Tombstone Monument Guest Ranch — Hotel in Sierra Vista

Exploring unusual places has always been a passion of mine. Such was the case one Sunday afternoon in February, 2012, when I set out to find the gravesite of Ed Schieffelin, the founder of Tombstone. Schieffelin’s last will and testament instructed that he be buried standing up in the location of his first campsite. The strange cone shaped tomb stands alone on top of a hill surrounded by a magnificent unobstructed 360 degree view of an immense valley that 300 million years ago was the bottom of an inland sea. Schieffelin’s creation, Tombstone, sits two miles south of the monument, nestled in the shadow of the Dragoon mountain range, once home to the famous Chiricahua Apache leader, Cochise, and his people.

Heading back in the direction of Tombstone, I came across two dozen horses spread out through several large corrals standing in the shadow of what appeared to be a small western town.

Walking down Main Street, a dirt path wide enough for two stagecoaches to comfortably pass each other, I encountered a woman carrying linens out of a building with the words Doc Holliday over the door.

Imagine my surprise when she spoke to me with a heavy German accent. When I inquired about what the place was she explained that it was a hotel named the Apache Spirit Ranch and pointed me to the lobby for more information. It was there I met several more German nationals, and in particular, Julia Wieck, Co-Manager of the Ranch.

I asked Julia for permission to make some videos of the ranch using my cell phone. She graciously agreed and then spent the next hour giving me a tour of the place and explaining the meaning behind the name, Apache Spirit Ranch. She later set up interviews for me with the owner and other ranch employees to help me learn more about this unique environment.

Julia began my tour by a visit to an authentic Apache village constructed on the property by Joe Saenz, a Chiricahua Apache and friend of Peter Stenger, the CEO and manager of the German investment company that owns the ranch. Peter lives in Munich and has a passion for the history of the Wild West. I was lucky enough to meet him when he arrived two days later at the ranch.

Apache Joe Saenz is the Interpretive Display Consultant and Cultural Guide for the ranch. Guests are invited to sit by the campfire in the Apache village and listen to Joe and other members of the Apache Nation talk about the history and former lifestyle of the Apache people who once called this area home.

Brad Kissinger and Eunice Lindsay are the horse wranglers and trainers that lead guests on horseback to many of the unique trails, mines, and historic haunts surrounding the ranch. “We have a variety of horses to suit guests with different riding abilities or skill levels,” says Brad. Horse Wranglers Eunice Lindsay and Brad Kissinger

The facilities of the ranch are on a par with a three-star hotel, with all the comfort and amenities ideally suited for family getaways. Special facilities are easily accessible for handicapped guests. Tours are available to the main Arizona attractions, such as Tombstone, Tucson, and the border town of Nogales, just to name a few. An enormous barn is available for events that can include full catering services.

Apache Spirit Ranch is far more than a western themed ranch. Peter Stenger, with the guidance and cooperation of his friend, Apache Joe Saenz, has created a unique resort where people can experience a different kind of vacation that goes beyond reliving the era of Cowboys and Indians. It invokes the Great Spirit of the Apache people and honors all those who once called this...

Took my family of four to Tombstone Monument Ranch. Overall, it was a great experience. Horseback riding is the main activity, with multiple rides daily and opportunities for lessons. Other activities happen less frequently—maybe once or twice a week—so check the activity schedule before booking to make sure your preferred events line up with your stay.

The accommodations are charming in layout—it looks like an Old West town, with porches and rocking chairs out front. It’s a nice place to hang out and chat in the mornings. The rooms themselves could use a refresh, especially the bathrooms. The pool was small but did the job, though there were a lot of bugs in the area.

The food was fine. Three meals a day, and you eat whatever the kitchen prepares. We expected that and really enjoyed the communal aspect of it—especially cowboy breakfast by the fire with Arizona Bill. Also, they accommodated my daughter’s food allergies every meal, which made life much easier for us.

The saloon was a cool place to hang out, though staff were often busy doing double duty, so sometimes you had to flag someone down for a drink. We played pool and cards with other guests, and the kids were welcome to join in.

