Fire in the Desert—Luxury Real Estate Ablaze at Northern Tucson’s Saguaro Ranch published in the March 2023 issue
“This community is unlike anything in the western United States,” said Lundberg. “Only 20 percent of the land is designated for development, meaning 80 percent of this undisturbed desert will be preserved in perpetuity. A tremendous amount of energy went into creating this unique and authentic luxury enclave, and we are honored by the scarcity of inventory remaining at the ranch.”
“These last two remaining lots are absolutely spectacular,” said Mike Conlin, Ranch and Sales Manager, Saguaro Ranch. “Lots 56 and 68 are high-altitude lots, sitting at an elevation of around 3,500-4,000-ft, which, compared to relatively low-lying Tucson, inspires a true sense of high-desert mountain living. Panoramic views of Pusch Ridge, which encompasses the entire west side of Santa Catalinas, and views of the Santa Rita’s Mountains to the South, and the downtown lights of Tucson and the University of Arizona in the distance, are just magnificent—pure and simple.”
With demand for one of the most breathtaking settings in the desert Southwest so high, in 2021 developers introduced to market, Moonlight Canyon at Saguaro Ranch, a new desert-chic enclave within the prestigious 1,200-acre Saguaro Ranch, offering a collection of 43, 1-to-2-acre homesites located in the canyons or ascending upward along the various slopes of Moonlight Canyon.
In 2022, the Phase One launch of Moonlight Canyon saw six homesite sales, including the completion of the enclave’s first residence, #43, in December, along with the completion of road paving and utilities brought to all 43 homesites within the canyon. With two homes currently under construction, another four lots in various stages of the design review process, and showings and property tours taking place daily, sales momentum is high.
“I’ve been building for forty years, and this community is the last true high-end development in the Tucson metro- plex,” said Chris Kemmerly, Principal and CEO, Miramonte Homes. “A custom home can easily take four to five years to build, but we’re starting with pre-approved plans. At Moonlight Canyon, we’re still building custom homes that buyers can make changes to but delivering them in half of the time.”
Phase One pricing at Moonlight Canyon ranges from $1,859,000 to $2,269,000. Homebuyers can choose to add a guest casita ranging in size from approximately 424 to 677 square feet, starting at $240,000+. Phase Two will deliver 22 additional homesites that are expected to be released following Phase I sell-out.
Endeavoring to make the home design/build process as seamless as possible, Saguaro Ranch developers partnered with Tucson-based homebuilder, Miramonte Homes and architect, Robinette Architects, Inc., to oversee the design/build program at Moonlight Canyon, offering buyers a variety of thoughtfully designed semi-custom luxury floor plans for homes ranging from 2,856 to 3,896 sq. ft. The luxurious and smartly designed selection of home plans offer single-level-living convenience, flowing open floor plans, and added upgrades including pools, jetted spas, and fire pits.
Whether buyers select a residential Estate Lot or luxury home for sale, within Moonlight Canyon, owning at Saguaro Ranch includes the benefits of membership in the Saguaro Ranch Club.
Saguaro Ranch Club offers owner-members access to common amenities, including a 25-yard lap pool, jetted spa, and patios with fire pits. Located on the rooftop of the Saguaro Ranch Club, a fitness center invites workouts on state-of-the-art equipment, while two pickleball courts, a Bocce ball court, and a horseshoe pit invite spirited competition among members, their family, and guests. The private clubhouse offers an idyllic setting for hosting special events including wedding receptions, anniversaries, birthday celebrations, and company retreats.
The unprecedented sales activity taking place within Saguaro Ranch, is evidence that the developer’s vision—to create a community that welcomes privacy, an active outdoor lifestyle, and unparalleled amenities inspired by nature, has not just sparked, it has ignited. While most venture outside of city limits to get lost in the desert, buyers at Saguaro Ranch discover that they are home.
Brittanny Havard is a freelance journalist specializing in luxury ranch real estate. She can be reached at britthavard@ gmail.com.
Long Realty to broker new Saguaro Ranch homesites
(TUCSON, Ariz., November 20, 2023) Saguaro Ranch, one of the region’s most storied—and private— developments, is expanding its homesite options while preserving its renowned exclusivity. No stranger to the world of luxury real estate, Tucson-based Long Realty Company’s Oro Valley office has been chosen as sole broker for the new release of lots.
Known for its four-acre-plus “estate” lots and multimillion-dollar homes (mostly in the $4 million-plus range), the guard-gated community launches a fresh focus with its Moonlight Canyon homesites. The new homesites mark the first-ever release of smaller-than-estate properties within Saguaro Ranch.
“This is a tremendous, exciting opportunity to join a world-class luxury community,” said Rachel Bradley, manager of the Oro Valley office. “Moonlight Canyon is tailored to preserve the heritage and natural beauty of Saguaro Ranch while offering buyers a wider range of options.”
Nestled in the Tortolita Mountains of Marana, just north of Tucson and accessible only by traversing a 710- foot-long tunnel hewn from the living rock, Saguaro Ranch embraces some 1,200 acres of high-desert landscape with unparalleled city, mountain, and dark-sky views. Development plans include leaving 80 percent of the property in its natural state.
The initial Moonlight Canyon release is for 10 sites, with prices ranging from $199,000 to $825,000. In all, the development will comprise 43 lots, each sized from one to two acres, with total build-out costs (lot and home) estimated at $2 million to $4 million.
“These unique lots are offered on a first-come, first-served basis,” Bradley said. “The best views will go fast. I urge buyers to snag them now, then plan at their leisure.” In October the office added two Saguaro Ranch specialists: associate brokers Mark Wiener and Michael Conlin.
Buyers can leave the lot undeveloped for now; contract with Miramonte Arizona LLC to build to suit, from an array of existing pre-approved model home plans by Robinette Architects Inc.; or work with an outside architect and builder of their choice, with plans subject to approval by the Saguaro Ranch Review Committee.
Secluded behind its breathtaking entry tunnel, Saguaro Ranch is still relatively undiscovered by the region’s luxury buyers. “We want to show the world what lies beyond the tunnel,” Bradley said. “There’s nowhere else like it. It’s in a league of its own.”
“Talk about a hidden gem!” said KC Woods, president of Long Realty Company. “Moonlight Canyon opens Saguaro Ranch’s ‘Desert Living. Naturally’ vision to a new generation of residents, and Rachel and her office are perfectly positioned to help it shine.”
For more information, contact Rachel Bradley, manager of Long Realty’s Oro Valley office, at
RachelB@LongRealty.com or (520) 918-6501.
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About Long Companies
Long Companies is comprised of Long Realty Company, Prosperity Home Mortgage, Agave Title Agency, and Long Insurance Group – all working together to create a full range of real estate services and products. Based in Tucson, Long Realty Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate and wholly owned subsidiary of HomeServices of America, Inc., is the leading real estate brokerage company operating in southern Arizona. It offers an unparalleled level of award winning residential and commercial real estate services through a network of more than 1,400 licensed real estate associates in 40 offices, including 23 affiliate realty and property management companies that are independently owned and operated throughout Arizona. Long Realty Company has been helping generations of Arizonans achieve their dreams of home ownership since 1926. For more information, visit LongRealty.com.
Real Estate Community News
Opening of New Clubhouse and Pool Complex Receives High Praise from Members
A lap pool, rooftop fitness suite, and bocce ball court enhance the member experience at Saguaro Ranch, the exclusive, 1,200-acre gated community 35 minutes north of downtown.
Tucson, Arizona (February 24, 2022) — When designs were first unveiled by Tucson’s Robinette Architects, Inc. for repurposing the community’s iconic McClintock’s Restaurant, the entire Saguaro Ranch team was exuberant. Plans called for a 25-yard lap pool, a fitness space, a seating area with a two-sided fireplace that intended to leverage breathtaking 180-degree desertscape views, a bocce ball court, two pickleball courts, “conversation islands” and firepits.
