All the Beauty

Located in the lush, green Santa Cruz River Valley, the Villages of Rio Rico offer the desert Southwest as it was always meant to be: unspoiled, rich with native wildlife, jeweled sunsets and breathtaking vistas of the surrounding mountains and countryside.

The Villages of Rio Rico embrace this unique desert landscape with homes that respect nature, not replace it, with every detail carefully planned to enhance your enjoyment of one of the Southwest's last truly, great places. Take relaxing walks through majestic mesquite-adorned knolls, spend quiet summer nights with your children counting stars, wake to the bluest skies you've ever seen…it's all right outside your door, and it's all yours to enjoy.

All the Fun

The Villages of Rio Rico's unique geographical location enjoys cooler summertime temperatures and moderate winters. That gives you four seasons of fun to pursue the activities you and your family love most, whether it's golfing, tennis, swimming, horseback riding, hiking, bird watching or any number of other recreational diversions…it's all just a short distance away.

Within the community of Rio Rico, you'll discover a world of activity - from aerobics classes to swimming and tennis - at the Rio Rico Fitness Center. Or golf to your heart's content at Rio Rico's championship course, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. In addition, there is a complete hotel, resort and country club facility in the heart of Rio Rico where your family can enjoy indoor and outdoor dining and lounges, and a full calendar of entertainment.

Points of Interest

You'll find plenty of activities to enjoy in the area surrounding the Rio Rico community. If big-city attractions are the order of the day, all of the amenities of Tucson are only about 45 minutes away. Or escape to the slower pace and charm of Old Mexico, just 12 miles to the south. Restaurants, shopping, health care services and more are available at nearby Nogales, and delightful discoveries await you at the artists' community of Tubac.

Bisbee and Tombstone Area

Tombstone, Arizona- Hwy. 80, between Benson and Bisbee. Known as "The Town Too Tough Too Die," this National Historic Site is the home of the infamous 'Gunfight at the OK Corral' involving Wyatt Earp, Doc Holiday and the Clanton Brothers. Other famous landmarks include the Bird Cage Theatre and Boothill Cemetery. There is an exhibit at the Tombstone Courthouse State Historic park that recalls the history of Tombstone during the tumultuous 1880s.

Fort Huachuca - Military Museum. "Buffalo Soldier Outpost." Call 520-538-7111 for information.

Bisbee, Arizona - Depart Tombstone for Bisbee on AZ-80 just 22 miles east. Enter Bisbee through Arizona's longest highway tunnel, 1,400 foot Mule Pass Tunnel (Used in filming Cannonball Run II). Patterned much like San Francisco, the city is stacked along the ravines and gullies of Mule Mountain. Today, Bisbee is rich in impressionable nostalgia, and is noted for its wonderful antique stores.

Copper Queen Hotel - A historic monument built in 1902, was once considered the finest hotel between El Paso and Los Angeles. The hotel has been renovated to its original grandeur, and is still a popular stop for its excellent food and lodging. (520) 432-2216

Brewery Gulch - Historically known as the home of free spending miners and "friendly ladies," as well as saloons and gambling houses.

Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum - A national historical site housing valuable collections and artifacts. (520) 432-7071

Queen Mine - In its time, it paid $300 million in profits and dividends and supplied two billion pounds of copper. This underground mine affords the visitor, by the way of an hour-long tour, a rare opportunity to experience the damp, dark reality of hard rock mining. (520) 432-2071

The Lavender Pit - This open mine offers drama in another sense. An eleven mile narrated bus tour passes the copper dumping areas, the leaching plant, and ends in a breathtaking overlook on the edge of this man-made gorge. (520) 432-2071

Wine Tour - Nogales, Sonoita, Vail

Arizona Vineyard Winery - Depart Rio Rico Resort to Nogales, onto AZ-82. Just outside of Nogales is Arizona Vineyard Winery offering free tours and samples of their wine using 19th Century processing techniques. 520-287-7972

Patagonia - Fifteen miles northeast on AZ-82 is this inviting town. Situated in a narrow valley, it is protected by the Santa Rita Mountains. It is home to some of the finest registered cattle and quarter horse ranches in the southwest.

