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Family Dude Ranch Vacations in Arizona

Explore Our History & Celebrate Our Future

At White Stallion Ranch, we have always found innovative and sustainable ways to merge our rich Western history with the sensibilities and luxuries of the present. Many of our buildings are original to the ranch’s first build in the 1900s, and we have also made tasteful renovations to accommodate the changing needs of our guests. We have always stayed faithful to our original mission and vision for the ranch, and have retained it as a traditional, historic, and upscape family-owned and operated dude ranch.   

The True family focuses on guest-centered accommodations and activities and sincere, personal guest relationships. We believe our ranch is a magical place where guests can have life-changing experiences as they reconnect with nature and leave their stress and worries back in the ‘real world.’ As we look to the future, we reflect on the past and acknowledge how the history of the ranch has contributed to its success as an authentic family dude ranch in Arizona.

The Ranch Through History - Our Timeline

1900s

White Stallion Ranch is built as a cattle ranch. The original property was constructed of Mexican adobe brick made of mud and straw. During the renovation, wire and horseshoes were found in the walls. A small area of the original adobe is on display in the dining room, the original building on the ranch.

1936

The ranch was homesteaded by David Young, the first deeded owner of the property.

1939

The ranch was purchased by Herbert and Vine Bruning to ranch cattle, chickens and turkeys. They changed the name to CB Bar Ranch and it was once home to 30,000 birds.

1945

Max Zimmerman (a Chicago liquor store owner) bought the ranch and moved West to become part of the 100-strong guest ranch industry in Tucson. Max named the ranch the MZ Bar Ranch and constructed six buildings complete with kitchenettes for guests. These buildings are still standing, but several renovations later they no longer resemble the original guest room interiors.

1949

Mary Varner purchased the property, continuing to operate it as a guest ranch; she also offered long-term rentals to the nearby Marana Army Airfield.

1959

Brew and Marge Towne of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, fulfilled their dream of owning a guest ranch when they purchased the ranch. They re-named the ranch White Stallion, even though they wanted to name it The Black Stallion. They quickly realized that “BS Ranch” sported a negative connotation and White Stallion has stood the test of time.

1965

Allen and Cynthia True came from Colorado to make the ranch their home. At this time, the ranch consisted of 17 rooms, 17 horses, and 200 acres. The number of guest ranches left in the area had dropped to about 30, and most were casualties of Tucson’s urban sprawl. With an eye toward the future, Allen and Cynthia began purchasing adjacent land as it became available, increasing the ranch to 3,000 acres. Today, the ranch offers 43 rooms and a 5-bedroom Hacienda as guest accommodations.

See Us in the Movies

White Stallion Ranch has been attracting filmmakers for close to a century. It has served as a backdrop in many Western feature films, and as the primary shooting location for the television series High Chaparral. You can see parts of the ranch in these movies and TV shows: 

  • Arizona (1939) with William Holden and Jean Arthur
  • Relentless (1948) with Robert Young
  • The Last RoundUp (1948) with Gene Autry
  • The Gal Who Took the West (1949) with Yvonne DeCarlo
  • Winchester 73 (1950) with Jimmy Stewart
  • Apache Drums (1951) with Stephen McNally and Coleen Gray
  • The Last Outpost (1951) with Ronald Reagan (cavalry charge scene)
  • A Kiss before Dying (1955) with Robert Wagner and Joann Woodward
  • Apache Ambush (1955) with Bill Williams
  • Backlash (1956) with Richard Widmark and Donna Reed
  • The Bottom of the Bottle (1956) with Joseph Cotton and Van Johnson
  • The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold (1956) with Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels
  • The Mini-Skirt Mob (1968) with Jeremy Slate and Diane McBain
  • Young Billy Young (1969) with Robert Mitchum, Angie Dickerson, and Robert Walker Jr
  • What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice (1969) with Geraldine Page and Ruth Gordon
  • Five Savage Men (1971) with Henry Silva and Michelle Carey
  • How the West Was Won (1977) TV mini series with James Arness
  • Perdita Durango (1977) European film with Rosie Perez
  • The New Maverick (1978) TV movie with James Garner
  • Wild, Wild West Once More (1980) with Robert Conrad and Jonathan Winters
  • Flashpoint (1984) with Kris Kristofferson
  • Stones for Ibarra (1988) TV movie with Glenn Close and Keith Carradine
  • Geronimo (1993) with director Robert Young and writer J.T. Allen
  • Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002) with George Clooney and Sam Rockwell
  • The Last Blast (2006) with Heinz Hoenig
  • Hot Bath and A Stiff Drink and A Close Shave (2014) with Jeffrey Patterson, Frankie Nunez, and Alison Eastwood

Book Your Family Dude Ranch Vacation

White Stallion Ranch is now one of the largest privately-owned cattle and guest ranches in Arizona. Call us today to learn more about our travel packages and amenities, or book your family dude ranch vacation online. 

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