Come to the Mountains High on Arizona's Spectacular Mogollon Rim!
Come and enjoy the richness of "The Rim", The exhilarating character of the Old West, And the luxury of great cabins and good folks
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| Bear Cabin 88 |
Click here for more information or to Reserve Your Stay online with your Visa or MasterCard over our Secure link.
Relax in a beautiful new cabin with terrific amenities, only 2.5 hours from Phoenix. The log cabins have tin roofs, reminiscent of the 1890's -- but the interiors are as modern as can be, with full kitchens and bathrooms, vaulted ceilings, fireplaces, comfortable bedrooms, living rooms and dining rooms. Just kick back and do as little or as much as you would like!
You can make marvelous memories in this remarkable place! Enjoy a spectacular environment with direct access to the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest Located about 3 miles east of Overgaard on the south side of Highway 260, the cabins at Bison Ranch are at 6,500’ altitude -- nestled high on the Mogollon Rim near the White Mountains in eastern Arizona. The Rim is a geological anomaly where the high country powerfully rises from the hot desert valley at lower altitude. The climb is abrupt when driving on Highway 260 from Payson, AZ. Photo opportunities abound, but please pull off the road to admire this awesome scenery. And please take great care while driving, especially watching for elk, which seem to appear out of nowhere!
We love the mild four seasons, where broadleaf trees turn colors in autumn, and the days are cooler than Phoenix! Hike in Nature’s splendor. Summers often bring afternoon showers; winters may bring pristine snow (dress in layers). The boundless sky and myriad of stars are simply breath-taking -- no street lamps or city lights to dim the view! Towering Ponderosa pines shelter the cabin and provide wonderful aromas. Wild critters , particularly elk, visit frequently. Walk gently to fish in Bison Ranch's own stocked pond. Willow Springs Lake and Fools Hollow Lake are trout lakes within a 30 minute drive on paved roads. Or test your prowess during hunting season. See season details and click on AZ Game and Fish Department's website for licensing requirements. Hunting seasons and game vary; Bison Ranch is in hunt unit 3C. Bison Ranch is within easy driving distance of Coconino National Forest and Tonto National Forest. Many nearby lakes offer welcome respite from the summer days. You can cross-country ski in winter snows or take in downhill skiing at nearby Sunrise Ski Area. (about an hour's drive). Or just curl up with a great book by the fireplace in your cabin. Photo opportunities are prolific bring your camera to capture the delight!
It just doesn’t get any better than this!
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ABOUT BISON RANCH this visionary new development is based on the old values:
- When bountiful buffalo blessed our lands
- And bear and elk lived with us in harmony
- When life was simply without technological invasion.
Bison Ranch replicates the "Wild West" of the 1890's – complete with Bison Town, where the old west and the new meet warmly. The host of amenities range from rodeos to boutiques, from restaurants to an ice cream parlor, from tennis courts to cookouts, from a saloon to a stocked pond, and from a magnificent barn to house your own horse to riding a rented steed through the grandeur of the forest. The Grand Opening festivities were held over Memorial Day weekend. Join in the Bison Ranch seasonal activities such as barbecue cookouts with yard games, volleyball and special activities for kids. You can board your horses on site or nearby, or you can arrange to ride through a local horseback riding operator. Enjoy a wagon ride graced with extraordinary Belgian horses, or watch the elegant Perchron horses prance their stately heights with awesome dignity. Western sculptures throughout Bison Ranch will fascinate you.
Memorial Day 2001 Festivities
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| Cowboy Mounted Shooting Action |
Percheron Horses |
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| Horse-Drawn Wagon Parking Demo |
Western Glory Flag Presentation |
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LOCAL AMENITIES
Enjoy stunning local area attractions of fishing or canoeing in nearby clear mountain lakes. Play golf or dine at the Country Club less than 3 miles away. Several restaurants and stores attract visitors throughout the year, although the pickins get slimmer in the colder months.
- Shoofly Indian Ruin -- Located just off Houston Mesa Road, this ancient Indian settlement consists of a cluster of primitive rock pit houses. The village was abandoned by its residents in
approximately 1250 A.D. Historians and archaeologists are not certain where or why they went.
- Site of Zane Grey Cabin -- Nestled under the Mogollon Rim at 6,500 feet, this is the place where the author penned many of his popular Western novels. Efforts to rebuild his two-room cabin, burned in the tragic Dude Fire of 1990, now are underway.
- Strawberry Schoolhouse -- The oldest standing schoolhouse in Arizona, this is now a state historical site. It was built in 1884, and the last classes were held inside it in 1916.
- Museum of the Forest -- The museum features exhibits, which illustrate the relationship between the forest and the early settlers who inhabited Payson. Located within the original Tonto National Forest Ranger Station, built in 1908, it houses a replica of the historic Heron Hotel. a bookstore, archeological information and an oral history library.
Local communities offer special events, including carnivals, bluegrass festivals, art fairs and even a loggers festival. There are some great watering holes and local restaurants. The two local grocery stores have a limited variety of products; prices tend to be higher there. The Heber-Overgaard area does not have a public swimming pool, but there are plenty of churches. If you want to bring hard liquor, we suggest you procure it elsewhere (there is supposed to be a place to buy it in Heber-Overgaard, but we haven't found it!). Nightlife is fairly limited at the current time to Bison Town's Wild Women Saloon and Heber's Red Onion' both are fun places with some good food.