When construction was completed in December — and the blueprints were transformed into reality — Saguaro Ranch’s development partners Lundberg and Peschel couldn’t have been more ecstatic.
“It was one thing when Ron introduced his vision for the renovation, but to see it come to fruition is amazing,” said Lundberg, President, Saguaro Lot Management, Inc.
Accompanying Robinette Architects, Inc. in the project was a consortium of local firms, including Madan Builders LLC, Marcon Excavating & Construction, Inc, Stone Scapes Design and Landscaping, LLC, and Aqua Design International.
“Water in the desert has a wonderful, soothing effect on people,” explained Dave Acklin, President, Aqua Design International. “The design concept was rendered by Ron and integrates the pool and spa with the amenities of the pool area, which include a swim-up bar in the pool, a jetted spa, and a bocce ball court.”
The award-winning landscape architecture firm has designed some of the most iconic pool complexes in the world, including Utah’s Amangiri, Four Seasons Punta Mita, Four Seasons Anguilla, JW Marriott Starr Pass, Omni Tucson National and Loews Santa Monica Beach Resort.
“We’ve been fortunate to work with Ron on several projects over the years,” added Acklin. “He’s one of the preeminent architects in Arizona and this collaboration assures that members will have the best experience possible at the new Saguaro Ranch Club.”
Saguaro Ranch is a one-of-a-kind community unlike anything in the western United States in that only 20 percent of the land is designated for development and 80 percent of it is preserved as undisturbed desert. Now members, their families, and their guests are enjoying the benefits of the Saguaro Ranch Club.
“A tremendous amount of energy went into creating this special gathering place and we’re so pleased with the comments we’re getting,” Lundberg commented.
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About Saguaro Ranch
Saguaro Ranch is a prestigious real estate community whose location in the Tortolita Mountains just north of Tucson is as majestic as it is serene. Distinguished by a one-of-a-kind tunnel entrance and National Park-like setting, it combines welcomed privacy with an active, outdoor lifestyle and diversity of amenities, including the Saguaro Ranch Club, which features a 25-yard lap pool, bocce ball court, two pickleball courts and a rooftop fitness area. For information visit Saguaro Ranch online, on Instagram or on YouTube. Media contact: Mike Hess; 970-708-0336
Three Estate Lots are available, ranging from $285,000 to $1.2 million dollars; each lot is approximately four acres. The 22 available homes and lots in Phase One and Two at Moonlight Canyon range in price from $1,595,000 to $1,789,000. All the Moonlight Canyon lots range in size from one to three acres. Moonlight Canyon homebuyers can choose to add a guest casita ranging in size from approximately 424 to 677 square feet and costing between $219,900 to $259,900 respectfully.
About Robinette Architects, Inc.
A Tucson native, Ron Robinette founded Robinette Architects, Inc. in 1984. The firm focuses on unique and creative designs, and is respectful of the Sonoran Desert. With more than 300 constructed projects in Southern Arizona, Ron truly understands the region. His firm has been involved with Saguaro Ranch since its inception. For information visit Robinette Architect. Media contact: Ron Robinette; 520-323-3979
About Aqua Design International
We are a landscape architecture firm specializing in the design of swimming pools, spas and water features. We design structures, piping systems, filtration and chemical treatment systems, deck equipment and ADA access. Our package of design work includes complete SD, DVD, CD and CA phase professional consulting. Our projects are found throughout the United States and in 19 countries. For information visit Aqua Design International Media contact: Aiden Acklin; 520-219-8929.
Mike Hess
Saguaro Ranch Communications
Cell: (970) 708-0336
The Saguaro Ranch Club: Focus on Health, Mindfulness & Well-Being
January 10, 2022 — By Romi Carrell Wittman — At the heart of the expansive and rugged Saguaro Ranch development north of Tucson lies a repurposed and redesigned facility focused on wellness in body, mind, and spirit. The Saguaro Ranch Club is a members-only retreat offering residents of Saguaro Ranch a central gathering space to meet and socialize with friends and neighbors, as well as a space to focus on health, mindfulness and well-being.
In its former life, the club was McClintock’s Restaurant, a popular restaurant nestled in the Tortolita Mountains. When the sprawling Saguaro Ranch property was purchased by new owners, the development team decided to repurpose the restaurant into a club that would serve as an anchor for the re-conceptualized residential development. It officially opened in October 2021.
“We’ve made it into a private club that offers residents a gathering space as well as health and wellness facilities,” said Scott Lundberg, owner of Saguaro Property Development and a resident of Saguaro Ranch.
After a head-to-toe renovation by the award-winning local firm Robinette Architects, the newly renamed Saguaro Ranch Club offers residents luxurious athletic facilities, recreational and social activities. Aqua Design International, a Tucson-based landscape architecture firm, designed the pool and spa complex, which includes a 25-yard lap pool, a jetted spa and a swim-up bar. Aqua Design International’s work is world-renowned, having built pools at resorts such as the Four Seasons Punta Mita resort in Mexico, the Amangiri, a five-star resort in Canyon Point, Utah, and the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix.
The club also features two pickleball courts, a bocce ball court and a rooftop athletic center with state-of-the-art fitness equipment and a panoramic view of Pusch Ridge to the east and the city of Tucson to the south. Read more about Saguaro Ranch and its unique natural setting by clicking here. Article authored by Romi Carrell Wittman.
To learn more about Saguaro Ranch and the luxury residences at Moonlight Canyon by Miramonte Homes, call (520) 833-6141 to be put on the guest list and to arrange your personalized tour. Brokers are protected.
Moonlight Canyon at Saguaro Ranch: Like Living in a National Park
January 19, 2022 — By Romi Carrell Wittman — Set amid the rocky yet lush desert landscape of the Tortolita Mountains, Saguaro Ranch offers residents and their guests the spacious skies and purple mountain majesties immortalized in our nation’s unofficial anthem. Here, 1,200 acres of pristine Sonoran Desert sit virtually untouched, except for the footsteps of mule deer, javelina, desert tortoises and other native creatures.
Located on Tucson’s northwest side at the north end of Thornydale Road, Saguaro Ranch is a hidden treasure 20 years in the making. While generous acre and multi-acre lots and luxury homes dot the area, an 80/20 building restriction – that is, no more than 20 percent of the land can be developed – maintains the wild and natural character of the land. Mike Conlin, an associate broker with Miramonte Homes and ranch manager of the property, has been part of the Saguaro Ranch project from the very beginning.
“It was the late 1990s and I thought I was going to retire,” he chuckled. But requests from friends seeking a retreat of sorts in the Sonoran Desert put him on a search for an ideal location for year-round outdoor living. He looked all over Pima County and southern Arizona to find the right place. “The goal was to find a place that felt remote, but was close to amenities like a university, shopping and an airport,” Conlin said.
That’s when he discovered the Tortolita Mountains north of Tucson and just east of the Dove Mountain residential development.
“It’s an exceptionally beautiful area. The giant boulder formations and the topography are really unique,” he said. They are so unique, in fact, that some foreign visitors assumed the rocks were fakes brought in to “dress up” the area. Conlin assured them they are very much real.
Read more about Saguaro Ranch and its unique natural setting by clicking here. Article authored by Romi Carrell Wittman.
To learn more about Saguaro Ranch and the luxury residences at Moonlight Canyon by Miramonte Homes, call (520) 833-6141 to be put on the guest list and to arrange your personalized tour. Brokers are protected.
The Visionary Designs of Lori Carroll
BizTucson Magazine — Fall 2021 — By Romi Carrell Wittman — For more than three decades, Lori Carroll has transformed homes, businesses, and outdoor spaces with her creative and chic residential and commercial designs. Her work can be seen in medical offices, restaurants, hotels, and countless luxury homes across the region. Carroll and her team at Lori Carroll & Associates have built a solid reputation for desert sophistication and style while retaining the individuality of their clients. “I don’t have a huge calling for opulence here,” she said. “It’s more understated elegance – beautiful indoor and outdoor living.”
