Get away from it all
The Rocking X Ranch is located in a remote area of the Tonto National Forest in Central Arizona, 50 miles north of Globe and 20 miles south of Young, on Highway 288. Only a few ranches are in this area, and we are essentially off the grid, though we do have a primitive antenna to allow for emergency communications.
The property is at 5500 feet, and is in thick Ponderosa pine forest, with abundant oak, sycamore, walnut and Juniper, and of course, wildlife. Apple trees and abundant blackberry bushes produce seasonally, and caretakers David and Jessica grow fresh produce. It is a rare property surrounded by wilderness.
One Room Cabins- $125 a night
We have two charming, rustic one-room cabins, each with a full sized comfortable bed with new mattresses and box springs, a wood-burning stove, a kitchenette for cold food prep, a table and chairs, and a bathroom with shower. When it’s cold enough for the wood-burning stove, you’ll find a fire laid for you.
Both cabins have paintings in them by Alice Moore, a Trachta family member who once lived on the ranch. Fresh, high quality linens and blankets are supplied, along with soap, shampoo, lotion and conditioner. You’ll have basic electricity, eliminating the fire danger posed by candles and lanterns.
Ranch House $225 a night, 2 night minimum
The main cabin, an old historic log structure, has three rooms, a luxurious bath, and two porches. The large working kitchen is fully equipped with pots and pans, utensils, dishes, glasses, linens, and a big antique table with seating for 8. French doors open to a porch with a view of the pasture, Center Mountain, and the other cabins. The charming living room has comfy seating around the big rock fireplace and opens onto a covered. porch with a view of the Ponderosa pine forest. The luxurious large bath has a Jacuzzi tub with a view of the forest. The large master bedroom is beautifully decorated and has a queen pine four-poster bed and a futon that can open up to become a single bed.
History of the Rocking X Ranch
The property has been a ranch since probably the late 1800’s, though we rely on a rich oral history. Mogollon Indians settled here between 700-1300, and later it became an Apache hunting ground. Ancient ruins of dwellings dot the entire area. The main cabin was probably built in the late 1800’s, and the ranch was officially homesteaded in about 1920. The Trachta family bought the ranch in the 1950’s and ran a summer camp. It has remained in the family and is now owned by Jon and Pam Trachta, who treasure visiting the ranch often from their main home in Tucson.
Everyone who visits the Rocking X seems to find magic here. Consider giving yourself what the Japanese call a “forest bath,” and renew your connection with nature and with the wilderness.