Sunrise Ski Resort is only an hour's drive; you can enjoy downhill skiing, snow-mobiling and snow-boarding when the winter’s snow allows. Summer activities at Sunrise are also gaining in popularity. Rodeos and horse shows are seasonal and take place in the surrounding communities. The Grand Canyon is a long day-trip away. Mazatzal Casino (near Payson) is a 1-hour drive. Hon-Dah Casino (east of Pinetop) is also 1-hour drive (all casinos in Arizona are on Indian Reservations).
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HOW TO GET HERE
From Phoenix: take the Beeline (Highway 87) east to Payson. Turn right on AZ Highway 260 and proceed approximately 60 miles to Heber-Overgaard. Bison Ranch is located about three miles east of Overgaard at 2269 Highway 260 (on the south side of the highway). Turn south into the main entrance of Bison Ranch (Bison Town is on the southeast corner); follow this road past the pond. Take the second left onto Ponderosa Loop, where the private cabins are located. Ponderosa Loop is a loop, with the entrance at the north end so, just go left around the loop to find the address.
From Flagstaff: take Interstate 17 south, then east on Highway 260 at Camp Verde. Proceed to Heber-Overgaard. Bison Ranch is located about three miles east of Overgaard at 2269 Highway 260 (on the south side of the highway). Turn south into the main entrance of Bison Ranch (Bison Town is on the southeast corner); follow this road past the pond. Take the second left onto Ponderosa Loop, where the private cabins are located. Ponderosa Loop is a loop, with the entrance at the north end so, just go left around the loop to find the address.
From Sedona: take Highway 179 east, then Interstate 17 south to Highway 260 east at Camp Verde. Proceed to Heber-Overgaard. Bison Ranch is located about three miles east of Overgaard at 2269 Highway 260 (on the south side of the highway). Turn south into the main entrance of Bison Ranch (Bison Town is on the southeast corner); follow this road past the pond. Take the second left onto Ponderosa Loop, where the private cabins are located. Ponderosa Loop is a loop, with the entrance at the north end so, just go left around the loop to find the address.
From Tucson: take Highway 77 north to Globe, then proceed north on 60/77 to Showlow. Proceed east on Highway 260 about 31 miles. Turn south into the main entrance of Bison Ranch (Bison Town is on the southeast corner); follow this road past the pond. Take the second left onto Ponderosa Loop, where the private cabins are located. Ponderosa Loop is a loop, with the entrance at the north end so, just go left around the loop to find the address.
From Pinetop: take Highway 260 west about 42 miles. Turn south into the main entrance of Bison Ranch (Bison Town is on the southeast corner); follow this road past the pond. Take the second left onto Ponderosa Loop, where the private cabins are located. Ponderosa Loop is a loop, with the entrance at the north end so, just go left around the loop to find the address.
From Albuquerque: take Interstate 40 west To Holbrook. Turn south on Highway 377 to Heber-Overgaard. Turn east on Highway 260. Bison Ranch is located about three miles east of Overgaard at 2269 Highway 260 (on the south side of the highway). Turn south into the main entrance of Bison Ranch (Bison Town is on the southeast corner); follow this road past the pond. Take the second left onto Ponderosa Loop, where the private cabins are located. Ponderosa Loop is a loop, with the entrance at the north end so, just go left around the loop to find the address.
From El Paso: take Interstate 25 north to Albuquerque. Then take Interstate 40 west To Holbrook. Turn south on Highway 377 to Heber-Overgaard. Turn east on Highway 260. Bison Ranch is located about three miles east of Overgaard at 2269 Highway 260 (on the south side of the highway). Turn south into the main entrance of Bison Ranch (Bison Town is on the southeast corner); follow this road past the pond. Take the second left onto Ponderosa Loop, where the private cabins are located. Ponderosa Loop is a loop, with the entrance at the north end so, just go left around the loop to find the address.
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take Interstate 10 west to Lordsburg. Turn northwest onto Highway 70 to Duncan. Go North on Highway 75 to Guthrie, then go north on Highway 191 to Eagar. Go west on Highway 60 to Showlow. Go west on Highway 260 about 42 miles. Turn south into the main entrance of Bison Ranch (Bison Town is on the southeast corner); follow this road past the pond. Take the second left onto Ponderosa Loop, where the private cabins are located. Ponderosa Loop is a loop, with the entrance at the north end so, just go left around the loop to find the address.
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HELPFUL HINTS
- 6,600 Feet Altitude is over a mile high, so
- Be prepared to adjust by drinking LOTS of water (if you don't, you may be a candidate for a headache, at best, or high altitude sickness, at worst).
- Know that you will probably get winded quicker, sleep more, drink alcoholic beverages less.
- Use high altitude recipes (it takes longer for water to boil, boiling water isn't as hot and food takes longer to cook).
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When walking at night, use a flashlight. Critters abound; they may be hazardous!
- Dress in layers regardless of the season. When the sun goes down, so does the temperature. Summer nights can chill quickly while the days can heat up. Winter nights are usually quite chilly; winter days will vary.
- Please, honor your neighbors by sticking to the community rules and simple courtesy. Most folks there prefer a relatively quiet environment. Know that your neighbors will not be happy with rowdiness, especially after 10 P.M. through 8 A.M. The sounds of vehicles and mechanical equipment should be kept to a minimum. Please recognize that neighbors have come here to escape the noise and hassle of the city and respect that notion. We thank you for doing so.
CONTACT US
If you have any questions or concerns or have a problem during your stay, please e-mail us at frontdesk@cabinsatbisonranch.com.
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