From her Tucson headquarters, Carroll has also built a large client base across the United States, from California to New York for her world-class, award-winning designs. In fact, she’s won more than 100 local, national and international design awards, including the International Design of the Year for Powder Rooms, the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s Pinnacle of Design, the NKBA Kitchen of the Year, and NKBA Bathroom of the Year.
In her new book, “Circle Square Balance Hue,” which highlights some of Carroll’s favorite projects through the years, she details her approach to design. “Spaces should capture the imagination while honoring the clients’ needs and lifestyle,” she wrote. Her straightforward yet innovative aesthetic, coupled with her boundless imagination and singular work ethic, is at the core of her design practice. “Every single project we create, I love that project at that time. We put our heart and soul into it,” she said. Here’s a look at many of her note-worthy designs over the years:
The Good Life Ideal Living Room Designs
A home’s living room is one of the most multi-functional, highly used rooms in any house. “No two living rooms are alike,” Carroll said. For some clients, a living room serves as a retreat from the world, a place to relax and tune out the stress and anxiety of daily life. For others, it’s an extension of the kitchen gathering space, available for both large and small gatherings of friends and families. At the end of the day, however, the space must be practical as well as beautiful.
One of Carroll’s favorite living room projects is a testament to her knowledge and application of color, with the use of crisp greens playing off crimson tones in the artwork for a beautiful contemporary feel. “This is color at work for an energizing design.”
Using the beautiful, rugged desert as a breathtaking visual backdrop is also her forte, as seen in a Foothills home that is “a sanctuary like no other,” Carroll said. “I feel totally comfortable mixing textures and fabric to create a memorable and dynamic space. When it’s done well, it’s gorgeous.”
Another luxurious Ventana Canyon home is a feast of textures created from top with the wood latticework to bottom with rustic brick flooring and impactful rugs and lighting. “This is a wonderful environment where durability and beauty co-exist together,” she said.
The Heart of the Home Stunning Kitchen Designs.
Kitchens serve as a home’s central nervous system, according to Carroll. They serve as a place where food is prepared, where people gather and converse, and where work is done. As such, functionality is of utmost importance.
“While function may dictate the general scope of the kitchen, there is plenty of room to push the envelope,” she said.
Advances in materials and kitchen technologies have made for many opportunities to create statements. Carroll said she views kitchens as the ultimate place to meld impeccable design with practical functionality.
One of Carroll’s ultra-modern kitchen designs for a Foothills home won the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s 2016 Kitchen of the Year. The room was completely wrapped in afromosia, a wood with beautiful, exotic qualities. “When we first started creating the initial concepts, this project just felt really good,” Carroll recalled. “I told one of my team members that the project was definitely special.”
Modern kitchens, she said, provide a perfect opportunity to make a visual impact. An open uncluttered layout is critical. In the Foothills kitchen, the wrap-around wood warms what could have been a cold and dark space. Additional lighting draws attention to the height of the room and its clean lines. While the design is minimalist, with multiple spaces to encourage small gatherings, it’s inviting and functional. “The handcrafted materials, artisan touches, and timeless styling here really made for a dramatic statement,” she said.
A transitional style reigned supreme in another of Carroll’s welcoming kitchens, where warm ivory cabinets encircle a complementary gray and tan wood island. The granite marries the palette of both and the expansive lighting fixtures illuminate the entire space. “This design is inclusive, inspiring and innovative,” she said.
Click here to read the complete story, which begins on page 126.
Carroll, who is a member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), the International Design Associates (IIDA) and NCIDQ certified, is working in concert with Robinette Architects, Inc. and Miramonte Homes to bring her imaginative thinking to the residences at Moonlight Canyon at Saguaro Ranch.
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To learn more about Saguaro Ranch and the luxury residences at Moonlight Canyon by Miramonte Homes, call (520) 833-6141 to be put on the guest list and to arrange your personalized tour. Brokers are protected.
The Urbanist’s Guide to Tucson
New York Magazine — Elizabeth Thompson — Sonoran Desert chiles, full-moon-brewed beer, and grocery-store-heiress antiques. Tucson’s never really had an official nickname. There’s “Old Pueblo,” meant to evoke the city’s ancient roots — it was settled by 17th-century Spanish missionaries on prehistoric Hohokam land. Some locals reject it as sounding too sleepy or because it was coined as a marketing ploy to siphon tourists from other southwestern cities (like Santa Fe, the long-reigning popular girl of the Southwest). Recently, such tactics have become unnecessary. In 2015, Tucson was the first “city of gastronomy” to be named in the U.S. by the U.N. Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.
The body chose Tucson for its agricultural history (it has been continuously cultivated for 4,000 years — the longest in North America) and wide variety of cultural influences (take the popular bacon-wrapped Sonoran hot dog). All of a sudden, restaurants and bars with newfangled menus started popping up throughout the city, luring food-obsessed visitors and averaging an opening a week by 2018. The formerly sparse downtown became home to breweries, shops, and stylish hotels, but, as is often the case, rents shot up and longtime beloved businesses closed. A bright spot: Tucson elected its first Latina mayor, Regina Romero, in November, cementing its status as a “blue dot in a sea of red.” As for visiting, winter and spring are the best times to go (most people fly into Phoenix and drive the hour and a half to Tucson), when temperatures rarely drop below 60 or go above 80 degrees.
1. Four Ideal Evenings (Shamanic walks and dive bars)
Visit an Unruined Dive: “Danny’s Baboquivari Lounge (2910 E. Fort Lowell Rd.) is a classic watering hole, named after my favorite mountain in southern Arizona, and has charismatic bartenders and a great patio. In the era of shows like Bar Rescue, it breaks my heart watching classic bars being converted into half-hearted man caves. Danny’s still has their timeless cowboy wallpaper, hand-drawn cactus sign out front, and weird outsider-art robot structure out back.” - Bryan Eichhorst, drink programmer at Owls Club
Attend a Star Party: “Kitt Peak National Observatory and Mt. Lemmon Skycenter observatory both have nighttime programs that are great — from explorations of the moon to overnight telescope observing sessions where you get a full tour of the cosmos that lasts right up until sunrise. There’s also the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association, which hosts regular star parties open to the public. Also, if you just want to be able to see the Milky Way with your naked eye, go west, over Gates Pass, toward Saguaro National Park.” - Buell Jannuzi, head of the University of Arizona’s astronomy department and Steward Observatory
Take a Witch-Approved Walk: “There is a full-moon labyrinth walk hosted by the Web of Life-Intuitive Shamanic Animists group. The labyrinth is created monthly in the desert and outlined in lights, with an altar in the center. Or if you want a drink, Crooked Tooth Brewing Co. (228 E. 6th St.) makes Full Moon beer that is brewed under the full moon each month and crafted in ritual with a variety of crystals and herbs that support the intended vibration of the beer.” - Melisa Doran Cole, owner of witchy-goods store and community space the Ninth House
Catch a Word-of-Mouth Waila Band: “Waila bands play in the Tohono O’odham Nation, at the San Xavier Dance Ramada, but it’s mostly word-of-mouth. Waila has that norteño-style polka sound with jazz elements but differs in that it’s almost exclusively instrumental. You can hear waila on Rez Radio here every Friday night.” - Duncan Hudson, music director of KXCI Community Radio
2. From Kimchee Egg Sandwiches to Ají Ceviche
A day’s worth of food options, according to James Beard Award semifinalist Don Guerra of Barrio Bread.
Breakfast: “Start at Exo Roast Co. (403 N. Sixth Ave.) and keep it simple with a beautiful coffee, which they roast in house — the owners are really into preserving the true flavor of the coffee. They have these inventive breakfast sandwiches, like Kimchee Egg. It’s made with Bajo Tierra Kitchen kimchee, a little local, Sonoran-style kimchee company that uses local chiltepin and cilantro. They have a lovely back room, which turns into El Crisol mezcal bar at night.”
