The Tumacacori and Santa Rita mountains provide the views from the historic property of the Tubac Golf Resort & Spa located 35 miles south of the Tucson International Airport and 20 miles north of Nogales, Mexico next to the historic Village of Tubac, Arizona.
Conde Nast Traveler named Tubac 1 of 14 must see, up-and-coming destinations in the world.
USA Today Travel named Tubac 1 of 10 best cold weather escapes in the U.S.
Tucson Lifestyle Magazine named the Spa at Tubac Golf Resort, Best Resort Spa.
Vianey in the Lobby
Situated on the 500-acre Otero Ranch with ownership rights dating back to the King of Spain in 1789, the history of the property now occupied by the Tubac Golf Resort & Spa, is interwoven with American history. The 28-year-old Don Toribio de Otero received the first land grant for a house lot and 4 farm lots in the Spanish Territory Primaria Alta.
The Gadsden Purchase by President Franklin Pierce on June 24, 1853 brought Primaria Alta into the United States. During the Civil war the Otero Ranch was briefly under Confederate control. Attacks led the Otero family to temporarily flee to Mexico, where they perfected their skills at cattle raising.
Upon their return, Sabino de Otero, grandson of the original land grantee built the Otero Ranch into the largest cattle operation on both sides of the border earning him the title, “Cattle King of Arizona”.
In the 1940s the cattle raising de Otero family died out, leaving the Otero Ranch to change ownership many times. In 1959 a group of investors led by Bing Crosby, a lover of golf, bought the Otero Ranch and began a new history on the property, the Tubac Golf Resort & Spa.
The Tubac Golf Resort & Spa has received the AAA Four Diamond Rating and is a member of the Historic Hotels of America. This special resort is one of the nation’s elite destination resorts and their commitment to the highest level of hospitality and service is evident .
In 2008 a multi-million dollar renovation was completed with the addition of a Guest Services Center, Pro Shop and Clubhouse, a replica 17-century mission style chapel, a full service spa and salon, a retail village featuring a décor and design gallery, a 2,700-sq. ft. conference and banquet facility and 50 additional haciendas (for a total of 98 rooms), and expanded indoor and outdoor dining and lounge areas.
The golf course was recently renovated to improve play and harmonize with its natural surroundings.
In 2016/17 the resort remodeled the Casita Suites, Resort Pool and added a lap pool, expanded the patio at Stables Ranch Grille, added new resort signage and increased band width for best WiFi speed.
Flanked by a 27-hole golf course, the luxurious accommodations of the Tubac Golf Resort & Spa feature historical Spanish Colonial architectural detailing in comfortable spacious suites and rooms that offer modern amenities.
Hacienda Suite
The Otero House
Accommodations include 98 distinctive luxury suites and guest rooms. Choices include:
The Hacienda Suites which are 650 square feet King rooms with a large living room, cozy fireplace, jet tub, walk-in shower, mesquite counters and private patio.
The Casita Suites which surround the pool. These 16 Casita Suites are 800 square foot and feature a living room with a fireplace, a separate bedroom and a private patio.
The Posada Guest Rooms are traditional rooms of 350 sq. ft with either a king or two queen sized beds. King rooms offer cozy patios.
The Otero House is the original home of the family that settled this ranch. It features a full-size living room, king bedroom, den and kitchenette. The private patio offers priceless sunset views of the surrounding golf course and the Santa Rita Mountains.
The Spa is an Aveda facility with a Salon that features the art and science of pure flower and plant essences. The Spa features a variety of packages and specialty services for personal events, such as your wedding day, to everyday relaxation services. Weekly Specials at The Spa include, The Eat, Drink and Glow Monday Special, Waxing Wednesday, Sexy Saturday along with a special for every day of the week.
The Spa welcomes guests with the soft glow of candles and the sound of running water along with the healing essence of botanical oils. A Relaxation Room, a Eucalyptus steam, as well as a relaxing courtyard with the serene blue sky as its ceiling are all part of The Spa experience at Tubac Golf Resort and Spa.
Salon private courtyard
At the Salon you can receive facials, massage, body treatments, pedicures/manicures and hair services.
Just in case you want to include some golf in your visit to the Tubac Golf Resort & Spa, you can play your day away on an intricate course that interweaves three – 9-hole courses. In 1959 when Bing Crosby and his partners wanted a golf course designed at Tubac Golf Resort & Spa they turned to renowned golf course architect Robert ‘Red’ Lawrence. To further enhance the golfing experience in 2006 the Resort hired local golf course architect Ken Kavanaugh to add another 9 holes.