We did three “slow rides”. We were told you don’t really need lessons before slow rides, which turned out to be true, but we were given very little instruction before riding out —basically “left, right, stop.” No one even tqught me “go” until day three. The horses basically follow each other so it wasn’t a problem. But the rides were peaceful and scenic. The desert, the distant mountains, the sun on your hat (they have cowboy hats you can borrow)—it’s exactly the kind of moment you come here for. And the stargazing at night was unforgettable.

Arizona Bill was a standout—dressed head to toe in cowboy gear, playing cards, shooting guns, serving up breakfast, and talking up guests with real charm.

Unfortunately, the experience was overshadowed by one staff member we only know as “the German lady.” On our third day, she suddenly insisted that all riders have strings on their hats, even though we had ridden the previous two days without any mention of this rule. She took a knife and cut into my son’s brand-new cowboy hat to run a string through it. No warning, no explanation—just sliced into it while he stood there stunned. He’d worn that hat proudly every day, and now it had a hole in it. He was so upset he didn’t go on the ride.

When I approached her calmly to say I wished she hadn’t cut into the hat, she claimed it wasn’t “a hole” despite a string coming out of the orifice she created in the lining. She deflected all responsibility and just said unconvincingly, “I’m sorry he’s upset.” The whole interaction was unnecessary and frustrating. She could have offered options. She could have warned him about the hole. She could have asked his parents first. But instead, she made a snap decision, pulled out a blade, and ruined a kid’s special souvenir without a word. It’s hard to imagine any situation where that kind of thing would be acceptable.

So yeah—3 or 4 stars for the ranch, the rides, the setting, and the vibe. But 1 star for the handling of that incident. If we do another ranch vacation, we’ll probably try one with more non-riding activities. But if riding is your main goal, this place definitely delivers. Just… pre-string...

Tombstone Monument Ranch and Cattle Company||The Tombstone Monument Ranch and Cattle Company is an amazing gem in the True Ranch Collection. The accommodations are of the highest quality, each suite is designed to immerse guests in the history of Tombstone and the amenities that exceed high expectations. ||The manager and staff are all wonderful. Service at the ranch is exceptional. The wranglers are very experienced, knowledgeable and entertaining. The horses are very healthy, energetic and highly trained. The trails on the ranch and surrounding public lands leading into the mining hills and mountains. Every day provides exceptional trail riding adventures. ||The ranch offers riding lessons and the opportunity to learn how to work with cattle. We enjoyed a special week of learning and improving our horsemanship with Katherine Barbarite. New and experienced riders benefit from practicing ground work steps with horses and also participating in instructional trail rides. We have already signed on for an additional week of horsemanship learning and riding with Katherine [Kay El Bar Ranch]. We also have made the booking for our next return vacation to the Tombstone Monument Ranch and Cattle Company.||Meals served for breakfast, lunch and dinner are both delicious and more than filling. Desserts are special bonus treats! In the evening there is a variety of opportunities to be entertained with Wild West card games, music and dancing and being immersed in the lively action at the bar. When offered, experience cowboy coffee and chuck wagon breakfast near the corrals.||The Tombstone Monument Ranch and Cattle Company is a wonderful combination of wild west history, ultra-modern conveniences for accommodations and dining, a working cattle ranch in excess of 250 acres and access to unlimited public lands for trail riding and a small number of guests supported by a great staff! Personalized attention and an intimate setting make every guest feel very special!!!!||The wranglers ensure that every trail ride is an enjoyable adventure immersed in the Wild West. The ranch lands are historical mining trails and this is cattle country. Every day is a great day at the Tombstone Monument Ranch and Cattle Company.||We also recommend making the short 15-minute trip into Tombstone. The town offers something for everyone!||Hint: If you want to participate in a special event week at the Tombstone Monument Ranch make your booking now!||We have been guests at every ranch in the True Ranch Collection [and other guest ranches throughout the world]. We have been frequent repeat guests at the White Stallion Ranch [May 2025] and will return to the Circle Bar Ranch [August, 2025]. ||The Tombstone Monument Ranch has immediately become our newest favorite ranch in the collection. We give the ranch and the entire staff 12 out of 10 stars! We are looking forward to our next repeat visit to the Tombstone Monument Ranch and...