Lunch: “For lunch, I’d go nearby to BOCA Tacos y Tequilla (533 N. Fourth Ave.) and people-watch the crowd walking by. I love the Rajas tacos with roasted Anaheim chiles in a cheese sauce. The tacos, which arrive on a cutting board, come with three or four salsas to try that they walk you through. It’s not just a red salsa, a green salsa, and that’s it. Chef Maria Mazon changes them daily and is really creative — you might get a basil salsa or a fruit salsa.”
Dinner: “Go down to Charro del Rey (178 E. Broadway Blvd.). It’s a seafood restaurant from the Flores family, who own the Mexican restaurant El Charro — a Tucson institution — and are icons in the community. Their ají ceviche is so fresh and delicious. It’s plenty for one person or great to share, and the price point is $12; when you consider the obvious thoughtfulness and preparation that goes into it, that ceviche would easily be $20 if you were eating up at Ventana Canyon resort.”
Dessert: “Go to Monsoon Chocolate (234 E. 22nd St.). The owner, Adam Krantz, opened in an old tortilla factory. They have a frozen hot chocolate that, when it’s 105 here in July and your brain is melting, will make you feel like a million dollars.”
3. Want to Rile Up a Tucsonan? Bring up … Phoenix.
To an outsider, Tucson and Phoenix may seem indistinguishable. Confusing Tucson with its rival 90 minutes north, however, results in a terse correction from a local. Fueling the grudge are the bitter sports rivalries between the state’s two biggest colleges - the University of Arizona in Tucson and Arizona State University. Then there’s the tendency for Tucsonans to look down their noses at Phoenix’s moneyed sprawl. Though no stranger to resorts, Tucson thinks of itself as more accepting of its natural desert habitat - bland dirt, rocks, and all. Some of the city’s rougher-hewn charm is captured beautifully on local photographer Kristine Peashock’s Instagram account Tucson Ordinary.
The Immigration Crisis: The city is home to anti-deportation human-rights groups like No More Deaths, which has long provided water and food to immigrants crossing the harsh Sonoran Desert on foot. No More Deaths volunteer Scott Warren became a national story when he was arrested by Border Patrol agents in 2018 and charged with three felonies for providing temporary shelter to two young men crossing from Central America.
Downtown: The recent revitalization of Tucson’s downtown has pushed out artists and small businesses. The 2019 razing of a longtime music venue (to make room for high-rise apartments) fanned the flames of the decade-long “Keep Tucson Shitty” anti-gentrification movement, a play on similar pleas from Portland and Austin to keep their towns “weird.”
4. Where a Local Would Stay If She Weren’t a Local
Acupuncturist Kelly LeGendre on the best places to spend the night (and possibly spot Diane Keaton)
The Downtown Clifton $ 485 S. Stone Ave.
“A newly renovated motor lodge with a Western, mid-century, Pendleton-blanket kind of vibe, located just south of downtown. It’s also home to the Red Light Lounge, which features Sonoran-inspired cocktails, food, and little bites like delicious masa pretzels.”
The Fig (Barrio Viejo) $$ Location provided upon booking.
“An updated, four-bedroom historic adobe. It’s in the charming historic district, Barrio Viejo, and is the place to stay if you want to experience Tucson like a local. You might run into Diane Keaton, who recently bought a house nearby.”
Posada $$$ Location provided upon booking.
“A truly gorgeous lodge-style inn with a modern Sonoran feel. Right at the edge of Saguaro National Park, it’s a 30-minute drive from downtown and perfectly located for hiking and exploring the nearby Sonora Desert Museum.”
Plus One for the ‘Gram
Hotel McCoy $ 720 W. Silverlake Rd.
“It’s affordable and filled with colorful pieces by local artists. You drive in under a painted rainbow archway that says ‘Tucson Is Magic’ and is begging to be photographed.”
5. A Muralist’s Favorite Mural Plus a gallery and museum recommended by artists.
La Pilita 420 S. Main Ave.
“What I love about this mural is how it’s influenced by the Chicano style; it’s not trained or academic. It is so beautiful and simple and tells the timeline of a family’s Aztec roots. It was restored about ten years ago, so the colors are super-beautiful.” — Racheal Rios, muralist
Etherton Gallery 135 S. Sixth Ave. B
“They put on world-class exhibitions with local and international artists. Their latest installation, ‘Land Re-Form,’ showcases incredible gelatin-silver-print landscape photos. I also love a series of self-portraits taken by Arizona artist Mark Klett; they’re of him and his daughter, and they date back to the early ’90s.” — Nick Georgiou, sculptor
Pima Air & Space Museum 6000 E. Valencia Rd.
“There are about 350 aircraft, and you can go right up to them — close enough to see the nose art painted on each of them. Their helicopters are very fun for little ones because you can touch them, and they also have tons of jumpsuits and artifacts on display.” — Ishi Glinsky, artist
6. A Mid-Century Architecture Tour
Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation CEO Demion Clinco shares a day’s worth of the city’s notable churches, storefronts, and signs.
Start at the Welcome Diner 902 E. Broadway Blvd
“A wonderful example of restored Googie architecture.”
Then Head East to the Sunshine Mile
East along Broadway Blvd. from the Welcome Diner to Country Club Rd.
“You’ll see clusters of incredibly intact storefronts by local mid-century legend Bernard Friedman: the sculptural former Valley National Bank Building (3033 E. Broadway Blvd.), which was built in 1971, then Hirsh’s Shoes, built in 1954 (2934 E. Broadway Blvd.), which is one of the few surviving examples of this type of commercial architecture in the country.”
Go North Along Country Club to Catalina American Baptist Church 1900 N. Country Club Rd.
“Cox did a few churches. This one has an angled, hyperbolic-paraboloid thin-shell roof and is on the National Register of Historic Places.”
Drive Northwest to Miracle Mile
“It’s full of intact mid-century motels and neon signs. There’s the iconic Tucson Inn sign (127 W. Drachman St.), but another really special neon sign was designed by Georgia O’Keeffe for the Ghost Ranch Lodge (801 W. Miracle Mile), which has since been turned into senior housing.
Drive Southeast and Finish at The Shelter 4155 E. Grant Rd.
“This bar was built in 1961 by Anne Rysdale, the only female architect working in Tucson during the ’50s and early ’60s.”
Plus One Mid-Century House You Can Stay In:
“We recently bought and restored the historic Ball-Paylore House, by architect Arthur T. Brown. We made it rentable on Airbnb. It’s the quintessential example of desert mid-century architecture.”
For Heiress Vintage:
“Tom’s Fine Furniture and Collectables (5454 E. Pima St.) has a mishmash of antiques and jewelry. He once bought the estate from the heiress to the Fry’s grocery-store chain. There was like 30 years’ worth of Chanel in there.” —Salima Boufelfel and Roberto Cowan, owners of Desert Vintage
For Ephemera on a Ranch:
“The Antique and Vintage Fair at Medella Vina Ranch (4450 S. Houghton Rd.) is the first Sunday of the month and has a great cross-section of vintage clothes, books, jewelry, and odds and ends. And it’s beautiful out there on the fields.” —S.B. and R.C.
For Native American Seeds:
“Native Seeds/Search (3061 N. Campbell Ave.) is likely the only place to buy tepary beans and mesquite cutting boards while supporting a nonprofit dedicated to conserving southwestern crop diversity.” —Tawney Weir, owner of Little Toro Designs
8. Easy Excursions
Courtesy of ceramics artist and frequent outside-the-city-limits explorer Lia Griesser.
Stroll Around a 17th-Century Mission 45 minutes south of Tucson
“Mission San José de Tumacácori, situated in a mesquite bosk, was founded in 1691, and the gardens and orchards have been replanted. Across the street is Abe’s Old Tumacacori Bar - a charming, real desert watering hole and tavern. Next to that is Santa Cruz Chili & Spice. Pick up a pack of chiltepins, the wild progenitor of domesticated chiles that originate from the Sonoran Desert.”
