Where to start? Found the place quite by chance when I was mapping out a route and looking for the…read morehalfway point to park the RV for a few days - between Las Cruces NM and Tucson AZ.
What a treasure!
When I called ahead to book a camp spot for the RV, I was welcomed by Mona, the heartbeat of the Triangle T! Gracious, full of character and charm, with amazing stamina and energy. I'll let you ask her age when you get here!
The next day - within a very short time of our arrival, we were made to feel like family - not only by Mona but every member of the staff we encountered.
Growing up in the 1950s, it was all about Cowboys and Indians. Roy Rogers, the Lone Ranger, Gene Autry, John Wayne...names that greeted us on the small signposts along the entry road. The signature boulder landscape was absolutely remarkable - creating the kind of ambiance that Disney works hard to recreate! Had I been here before? You bet - every time I went to a Saturday Matinee at the Avenue Theatre in Edmonton, Alberta Canada, I was here!
Had I died at an early age, I am sure this is what heaven would have looked like - compete with horses - led down a well-worn trail by a grizzled old wrangler - a man of few words - only spoke when necessary!
We opted for dinner in the Rock Saloon - while the rest of the world seems to be able to steak or eat ribs for dinner, at my advanced age, I am resigned to chicken or fish. This had to be the best almond-crusted chicken breast to which I'd ever taken a fork. Like other guests, we were forwarned to let Mona know earlier in the day - should we plan to dine at the Rock Saloon.
Over dinner, we were joined by another guest and Kevin, the local mechanical wizard that kept everything running around the ranch. He too had come to the place months before and was shocked to find this 'well-kept secret'. Mostly he is there because he likes to be there - not an uncommon thread amongst the staff at the Triangle T!
Linda Kelly, the owner of the place is easily one of the ranch's greatest fans! She truly has her heart and soul in the place. A 'stand-out' member of the cast is Thomas - a gangly 'roustabout' who manages the 'ranchy issues' like road maintenance, mending fences, etc., etc. Points to the rattlesnake band on his well-worn cowboy hat and exclaims....."Yup - killed him m'self with a knife, skinned him out, turned him into dinner one night, and made a hat band outta him!" You really can't make this stuff up folks!
If you and your family are looking for somewhere to be, this place is steeped in early history as the wintering place of Cochise and the Chirichua Apaches, later history as the kind of guest ranch that would attract the likes of the Vanderbilts, the Rockefellers, and the Kennedys. During WW2, it was a top-secret detainment camp for the Japanese diplomats and spies that engineered the attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941 - the day that still lives in infamy!
Following the war, due to its unique natural beauty, it became a haven for Hollywood Westerns and hosted many of the legendary actors of the silver screen including Roy Rogers & Dale Evans, Gene Autry, Rex Allen, John Wayne, The Lone Ranger & Tonto, Glenn Ford, Ronald Ragan and later Gene Hackman!
Today, it is being restored by a group of dedicated people who host several events throughout the year - and provide a fabulous experience to anyone who might be looking for a halfway point between Las Cruces and Tucson!