HISTORY OF REX RANCH

The 50-acre Rex Ranch sits on part of the historic Canoa Spanish Land Grant and is located near the town of Amado, Arizona, lying in the the Pimería Alta - an area of 18th century Sonora y Sinaloa Province in the Viceroyalty of New Spain.

Some buildings on the Ranch predate the 1900’s – specifically the original double-adobe building which was built by a cavalry soldier who was gifted the Ranch property upon his retirement from the United States Army in the late 1880’s.

William Otto Fraesdorf, Jr, who sold ranches in the Santa Cruz Valley after World War II, knew many of the early wealthy Easterners who arrived near the Ranch. "They would start vacationing, and then guest ranching was quite popular and quite the 'in' thing to do," Fraesdorf recalled. "So they would become involved in a guest ranch like the Rex Ranch, or the Kenyon, or the Circle Z or any one of them, and it sort of puffed them up. Made them feel good. Made them feel bigger in some way, (chuckles) and then they would consider buying. Some of them didn't live here year round, but they would always winter here and then summer back east someplace." Rex Ranch attracted many wealthy patrons, some of whom got a taste of the West and bought their own places.

In 1936, the first building permit for the property is issued for a building of “adobe block and covered in stucco.”

In 1938, Rex Hamaker of Houston, seeking a healthy, restful climate away from the city, purchased the property and founded the Rex Ranch Resort. Celebrities in Arizona for film work regularly took in relaxation at the property and stayed at the private Ranch and contributed to its mystique.

The Restaurant, Cantina Romántica, is housed in this original structure. Another building of note is the mid-century two-story adobe structure designed by architect Josias Joesler. The Ranch property possesses the first swimming pool built in Santa Cruz County.

In March of 1969, Richard Schwartz rented a small adobe house at the Rex Ranch. This began a long relationship with the place, especially when the river crossing became impassable. He was a part of the Don Hogan Observer Services Division that built the Whipple Observatory nearby.

Wayne and Patty Ross operated the Ranch as a boutique hotel and conference center since purchasing the property in 1986. The Ranch developed to include 27 Guest Rooms and Casitas, a restaurant, meeting rooms, a day spa and was a popular venue for winter visitors and bird watchers and artists.

In 2013 the property was closed and eventually fell into foreclosure where it failed to sell at auction. The Ranch is currently owned by Bank of America. We hope to work with Bank of America to secure the property and pay the back-taxes due in order to preserve it and create a new non-profit organization in the footprint of its legendary history.