The Tubac Golf Resort & Spa had a cameo appearance in the golf movie classic, The Tin Cup. Famous scenes in the movie include “The Tin Cup Hole” on Rancho #4, “Break All the Clubs in the Bag” on Rancho #3, “Longest 7-iron” at the Entry Arch to the Resort. Multiple Tee boxes offer golfers of any skill level the ability to enjoy this intricate golfing experience at the Tubac Golf Resort & Spa. Guests who spot Bovines on the distant greens pastures when golfing are not seeing the ghosts of the 1800’s, the area is still grazed by cattle.
On the ranch of the Tubac Golf Resort & Spa you can answer the dinner bell at the Stables Ranch Grille for breakfast, lunch and dinner, or at the La Cantina for breakfast and lunch. With a reputation all its own, the Stables Ranch Grille features a rustic dining room, a bar and two outdoor patios. This special restaurant with rock floors and hand-hewn beams is the historic heart of the Tubac Golf Resort & Spa. The original stables for the Otero Ranch were located here. The patios offer exclusive views of the “Island Green” and the Santa Rita Mountains. Many people travel to the Tubac Golf Resort & Spa for the dining experience just as John Wayne and Steward Grange would do in the heyday of The Hollywood Westerns.
John Wayne
A varied and widely engaging menu is available for any meal of the day at the Stables Ranch Grille. Next to the restaurant is the bar with a beautiful mesquite wood counter and wine rack and restored saddles for barstools. Live music on Friday and Saturday nights.
Stefan Rockel Food and Beverage Director is responsible for the extensive wine list.
Executive Chef Mark Glogowski is in charge of preparing the unforgettable meals served at Stables Ranch Grille and is also responsible for all the catering at the resort. His dishes are creative, made with fresh ingredients and delicious. Before coming to the Stables Ranch Grille he worked with Miraval Resort & Spa and Saguaro Ranch at Dove Mountain in Tucson.
Dinner choices may include an appetizer of Bacon Wrapped Prawns with a pineapple-mango slaw and a BBQ chipotle glaze. Another popular appetizer choice is the Chef’s Board that includes: Dry Spanish Chorizo, Calabrese Italian Salami, Hatch Chili, Beehive Cheese, Spanish Olives. Soups and salads are also offered such as Free Range Chicken Chowder with Yukon Gold Potatoes, Smoked Bacon, Corn and Fresh Thyme or Arizona Field Green Salad with toasted Pepitas, Jicama, Tomatoes and Balsamic Vinaigrette. For the main entrée the choices include Grilled Salmon with Mango Chutney, Roasted Red Potatoes and Braised Baby Kale and Meyers Ranch Beef Pot Roast with garlic mashed potatoes or try the New Zealand Lamb Chops with Red Potatoes, Broccolini and Cherry Port Demi.
For breakfast you must try the Green Chile Relleno with two Eggs, Pinto Beans and Manchego or the Pot Roast Hash with two Eggs, Peppers and Onions. Also top on the list is the Carne Asada with two Eggs, Roasted Green Chilis and Fresh Corn Tortillas.
The perfect place for meeting and events is here at the Tubac Golf Resort & Spa. There is a 2,700-sq. ft. Conference Center with dividable meeting and banquet space, pre- function space and covered and open patios encircling the center. There are 720-sq. ft. and 406-sq. ft. conference rooms in the historic Otero House with 4,000 sq. ft. of outdoor function space for meetings and events.
For weddings there is a stunning 3,200-sq. ft. replica of a 17-century mission style chapel.
The resort offers full-service catering, audio-visual equipment, entertainment options, and shipping and receiving and executive business services. Contact Virginia Leavitt, Director of Sales and Catering at 520-398-3533.
Visit Pancho's Resource & Design located in the historic Otero Barn for one-of-a-kind furniture and accessories from around the world. This place is incredible.
Fitness Center
Nadia at the Gift Shop
Gift Shop
We have been fortunate to stay at many lovely resorts and this one stands out as being one of the best. Of course the setting is beautiful and the food at the restaurant is delicious but what makes a resort hotel special are the people. The staff at the Tubac Golf Resort & Spa were all very nice and helpful and made our stay special. Thank you to Patti Todd Marketing and Public Relations Director, Noel Daniel Managing Director, Virginia Leavitt Director of Sales and Catering, Stefan Rockel Food and Beverage Director, Executive Chef Mark Glogowski, Nadia in the Gift Store and Josh, Mike and Priscilla in Stables Ranch Grille. We will see you again!
Some Photos courtesy Tubac Golf Resort & Spa
Story by Daniel Dachille and Laine Page
Video voice-over by Jim Reynolds