Rich History
Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch was created from a work camp built in 1927 to facilitate the construction of Stewart Mountain Dam between 1928 and 1930. The main lodge functioned as the mess hall, ice house, and commissary for the construction crew. Workers lived in cabins lining the roadway to the new dam. The dam is the last in a chain of four reservoirs providing flood control and irrigation to the Phoenix Valley.
From Work Camp to Fishing Lodge
When the dam was completed, Phil and Marie Lewis from Kansas purchased the work camp from Salt River Project and secured a concessionaire permit from the U.S. Forest Service and Department of Interior to provide public services. The first marina was built on the east side of the dam, and the work camp became a fishing resort with a general store, gas station, restaurant, and overnight cabin rentals.
Phil and Marie added the touches that still give Saguaro Lake Ranch its charm today. Native river rock walls and fireplaces were built by skilled local artisans originally from Mexico. Reinforcing steel from the dam was used for curtain rods, and indoor plumbing was added. Western motif Monterey oak furniture purchased for the rooms still serves as a timeless reminder of that period.
From Fishing Lodge to Arizona Guest Ranch
Although the ranch began as a fishing lodge, it soon became a popular guest ranch, offering an Arizona ‘destination vacation’ for tourists nationwide. Attractions that drew guests back then remain the same today: the scenic beauty of the quiet rural setting, the fine winter climate, the western ranch atmosphere, and a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities in the Salt River Recreation Area and Tonto National Forest.
The ranch remains in the Durand family, who purchased the property from the Lewises in 1948. Three generations have managed the ranch: John and Dottie Kissinger, Steve and Susan Durand, and their sons, Justin and Kevin Durand.
Location, Location, Location!
The stunningly beautiful setting of Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch has made it a favored location for filming movies, music videos, and commercials.
Famous Guests
Over the years, Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch has hosted notable guests such as:
- Dr. Karl Menninger
- Mary Martin
- Glen Campbell
- Henry Ford III
- Gaylord Perry
- Norman Rockwell
- Bill Moyers
- Senator Carl Hayden
- Senator Barry Goldwater
- Rob Lowe
- Western artist Lon Megargee
The Ranch on Film
The ranch has been featured in several films, including:
- The Ride – Starring Michael Biehn and Jennifer O’Neill
- Family Plan – Starring Leslie Nielsen and Judge Reinhold
- Arizona Summer – Starring Morgan Fairchild & Lee Majors (Directed by Joey Travolta)
- Skinwalkers – Starring Wes Studi and Adam Beach
- Invasion – Starring Luke Perry and Kim Cattrall
- Down Will Come Baby – Starring Meredith Baxter
- The Lost Child – Produced by Hallmark, starring Mercedes Ruehl
- All My Friends Are Cowboys
- Water Rustlers – Starring Dorothy Page
- The Singing Cowgirl – Starring Dorothy Page
Music Videos
- Sarah Darling – You Can’t Call Love
- Terri Clark – Now That I Found You
The Original Guest Ranch Owners
John Kissinger & Dottie Durand