Sonoita - Just 12 miles northeast of Patagonia on AZ-82. Located in the heart of "cattle country," this quaint community is rich in heritage and color.

Sonoita Vineyards - Situated in the first federally-proclaimed viticultural area in Arizona, this is the only Arizona winery producing estate-bottled wines. The winery stands on a hill overlooking picturesque vineyards on the south boundary of the historic San Ignacia del Babacomari Spanish land grant. Vineyards and winery tours are available. 520-455-5893

Vail - R.W. Webb Winery is approximately 25 miles further on AZ-83 to I-10 where the winery is nestled at the base of the Rincon Mountains and built in the traditional Spanish mission style. Winemaker Robert Webb pioneered the wine industry in Arizona in 1980. Climate, elevation, and soil produce wines of excellent balance, flavor & quality. 520-762-5777

Bird Watching & Wildlife Refuges

Patagonia/Sonoita Creek Sanctuary - For birds and other wildlife. Birdwatchers from around the world come to observe more than 250 Southwestern & Mexican bird species which visit this 312 acre nature conservancy. 520-394-2400

Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge - Located North of Rio Rico, take I-19 to Exit 44. Follow Arivaca Road to the town of Arivaca. Turn South on Ruby Road. 520-823-4251

Ramsey Canyon Preserve - Sierra Vista - Bird watching and cabins. Operated by the Nature Conservancy. One of Arizona's most famous birding hotspots. Look for hummingbirds, painted red starts and Mexican rarities. Access limited to 14 cars. 520-378-2785

Ramsey Canyon Preserve - Modern camping and picnicking facilities, including fresh water hydrants and restrooms. Small store and boat rentals.

Lake Patagonia - A favorite fishing spot, as well as a popular swimming beach. Row boats for fishing and paddle boats for play are available to rent. A trail will take you past Indian petroglyphs. Take highway 82 south to Patagonia. 520-287-6965

ASARCO Mineral Discovery Center - ASARCO mine museum and mine tour in Sahuarita's Calabasas Park. 520-625-7513

Ghost Towns

During the silver boom in the 19th Century, such towns as Harshaw, Mowry, Washington Camp, Duquesne and Lochiel dotted the landscape of the Patagonia Mountains. All are ruins today, but accessible from Harshaw Road, leading out of Patagonia on Hwy 82.

Ghost Town Trail - Head east from Tombstone on the historic trail about 15 miles out is Gleeson, the first of three Ghost Towns. Continue on the trail heading north and you will find Courtland, and then Pearce. The thriving mining towns of the early 1900s are now all but vacant. Travel back in time to see old adobe homes, saloons, and jail houses...if you aren't too scared of a few ghosts.

Mexico Shopping & Dining

Nogales, Sonora - This, the fourth largest community on our common frontier with a population of 250,000, provides an outstanding international shopping adventure and a taste of Mexico. The unique feature of this bustling city is the wide variety of merchandise coming in from all parts of Mexico. Avenida Obregon is the principal shopping street. Here you can find merchandise from all over Mexico; zarapes, leather goods, famed silver jewelry of Taxco, ornate pewter trays and serving bowls from Mexico City, glassware, wrought iron, wood carvings...all at bargain prices. And don't forget the strolling mariachi groups serenading you as you shop.

But Nogales is also noted for its excellent restaurants, of which there is an outstanding variety. Try La Roca or El Greco for fine food and ambiance.

Just south of the railroad station is the modern industrial section that is the home of the maquiladores, or twin plants. Visitors can take a factory tour at one of the largest concentrations of maquiladores in Mexico.

Tucson/Green Valley

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum - a world-renowned zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden, all in one place. The Museum is primarily a walking experience. Plan to wear comfortable shoes, a hat and sunscreen, or appropriate colder weather dress. 2021 N. Kinney Rd. (Tucson) 520-883-1380

Green Valley Titan Missile Museum - Tour an underground missile silo and retired Titan II missile. Take I-19 and exit 69 west. $7.50. Seniors and Military $6.50. Children 10-17 $4.00. 9am-5pm. 520-625-7736

Utilities

520-281-1212 Electric and Natural Gas (if Natural gas available)
520-281-7000 Water and Sewer
800-244-111 Telephone
520-281-2028 Propane Gas
520-287-2511 Trash Collection