Stay in a Clay-Forward B&B About 80 minutes southeast of Tucson
“Stay at a B&B run by Bill and Athena Steen of the Canelo Project in nearby Canelo. They literally wrote the book on building with clay, and their land is covered in examples of the craft. Then drive south and get lost in the maze of backcountry roads with epic prairie views.”
Eat at a Restaurant Built Into a Cliff About 75 minutes south of Tucson
“The border wall runs straight through the city of Nogales, and you get a real sense of how intrusive it is for the people who live there. The area is architecturally fascinating, with most storefronts dating to the mid-20th century, when the town was booming. Eat at La Roca, built in the late 1800s in the style of a Mexican hacienda. Sit in the bright-blue main dining room built into the rock wall of a natural cliff.” Story authored by Elizabeth Thompson, New York Magazine
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When you visit Tucson and Saguaro Ranch, we encourage you to follow Covid 19 protocols that include wearing a mask, using hand sanitizer and social distancing. To learn more about luxury homes for sale in Tucson, contact John Hays at Miramonte Homes by calling (520) 833-6141 to arrange an appointment at the Saguaro Ranch Sales Center. Brokers are protected.
5 Hottest Real Estate Markets in Arizona
By Michael Hills - Arizona Big Media — The U.S. housing market has weathered a challenging 2020. Unprecedented events such as a global pandemic and a tumultuous presidential election have fueled a period of economic uncertainty. However, despite these challenges, recent research shows that Arizona’s real estate market will see an 8.2% appreciation in house prices from the beginning of 2021 through September, making it one of the hottest real estate markets in the country. This market forecast isn’t surprising considering that Arizona has a history of exponential growth in property value since Q1 2000.
The predicted growth is catalyzed mainly by low property inventory and low mortgage rates. While buyers are attracted by low mortgage rates, the low inventory forces them to compete with desirable property and locations, which ultimately bolsters the property’s value. That said, below are some of the most promising real estate markets in Arizona:
1. Phoenix
Phoenix is Arizona’s most populous city and is considered one of the largest housing markets in the United States and also one of the hottest real estate markets in the U.S. It features a combination of beautiful weather, a booming economy, nightlife, prestigious restaurants, and shopping, which continue to draw people to the metro area.
Short-term rentals, in particular, are thriving thanks to the city’s tourism industry, which brings tourists every year with major events like the Phoenix Film Festival and a vast collection of golf courses. Of course, Phoenix’s short-term rental industry was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the industry has shown resilience with relatively fair returns as investors implement safety measures to curb the spread of the virus and encourage guests to feel safe.
Additionally, Phoenix’s affordability is attracting the growing population of remote workers eyeing homes in the suburbs as opposed to crowded cities. They want affordable homes with office spaces and an appealing, warm climate, all of which can be found in Phoenix.
2. Scottsdale
For decades, Scottsdale’s real estate market has been growing thanks to its high employment rate, good schools and growing tourism industry. This makes it a desirable area for families and young professionals. As such, investing in condos, apartment complexes, or single-family homes for traditional renting or vacation options is a great way of maximizing returns and capitalizing on one of the hottest real estate markets.
Essentially, the traditional rental is thriving mainly due to the high price-to-rent ratio, standing at 23 according to recent findings. Therefore, with home prices on the rise, residents will rent out properties rather than buy their own. Even though the mortgage rates are low, they won’t offset high the cost of property for all buyers.
As an investor, the only downside to Scottsdale’s high property price is that you’ll spend more on initial investment than other locations on this list, but you’ll likely enjoy guaranteed returns.
3. Tucson
Tucson is a family-friendly city whose cost of living is 6% lower than the national average. The “old pueblo” town of Tucson boasts excellent public schools and is surrounded by beautiful outdoor scenery, making it a desirable choice for families. In particular, Corona de Tucson stands out as the most promising real estate market in the larger Tucson city. The town is an excellent place for investing in long-term rentals for single-family homes given its proximity to schools and low crime rate. This is because the median home value here is quite pricey, which drives most residents to rent. Additionally, the downtown area has a slew of thriving businesses, making it ideal for commercial real estate investors.
4. Tempe
If you are looking for long-term property investment in Arizona, then Tempe town is the go-to-market. In fact, Arizona State University is located in Tempe, in addition to more than 20 other colleges within the town’s proximity. The great nightlife and a growing number of commercial buildings in Tempe have catalyzed its growth as an urban center with a demand for college rentals and commercial property.
Moreover, Tempe has seen its job market increase by 3.3% and is expected to grow by a whopping 49.9% over the next 10 years. For reference, the U.S. average for the next 10 years is 33.65%. With such promising economic growth, investors can expect a high demand for houses in Tempe.
5. Prescott
Prescott is a smaller town compared to other towns in Arizona. However, unlike most towns in this list, most residents here prefer homeownership, as evident from the town’s growing number of homeowners. Single-family home units are the most common as most of its residents are young families setting their roots in this town. Prescott is also home to several colleges and universities, making it a good place to buy traditional rental properties and commercial real estate. For novice investors with a limited budget, the town makes a good place to venture into real estate, given its relatively low median home value.
Arizona Real Estate Market Outlook
Arizona is becoming one of the top destinations for domestic relocations due to its strong economy and stable housing market. Its warm weather and excellent restaurants also make it a popular tourist destination. Thus, building your real estate portfolio with Arizona properties should be part of your growth strategy. However, before making any investment, it’s best to consult an experienced real estate agent for guidance on how to break into the market and scale your investment.
Michael Hills is vice president of brokerage at Atlas Real Estate. The article originally appeared on azbigmedia.
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When you visit Tucson and Saguaro Ranch, we encourage you to follow Covid 19 protocols that include wearing a mask, using hand sanitizer and social distancing. To learn more about luxury homes for sale in Tucson, contact (520) 833-6141 to arrange an appointment at the Saguaro Ranch Sales Center. Brokers are protected.
Arizona's Second-largest City has a Relaxed Vibe.
By FODOR’s Travel — The "Old Pueblo," as Tucson is affectionately known, is built upon a deep Native American, Spanish, Mexican, and Old West foundation, and you can find elements of these influences in the city's architecture, restaurants, and friendly, relaxed vibe. Arizona's second-largest city is both a bustling center of business and development and a laid-back university and resort town, with abundant hiking trails and nature preserves. Tucson is particularly popular among golfers and spa-goers. Saguaro National Park, along with the four mountain ranges surrounding the city, provides a variety of outdoor activities.
Metropolitan Tucson has more than 850,000 residents, including thousands of snowbirds, who flee colder climes to enjoy the sun that shines on the city more than 340 days out of 365. The city's tricultural population (Hispanic, Anglo, Native American) offers visitors the chance to see how these cultures interact and to sample their flavorful cuisine.
The city also has a youthful energy, largely due to the population of students attending the University of Arizona. Although high-tech industries have moved into the area, the economy still relies heavily on the university and tourism. Come summer, though, you'd never guess; when the snowbirds and students depart, Tucson can be a sleepy place.
Sabino Canyon
Year-round, but especially in summer, locals flock to Coronado National Forest to hike, picnic, and enjoy the waterfalls, streams, swimming holes, saguaros, and shade trees. No cars are allowed, but a narrated tram ride (about 45 minutes round-trip) takes you up a WPA-built road to the top of the canyon; you can hop off and on at any of the nine stops or hike any of the numerous trails.
