Ariz. guest ranch still a Southwest travel gem

SASABE, Ariz. — Located here in southern Arizona is a guest ranch called Rancho de la Osa that is truly a hidden gem, where visitors can go horseback riding, observe wildlife, and see sites of historical significance.

In 1921, Louisa Wade Wetherill started Hacienda de la Osa Guest Ranch. In 1996, Veronica and Richard Schultz bought the property, which was in disrepair, and restored the buildings here. They wanted to do something unique and different that enabled them to utilize their creative juices.

"The short answer is we were retired and we were too young to be retired. But the long answer is that once we decided and realized we were too young to be retired, we wanted to buy a business, but we couldn't find a business, so I said let's look for an interesting building or compound and let's see if we can forge something out of it," said Richard Schultz.

Today, there are a total of 19 rooms, and as many as 56 people have stayed here at one time. There are three classes of rooms — a classic, a deluxe and a two-room suite. No two rooms are alike. Each room has a wood burning fireplace/wood stove.

The main dining room is considered one of the last great haciendas. Happy hour is held each evening from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the cantina, which is reputed to be the oldest building in Arizona, built in 1725 as an outpost mission.

"It's a really neat space. I love it dearly. I just really covet this space," he said of the cantina. "When we are real busy, a lot of times we will bring in some dance instructors who teach all of our guests how to do line dancing and country western dancing and things like that. We have brought in guitar players and story tellers and cowboy poets."

Visitors come to hike, bike and horseback ride. The ranch, located in Sasabe, is situated on 240 acres, but there is access to 130,000 acres of Indian, state and federal land. The Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge is located nearby.

There are 23 horses at the ranch, although a couple of them are retired. Unless the horses are being actively used for riding, they are turned out on the ranch and they get to roam around, said wrangler Jeremy Gill.

Emily Breck, another wrangler, said riders who visit Rancho de la Osa are a real healthy mix from beginners to more advanced. They come to experience the feeling of freedom when they are on a horse in open country.