are set up for families to enjoy as well as a couple. Plus, my sister wanted to join us for one night and the staff accommodated us with complete ease. I will be returning and encouraging ad many people as possible to do the same. The Bed and Breakfast package was perfect for this family's staycation.

It is way too expensive for what it is. Rooms are fair, scene is beautiful, but customer service is so bad it ruins the whole experience. To sum it up - they just do not care about you, point. If you are having a bad experience - too bad, don't expect them to do anything about it. We felt ignored and neglected all the time, to the level when it was humiliating. When issues occurred, management gave us a sweet talk, but there was zero action or an attempt to get things right. Trainers did not show up for the activities we booked and they did nothing about it. Rangers were very rude and when we have complained, they did absolutely nothing about it as well. When we were leaving they messed up the time of our shuttle and the staff at the reception was rude about it. I didn't not write reviews regularly, and very rarely negative reviews. If something goes wrong, I go to management and things get fixed or at least there is an intention to help. None of this happens at the Tanque Verde Ranch. They just leave you to figure things out for yourself. The worst thing which can happen - you don't come back ever again. But guess what - they just don't care. So you can do absolutely nothing there to get their attention. And the fact that ranch management does not even respond to the negative reviews says it all. For now they have enough demand not to care, but this is not sustainable. If you don't want to bring your money to people who absolutely don't care about your experience, I would recommend to stay away from this place.

Top notch service everywhere! The entire staff (that we met)-from the front desk, to the bar, to the dining room, to the folks that took us out on horse rides and bike rides, seem genuinely happy to be there. They even allowed us to park our RV/fifth wheel on site during our stay at the ranch. We loved that there was no TV in the room! What a refreshing change of pace. This was our second time at the ranch and we just love it! Thank you!

We stayed here for 2 nights during new years for our annual family gathering. We had booked 6 rooms. We did the package with all meals included. The 1st night at dinner everything just seemed very hectic and unorganized. Several of the group had to wait an hour for their ordered entree, everyone else was done eating their food before they got theirs. When you're paying roughly $300.00 per person a day you would expect better service. All the servers were running around since it was a packed house and they just didn't seem like they had enough help. All of them seem to have big tables and it's impossible to give the attention a big table needs when you have multiple big tables that are seated at the same time. When food ran out in the kid's buffet, it wasn't replenished right away, there was at least a 15 to 20 min wait, like there was no anticipation or just lack of preperation. That was pretty much the norm for meals that we had experienced. On the last day for lunch burgers were ordered and they came out about 45 minutes later after eveyone else had gotten their food and finished. New year's eve entertainment consisted of bingo in a room that didn't have enough tables or seating for all the guests so we had to balance little plates of deserts on our knees with drinks on the floor sitting on chairs that were against the wall or standing. We didn't stay for the band since there just wasn't enough room for us all in the room. Over all it just seemed there is a lack of planning or even just lack of effort to plan something special. We did go horse back riding as a family and that was fun. Everything is paid out of pocket. The food was decent, not a huge variations in the buffet but all tasted good. The rooms, depending on which rooms you get will vary in size and quality. All the bathrooms are upgraded but the room we had, there was a door to the next room in our room and we can hear their normal toned conversation clear as if they are in the same room as us. Over all the price they charge is super high compared to what you actually receive, and of course they charge double on holidays so then it's even more noticeable.

Absolute joy to spend time here.. perfect god family.. service is great and extremely friendly .. don't miss the morning breakfast horse ride

We spent 3 nights at the Tanque Verde Guest Ranch. It was the last of our 29 day vacation in which we had visited 4 states. As the General Manager, Terry Hanley said "You left the best to last", and he was right! From check in to check out, we were met with a smile & genuine kindness & hospitality. Our room was just lovely. We had a patio area that looked out into the desert, 2 queen beds, a fireplace and a nice table with 4 chairs. We loved having a fridge and the beautiful extra large bathroom. We had dinner at The Dog House our first night at the resort. We ordered the house elote pizza and I have not been able to stop thinking about that pizza! We enjoyed our spa treatments and both the indoor and outdoor pool. We learned so much about rattlesnakes with our time with Marsha, the manager of the nature center. Traci, our wangler, was so patient and kind. The sunset ride was one of the highlights of our whole trip! Our family enjoyed the Cowboy Cookout very much as well as the Breakfast Mountain Bike Ride. We will be back for sure.