There's also a shorter tram ride (or you can walk) to adjacent Bear Canyon, where a rigorous but rewarding hike leads to the popular Seven Falls (it'll take about 1½ to 2 hours each way from the drop-off point, so carry plenty of water). If you're in Tucson near a full moon between April and November, take the special night tram and watch the desert come alive with nocturnal critters. Authored by Fodor’s Travel
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When you visit Tucson and Saguaro Ranch, we encourage you to follow Covid 19 protocols that include wearing a mask, using hand sanitizer and social distancing. To learn more about luxury homes for sale in Tucson, contact John Hays at Miramonte Homes by calling (520) 833-6141 to arrange an appointment at the Saguaro Ranch Sales Center. Brokers are protected.
Tucson’s Real Estate Market Thrives as COVID Continues
By Austin Counts, Managing Editor — Pima County’s residential real estate market is experiencing an economic boom as an influx of out-of-state buyers are creating bidding wars to own a piece of Southern Arizona during the pandemic.
Within the past six months, Southern Arizona’s median home price increased by nearly $30,000 and has risen by 14.8 percent when compared to last year’s median sales numbers in the county. Kevin Kaplan, vice president of marketing and technology at Long Realty, said the rise in residential prices is due to a limited amount of residential real estate on the market as purchasers move from larger cities to smaller communities.
“The pandemic has created a very dramatic situation where there’s very little inventory compared to the amount of buyers out there,” Kaplan said. “It’s created a lot of situations with multiple offers, competing offers and homes selling very quickly.”
Kaplan believes changing lifestyle needs and a lack of vacation options are other factors contributing to Southern Arizona’s real estate bonanza. As more people work from home, they’re questioning if their living space is living up to their requirements, said Kaplan.
“I think people are trying to figure out what they actually really do need and does their home meet those needs?” Kaplan said. “We’re seeing people not take vacations and instead take some of those dollars and buy a second home or a vacation home and potentially working out of them for long periods of time.”
Another factor driving the recent real estate boom is historically low mortgage rates nationwide. Ryan Vondrak, chief capital markets manager for Nova Home Loans, said rates dropped after the Federal Reserve purchased a massive amount of mortgage-backed securities in late March. Mortgage-backed securities are home loans bundled into securities typically bought for investment opportunities, Vondrak said.
“In a normal market, investors would buy those. It could be insurance companies. It could be private equity companies. It could be retirement funds,” Vondrak said. “In this case, the Federal Reserve came in and dumped a ton of money into the housing market to make sure mortgage rates stayed low.”
The Federal Reserve’s massive mortgage-backed securities acquisition dropped rates from around 3.5 percent at the start of the year to about 2.6 percent as of September, according to Vondrak. That rate decrease translates to big savings for borrowers as economic uncertainty looms. However, Vondrak does note that first-time homebuyers are being left out of the current real estate boom due to the increase of median home prices. As bidding wars between homebuyers become commonplace, those attempting to get in on the action with little purchasing power unable to find proper financing, Vondrak said.
“There’s a bidding war happening in the market. We’re seeing two to three offers above the asking price on many properties these days,” Vondrak said. “If you’re financing first-time home buyers and a bidding war happens, they won’t be able to find financing because there are limitations to what we can do.”
Vondrak is hopeful mortgage rates are going to stay low and median home prices will continue to rise well into 2021, especially if COVID-19 continues to drive big city dwellers into small communities. However, he said he does believe the upcoming election could play a factor should a new administration apply lending restrictions once taking office.
Both Vondrak and Kaplan agree the residential real estate in smaller cities and towns are doing better than anyone could have anticipated as coronavirus restrictions ravage other industries. But there was cause for concern throughout the real estate market at the start of the pandemic.
“There was a temporary dip in activity because there were a lot of concerns about how coronavirus and shelter-in-place orders were going to affect us,” Kaplan said. “But by the end of April, new sale activity increased by about 50 percent.”
Kaplan does warn that the increase in Southern Arizona’s median home price could be skewed by an increase of luxury sales in the area. Luxury sales are defined as real estate priced at $800,000 or more in the county, according to Kaplan.
“We’ve had a very robust luxury market this year. Sales are up over 30 percent from last year,” Kaplan said. “Our median price can be impacted if there’s a lot more luxury sales which can drive that number up.”
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When you visit Tucson and Saguaro Ranch, we encourage you to follow Covid 19 protocols that include wearing a mask, using hand sanitizer and social distancing. To learn more about luxury homes for sale in Tucson, contact John Hays at Miramonte Homes by calling (520) 833-6141 to arrange an appointment at the Saguaro Ranch Sales Center. Brokers are protected.
Things to See in Tucson, Arizona
USA Today | Travel | Contributor Cicely A. Richard, Leaf Group—Tucson Arizona is nestled between four major mountain ranges—Santa Rita, Rincon, Santa Catalina and Tucson. Saguaro cactus, desert plants and wildlife dot surrounding mountain peaks. Even in downtown Tucson, visitors see local wildlife darting across major streets, and guests can explore desert life in several areas in the city. Historic sites that represent Tucson’s contribution to the arts offer educational and entertaining activities for adults and children.
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Tucson’s Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a natural history museum, walking tour and zoo all in one. This museum consists of a 2-mile-long path meandering through a 21-acre desert terrain. Its landscape contains more than 300 animal species and more than 1,200 plants. Visitors may come face to face with Gila monsters, mountain lions, snakes, prairie dogs, roadrunners and javelinas (wild pigs). The reptile room features several species, including diamondback rattlesnakes and Mexican beaded lizards.
The museum's Center for Sonoran Desert Studies schedules education programs for adults and children and wildlife demonstrations. To ensure peaceful interaction between visitors and animals, rangers watch for animals on the path. The museum and center are open daily; and hours of operation vary throughout the year. September through May, admission is $13 for adults and $9.50 for children age 6 to 12; June to August, admission is $9.50 for adults and $2.25 for children. Prices are current as of February 2010. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum 2021 N. Kinney Road, Tucson, AZ 85743 520-883-2702 desertmuseum.org
Old Tucson Studios
Old Tucson Studios is the shooting location of more than 300 film and television productions, including “Gunfight at the OK Corral,” “The Lone Ranger,” “Bonanza,” “Lilies of the Field” and “Tombstone.” The History Channel used this site for an episode of its “Investigating History” television series, when it recounted the events surrounding Wyatt Earp’s gunfight at the OK Corral.
Although a fire destroyed some of the old sets, Old Tucson still offers daily activities, such as reenactment of a bank robbery, shootout and other western-themed shows. Tours of the property highlight places used in famous movie scenes. In one section of the studios, guests can pan for gold or take a ride in the miniature train. Hours of operation vary throughout the year. As of February 2010, admission is $16.95 for adults and $10.95 for children age 4 to 11. Old Tucson Studios 201 S. Kinney Road, Tucson, AZ 85735 520-883-0100 oldtucson.com
Tucson Botanical Gardens
Covering five acres, Tucson Botanical Gardens consists of 16 gardens, including the Backyard Bird, the Prehistoric, the Butterfly, the Zen and the Children’s Discovery gardens. Tours last approximately 45 minutes and include a history of the botanical gardens, information about native plants and identifying birds that visit your gardens. Each month, this facility schedules presentations, such as its Butterflies from Around the World.
Educational programs for adults and children teach the basics of planting gardens that thrive in Arizona and about plant diversity found around the world. The Seven Cups Tea House in the Grove of Peace and Harmony serves hand-harvested, organic Chinese teas and Japanese desserts under grapefruit trees. Tucson Botanical Gardens is open seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. As of February 2010, admission was $7 for adults and $3 for children age 4 to 12. Tucson Botanical Gardens 2150 N. Alvernon Way Tucson, AZ 85712 520-326-9686 tucsonbotanical.org
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When you visit Tucson and the Tucson real estate community Saguaro Ranch, we encourage you to follow Covid 19 protocols that include wearing a mask, using hand sanitizer and social distancing. To learn more about luxury homes for sale in Tucson and estate lots for sale, contact Mike Conlin of Miramonte Homes at (520) 429-4773 to be put on the guest list and to arrange your own tour. Brokers are protected.
