Spring 2026 is getting a little dustier, and a lot more fun. True Ranch Collection is bringing a pop-up dude ranch experience to Tubac Golf Resort & Spa, reviving the spirit of the historic Otero Ranch with horseback rides, trail adventures, Southwestern flavors, and a polished resort stay tucked into the Santa Cruz River Valley.
Running March 15 through May 8, 2026, the Otero Pop-Up Ranch blends classic dude ranch traditions with Tubac’s artsy soul and resort-level comforts. Guests will saddle up for desert rides, hike riverside trails, try their hand at archery, wander Tubac’s artist village, visit the iconic Tumacácori Mission, and sneak in a few rounds on the resort’s 27-hole championship golf course.
“We’re truly excited to bring dude ranching to one of my favorite spots in Arizona,” says Russell True, managing partner of True Ranch Collection. “Tubac Golf Resort is an elegant four-star resort that feels like an authentic Spanish hacienda, and our pop-up invites guests to experience the land through horseback riding and time on the trails, as well as comforts like golf, the spa, dining and the surrounding arts community.”
The setting has serious Arizona credentials. Tubac Golf Resort & Spa sits on land once part of the Otero cattle ranch, rooted in a Spanish land grant dating back to the 1700s before becoming a resort in 1959.
“Otero Ranch has been part of Southern Arizona’s landscape for centuries, and bringing a ranch experience back to this land feels like a natural continuation of its story,” says Hank Swiggett, general manager of Tubac Golf Resort & Spa. “We’re committed to honoring Tubac’s history while sharing it in a way that feels authentic and welcoming.”
After dusty days on the trail, evenings turn indulgent. Guests will gather for cocktail hours, tequila and wine tastings, and Southwestern dining crafted by the resort’s Stables Ranch Grille, with breakfast cookouts and sack lunches adding a proper ranch rhythm. Nights wrap up in hacienda-style casitas that mix warm Southwestern design with modern luxury, because roughing it is optional.
Five-night packages run Sunday through Friday and start at $2,250 per person, based on double occupancy. Each stay includes accommodations, all meals, horseback riding and ranch activities, select afternoon golf rounds, curated local excursions, special events, and access to resort amenities. Spa and salon treatments are available for those who want to lean fully into vacation mode.
Insider Takeaways
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The Otero Pop-Up Ranch runs March 15 through May 8, 2026, at Tubac Golf Resort & Spa.
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Guests get horseback riding, hiking, archery, golf, and curated cultural excursions baked in.
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The experience blends historic ranch land with four-star resort comforts.
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Southwestern dining, tequila tastings, and social cocktail hours anchor the evenings.
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Five-night packages start at $2,250 per person and include most activities and meals.
For more information on True Ranch Collection’s Otero Pop-Up Ranch at Tubac Golf Resort & Spa, visit trueranchcollection.com/otero-pop-up-ranch.
