Sahuaro Ranch

by Sahuaro Ranch Foundation

Step back into the part at Historic Sahuaro Ranch. 9802 N. 59th Ave., Glendale, Arizona, where visitors enjoy a unique look at bygone days. This beautiful acreage showcases 17 of the original buildings encompassed by fruit orchards, a rose garden, and resident "wildlife."

Sahuaro Ranch got its start in 1885 when William Bartlett, a grain broker in Peoria, Illinois, homesteaded one square mile of land at an initial 25¢ cents an acre. After the land was irrigated and planted, he paid another dollar an acre.

The first building on the ranch was the Adobe House, built in 1887. Most of the structures were added during the 1890s, including the Main House, the Blacksmith Ship, Horse Barn, Tack House, Mens' Quarters, and a Guest House with two bedrooms and five bathrooms. All of the striking red brick buildings on the ranch site reflected Bartlett's wealth and architectural eye and provided a popular winter resort for the Bartlett family. Over time, the ranch became home to cattle, horses, and hogs. Peacocks also appeared on the grounds and have remained since.

In its heyday, Sahuaro Ranch was known as the "Showplace of the Valley," complete with indoor plumbing (uncommon at the time). With one hundred acres of figs, 40 acres of plums, peaches, pears, olives, dates, pecans, and almonds, the ranch developed into one of the most productive agricultural ranches in the area. Fig production was timely with the introduction of Nabisco Fig Newtons in 1892.

Today, the last 80 acres of the ranch are owned by the City of Glendale. Special events and exhibits are held through the year. Sahuaro Ranch Days, Nov. 13-14, feature pedal tractors, candle dipping, face painting, corn husk dolls, and other activities for children. Kids of all ages will enjoy tractor games, demonstrations in the blacksmith shop, cotton ginning, butter churning, and threshing.

The Fruit Packing Shed Galleries and Museum Store are open five days a week, and tours of the Main House, Packing House, and barnyard are conducted during exhibit hours. The grounds are free and open to the public daily from dawn to dusk. In addition, weddings are held in the rose garden which blooms with 260 varieties of roses. For more information, call 623-930-4200 or visit www.sahuaroranch.org.