Redfin Predicts Tucson Among Hottest 2021 Housing Markets
December 31, 2020 — A new report by Redfin, a national real estate brokerage, predicts that Tucson will be one of the hottest housing markets in 2021, along with San Antonio and Tampa, Fla. For years, Americans have been leaving expensive coastal cities for more affordable southern cities such as Austin, Phoenix and Miami, according to the Dec. 15 report. But those big cities have become unaffordable for both current residents and new potential migrants.
As a result, nearby smaller cities such as Tucson, San Antonio and Tampa will experience an increase in population and demand for homes, which will heat up those housing markets the most in 2021, Redfin reported. Tucson homes cost 21% less than Phoenix homes ($265,000 compared to $336,000); San Antonio homes cost 27% less than Austin homes (a median price of $263,000 compared to $362,000); and Tampa homes cost 24% less than Miami homes ($271,000 compared to $355,000), the report said.
“Most of my buyers are coming from out of state: California, Seattle, Oregon, some East coasters too,” said Tucson Redfin agent Kendra Haro. “They are usually torn between Tucson or Phoenix, but they like Tucson more because it has less traffic, it’s smaller and you can get even more for your money.”
Read more predictions from the Redfin 2021 housing market report by clicking here. Article published by Daryl Fairweather.
When you visit Tucson and Saguaro Ranch, we encourage you to follow Covid 19 protocols that include wearing a mask, using hand sanitizer and social distancing. To learn more about luxury homes for sale in Tucson, contact Mike Conlin at (520) 429-4773 to be put on the guest list and to arrange your own tour. Brokers are protected.
A Tucson local’s guide to Arizona’s hippest city.
Boston Globe Magazine | Travel | Author Margaret Regan—IT’S EARLY FEBRUARY, the depths of winter back East. But this is Tucson so it’s sunny and 70. I’m out in the desert, at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum west of the city, under a western sky colored a brilliant shade I call Tucson blue. The air is so clear that on the horizon, 50 miles away, I can see Baboquivari, a jagged peak sacred to the Tohono O’odham, a native nation that’s been here for centuries.
The desert that hosts this combination natural history museum, zoo, botanical garden, and aquarium is no Sahara. It’s lush and green, bristling with all manner of cacti, from the tall saguaros that seem to wave their arms hello, to the pudgy barrel variety. Among the plants, there are coyotes, mountain lions, and bighorn sheep sunning themselves in spacious outdoor habitats. As a bonus during these winter months, the staff has released the raptors, and three prized Harris’s hawks are circling overhead, cawing and dipping.
Just another perfect Tucson day, as we like to say out here in the Old Pueblo. Big skies, otherworldly plants, and exotic animals. What’s not to like? To be honest, my husband and I didn’t expect to love Tucson as much as we do. I was raised in Philadelphia’s leafy green suburbs, and he’s a Jersey boy. For a time after our move, back in 1986, I pined for tall trees and cold creeks but I quickly fell for the immense skies and the mountains that ring the city. From my dining room I can see the Santa Catalina range, its light changing minute by minute throughout the day, from the rosy pinks of dawn (or so they tell me) to flaming orange at sunset. In half an hour I can be hiking trails in Sabino Canyon or in Saguaro National Park, a cactus-studded wonderland that bookends the city on the east and west.
But it wasn’t just nature that won me over. It was Tucson’s culture, too. About 60 miles from the Mexican border, the city is an exhilarating mix of ethnicities: Mexican, Native, and Anglo. You hear Spanish everywhere and the soundtrack of the city is the norteño music of the borderlands.
Tucson has an eclectic, retro vibe—noisy trains still lumber on the edge of downtown, artists have long camped out in old warehouses—but the dusty Western town of old has metamorphosed into a sophisticated urban destination. A groovy modern streetcar connects downtown to the University of Arizona and to the city’s West Side. Trendy new apartment buildings are going up nonstop, and the culinary scene is on fire.
It was the Mission San Xavier del Bac that really sealed the deal for me. Whitewashed on the outside, a riot of Baroque paintings on the inside, the 223-year-old Spanish Colonial Catholic mission church is called the White Dove of the Desert. Designed by a Basque architect and built by Tohono O’odham laborers, the church has one lone tower (the other was never finished) that rises toward the heavens. Back in the 1990s, art restorers came from as far as the Vatican and Turkey to restore the artwork and teach tribal members techniques to preserve them.
Outside the church, a 15-minute ride south from downtown, O’odham women work out of food booths, making tortillas and fry bread over open fires. I still remember the smell of that smoke on my first visit, and my first taste of a carne asada burrito. I was entranced y the people, the food, the art, and the history. Tucson was a place, I realized, that I could call home.
WHERE TO EAT
In 2015 Tucson was named a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, the first city in the United States to win the coveted designation (tucson.cityofgastronomy.org). A Mexican food capital for years, Tucson was known for its Sonoran wheat tortillas, carne asada—a spicy dried beef—and must-have Sonoran hot dogs wrapped in bacon and drowned in salsa and mayonnaise. But the award also acknowledges the distant past and the role of the region’s “first farmers” who tilled the soil along the Santa Cruz River 4,000 years ago. They cultivated maize, beans, and squash as well as harvesting a variety of wild foods—many of which are being served in local restaurants.
This year, the accolades keep coming with four semifinalist nominations in the James Beard Award competition, including: BOCA Tacos Y Tequila, Mi Nidito Restaurant, Barrio Bread, and single-malt maker Whiskey del Bac (520-628-9244). If you’re a whiskey lover, check out their distillery tour. Run by a Tucson native, chef Maria Mazon, BOCA Tacos Y Tequila (520-777-8134) dishes out delicious corn and flour tortillas (or cabbage wraps) stuffed with grilled cauliflower, pulled pork, and octopus.
President Clinton didn’t have to wait in line at Mi Nidito (520-622-5081) when he ate here in February 1999, but you probably will. Try the ginormous President’s Plate, commemorating everything he sampled: bean tostada, birria taco, chile relleno, chicken enchilada, and beef tamale. For the most sabroso Sonoran hot dogs, venture a little further to El Güero Canelo at its south side location (520-295-9005). The food is so good that internationally known Tucson band Calexico named a hit song after the place. Oh, and it won a James Beard award in 2018.
Even the bread is getting better in Tucson and Barrio Bread (520-327-1292) has the best. Don Guerra combines art, science, and lots of love in every loaf, baking with heritage grains farmed and milled locally. Get to the bakery by 9 a.m.—it closes when the bread sells out. Chef and owner Janos Wilder of Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails (520-623-7700) was a driving force behind the UNESCO City of Gastronomy honor. He’s been cooking with local foods and heritage ingredients for years, winning kudos for pairing sophisticated squash and prickly pear dishes with global cuisines.
Seis Kitchen (520-622-2002) in Mercado San Agustín on the city’s west side is beloved for breakfast burritos bursting with chorizo or avocado. The tortillas at the nearby La Estrella Bakery (520-741-0656) are so good that a friend of mine who tearfully moved away from Tucson buys them by the dozen every time she comes back.
The Little One has the best chicken mole in Tucson and a killer elote (sweet corn) tamal. Wash it down with fresh cucumber-basil-key lime juice or an horchata (rice drink—the “h” is silent). Cash only; closes at 2 p.m.
Watch cacao turn into award-winning, mouthwatering chocolate at Monsoon Chocolate. Try the Chile Mango bonbon — a white chocolate ganache with mango puree and cayenne pepper. Sí, por favor, to the chocotaco and Mexican hot chocolate spiced with chiltepin and cinnamon.
Imbibing a classic Corpse Reviver takes on a whole new meaning at the Owl’s Club, a former funeral home reincarnated into a craft cocktail bar. Ciaran Wiese, one of the country’s best bartenders, will put together some spirits to lift yours. He’s partial to the club’s “great atmosphere and good people” (natch), but also likes mezcal bar El Crisol, which he says has “one of the best Agave selections in the Southwest.”
Saint Charles Tavern is a woman-owned neighborhood pub whose quintessential Tucson vibe and impressive selection on the back bar attract people from all over town. Murals and mosaics by local artists surround patrons as they savor Tamarindo Sour brews by local Crooked Tooth Brewing Co. and watch live music on the outdoor stage.
WHERE TO VISIT
Ever since my husband and I turned into Tucsonans we’ve gotten lots of visitors weary of their colder climes. As amateur tour guides, these are some of our favorite stops.
Art and Architecture
I’m partial to the historic houses that surround downtown. Colorful 19th-century Mexican adobe row houses in Barrio Histórico, especially on South Convent Avenue, are wonderful examples of architecture suited to a desert climate: thick walls, small windows, breezeways, and interior patios.
The Center for Creative Photography (520-624-7370) on the University of Arizona campus is recognized as one of the finest photography museums in the world. Founded in 1975 with the archives of five living photographers—Ansel Adams, Wynn Bullock, Harry Callahan, Aaron Siskind, and Frederick Sommer — today it has grown to include the work of some 270 photographers active in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. Note that not everything Adams donated is on view at all times, though you’ll usually have good luck finding some of his work in the Heritage Gallery.
While on campus, check out the The University of Arizona Museum of Art (520-621-7968), where the collection includes a ravishing suite of 15th-century Spanish altarpiece paintings as well as modern treasures, including a 20th-century Mark Rothko and a Georgia O’Keeffe. Housed in Tucson’s decommissioned Fire Station #1, the Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson (520-624-5019) is the place for up-to-the-minute art. The Great Hall, formerly a fire engine bay, is perfect for wild installations.
Tucson has been struck with mural mania. The best known, Rock “Cyfi” Martinez’s Mayahuel (Goddess of Agave) — on a plumbing supply store at 440 N. 7th Avenue — is a 70-foot-wide portrait of a woman wearing a crown of agave leaves. In Joe Pagac’s Epic Ride, a javelina, tortoise, and jackalope cruise on bicycles (joepagac.net/mural-map). Drive through Mexican neighborhoods south and west of downtown, and you’ll see ’60s and ’70s murals of Aztec gods and multiple Virgins of Guadalupe, many now faded by the sun.
Shopping
Some of the hippie stores on North Fourth Avenue have given way to apartment towers, but the feel of this eclectic shopping district is largely intact. Antigone Books (520-792-3715), an independent bookstore started in 1973, was recently sold to three twentysomething female employees who raised part of the necessary funding from an Indiegogo crowd-funding campaign. Pop Cycle (520-622-3297) is a great place to find quirky art made from scavenged materials and for ironic ceramics of Gila monsters. And here’s a fashion secret: At least one New York retailer and one Hollywood costumer scour the street’s many vintage clothing shops for ruffled blouses and 1960s silk dresses. Buy them first, for cheap, at places like How Sweet It Was Vintage (520-623-9854). Take a break at D&D Pinball arcade (520-777-4969) or duck into The Boxyard, a shipping-container food court (520-306-1686) and lounge on sofas in the outdoor courtyard or play cornhole while you enjoy a cold beverage. For handmade jewelry, bolo ties (yes, they’re popular in Tucson), and local art, go downtown to Old Town Artisans (520-620-1725), a warren of small shops in a historic adobe dating to the 19th century.
Hiking
Not far from downtown, the Desert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill ecological preserve is an unexpected gift in an urban setting. A steep, 1.5-mile paved roadway to the summit ends in an unmatched panorama of the city and its ring of mountains.
Sabino Canyon, on the eastern end of the Catalina foothills, readily accommodates strapping young hikers and great-grandparents alike. You can walk the 3.8-mile paved road that goes up the steepish canyon, or ride in new all-electric shuttle buses. A second shuttle drives hikers to the Seven Falls trailhead, a spectacular 4.6-mile (round trip) trail featuring waterfalls. Bicycles are allowed in Sabino on a limited schedule.
Saguaro National Park features a selection of rough and easy trails, in both its East and West sections, while scenic drives in both areas go through exquisite landscapes. In the West Park, the Hugh Norris Trail is a nearly 10-mile round trip up to Wasson Peak and back. But even if you make it a short way up, you’ll be able to see for miles and miles, including Baboquivari Peak. One mile up the King Canyon Trail, the rock walls are etched with petroglyphs, carved into stone by Hohokam people between the years 300 and 1450. In the East Park, my all-time favorite trail, Douglas Spring, is steep and long, but when you make it to the top you can see the entire city unfold before you. Stop in the visitors’ center for maps and guidance.
Story authored by Margaret Regan, a journalist and the author of two books on immigration and the border, The Death of Josseline: Immigration Stories from the Arizona Borderlands and Detained and Deported: Immigrant Families Under Fire.
When you visit Tucson and Saguaro Ranch, we encourage you to follow Covid 19 protocols that include wearing a mask, using hand sanitizer and social distancing. To learn more about luxury homes for sale in Tucson, contact Mike Conlin of Miramonte Homes at (520) 429-4773 to be put on the guest list and to arrange your own tour. Brokers are protected.
Tucson's Saguaro Ranch Offers ‘Best of the Best’ in Luxury Community Living
MARANA, ARIZONA – I recently toured the prestigious gated community of Saguaro Ranch as it is starting to take shape with roads and infrastructure in place of becoming the most prestigious luxury home community in Arizona. From the moment you enter the 1,100+ acre majestic Sonoran Desert community through a 600-foot tunnel, the length of two football fields, until you reach the Owners’ Club next to Moonlight Canyon, you know you are entering a unique, resort-style living community.
Saguaro Property Development LLC, Scott Lundberg and Brian Peschel development partners, bought the community in 2019 with a vision to make it the “Best of the Best” in luxury, natural desert, community living, a dream come true! Located at the northern end of Thornydale Drive in the Tortolita Mountains, north of Tucson.
The owners recently entered into a partnership with Miramonte Homes for development of Moonlight Canyon that features 43 one- to two-acre homesites on various levels of the mountain slopes at extremely reasonable prices. Buyers considering a Moonlight Canyon at Saguaro Ranch residence will be able to select from four thoughtfully designed semi-custom floor plans ranging from approximately 2,800- to 3,800-square-feet.
Chris Kemmerly, Principal and CEO of Miramonte Homes, calls it a ‘one-of-a-kind community’ unlike anything in the western United States in that only 20 percent of the land is designated for development and 80 percent preserved as undisturbed natural desert.
Robinette Architects, Inc., an award-winning local firm, designed the new Saguaro Ranch Owners Club, which includes the former renowned McClintock’s Steakhouse.
Tucson-based Aqua Design International, a Landscape Architecture firm specializing in the design of swimming pools, spas and water features, completed the design for the new Saguaro Ranch Owners Club pool and spa complex. Aqua Design International has designed some of the most iconic pool complexes in the world, including Amangiri, Four Seasons Punta Mita, Four Seasons Anguilla, Omni Tucson National, Loews Santa Monica Beach Resort, and more.
Club amenities will include a multi-lane 25-yard lap pool with intimate spa for a relaxing and soothing atmosphere, two pickle ball courts, a bocce ball court, fitness center, catering facilities, and club area that includes numerous outdoor patios with umbrellas and firepits designed for stargazing in the phenomenally clear night sky.
The New Owners Club is slated to open early 2021. Authored by Karen Schutte
Tours are designed for social distancing and are an outstanding example of how social distancing doesn’t have to mean boredom. Visitors are encouraged to bring camp chairs and stop for the views overlooking Tucson and all its surrounding mountains with a picnic lunch, or enjoy a spectacular sunset on Pusch Ridge with a bottle of wine!
To learn more, contact Mike Conlin of Miramonte Homes at (520) 429-4773 to be put on the guest list and to arrange your own tour. Brokers are protected.
