Entire home

Desert Adobe 5-acre Crystal Ranch

Photo gallery for Desert Adobe 5-acre Crystal Ranch

Styracosaurus at night guarding the front gate to the ranch--our2nd dinosaur.
Karen & Lenny with "Steggy" grazing on cactus outback on the ranch.
Catalina Mtns loom over the property & home
Torch cactus in back yard
Veranda with table for lounging and eating, swing, and grill

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 4139.4 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Air conditioning
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
Tucson, AZ
  • Tucson Premium Outlets
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • El Conquistador Golf Course
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Tucson Mall
    ‪18 min drive‬
  • Tucson, AZ (AVW-Marana Regional)
    ‪19 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Desert Adobe 5-acre Crystal Ranch

Your casa is hosted by our family -- this is not a professional for-profit home. Rather, you will enjoy the peace of your own place without robotic management, yet you will have plenty of privacy. If there is a problem, we will take care of it immediately, because the two of us live next door on the 5-acre ranch. We look forward to hosting and meeting new and repeat guests. Our place is close to golf courses & Interstate-10, with good access to downtown Tucson (20-min drive), Tucson airport (30 min), and Phoenix Airport (85 min), but with the Sonoran desert privacy--very quiet ranch lands, shopping 10 min away, views of Tucson Mountain sunsets and Catalina Mountain sunrises. From the front of the house and front rooms, you can enjoy Tucson's spectacular sunsets. You'll love our place because of the coziness, location, solitude, security, lush desert vegetation, flowers, hummingbirds, and minerals. The South Wing is good for couples, solo adventurers, and business travelers. Karen & Lenny are available in the North Wing of the ranch for help or questions. The South Wing has a private front entrance for guests and a carport for 2 cars. There is a locked door between the two wings. We have additional security for guests that is provided by a code-box-operated front gate, security doors, and 2 dinosaurs (a stegosaurus and a styracosaurus (a triceratops family member).
THE SPACE: The home provides a 1500-sq-ft Casa, not a Casita. A corral, with water on-demand for horses and some roof shelter, is available for those traveling with their horses. There is a large living room, large kitchen, and dining room, along with the two bedrooms, all available for our guest's private use -- see photos. The dining-room buffet has 20 picture puzzles and one game for guest entertainment. One bedroom is a master bedroom with a full bed, 2 dressers, 2 night stands, and a private bath. The bath has been recently (April 2024) remodeled with a new serpentine ("granite") counter top adorned with a Talavera Sink from Mexico and a copper "waterfall" faucet. The second bedroom, with a queen bed and dresser, has a large office table, chairs, and computer screen--it has a full bath directly across the hall. The full bath has also just been remodeled (April 2024) with a serpentine ("granite") countertop, a Mexican Talavera Sink, and a gold-plated UFO faucet. New oak cabinets, mirrors, and 2 medicine cabinets were just installed. A full kitchen is available -- dishes, cookware, dishwasher, garbage disposal, large side-by-side refrigerator, microwave, full 4-burner gas stove w/self cleaning oven. There is a medium-size TV in the living room in front of the couch, with an antenna on the roof that brings in about 30 stations. The master bedroom has a very small TV with an attached DVD/VCR player and about 30 classic VCR tapes. The house has central air conditioning, central heat, and optional central air by a swamp cooler for those who like the fresh breeze and hearing the birds sing outside. A gas grill is available adjacent to the veranda. 6 citrus trees are teeming with lemons, oranges, and tangelos that are available to guests for fresh fruit at breakfast during the 5-months of citrus production. An initial offering of breakfast foods (coffee--12oz, 20+ tea bags, sugar, Splenda, flour, salt & pepper, some spices, vinegar, 1/2 gallon of milk, box of cereal (guests choice), loaf of bread (guests choice), dozen eggs, quart of juice (guests choice), stick of butter, and salad dressing is provided to get our guests started, so there is no need for them to rush to the grocery store on arrival day, and they can avail themselves of our fully equipped kitchen. Subsequently, guests will provide their breakfast supplies. A locked gallery connects the south guest wing with Karen & Lenny's north wing.
GUEST ACCESS: Guests have full access to the fenced backyard, horse corral, laundry room with washer and dryer (free), and the remainder of the 5 acres of Sonoran Desert. They will be provided with a guest code to open and close the gate to the ranch. The heavily treed backyard has a large shaded and covered veranda off the kitchen, with cushioned chairs and glass table, a propane grill, a swing set, 6 citrus trees, flower beds, rose bushes nestled among the ironwoods, Aleppo pines, and palo verde and mesquite trees.
HOST INTERACTION WITH GUESTS: We are both geologists and are happy to interact with our guests, providing them with various tourist advice and information on local geology. We have tourist books and maps available for guest use. A small library of novels is also available in the living room bookcase.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD: The "neighborhood" is all ranch land of 5-10 acre properties with corrals on county dirt roads. Your vacation casa is isolated from other houses -- none can be seen from your vacation home bedrooms or yard.
OTHER THINGS TO NOTE: Guests have two bedrooms, for 2 persons in the master bedroom with a private bath and large shower, and a queen-size bed for 1 person in the other bedroom that also has office accommodations and a separate full bath with tub and shower. A second person (4th guest) may sleep in the second bedroom for an additional charge of $30/night. Free Wifi is available throughout the house and on the veranda. Guests will have their own key and entrance separate from Karen & Lenny's North wing of the ranch. A maximum of 3 persons (a 4th person-- second person in 2nd bedroom--is ok for an extra $30/night ), and they have exclusive use of the casa's south wing. There is abundant parking within the secure, gated property, in addition to the 2 places available under the carport. Pets have not been allowed in the house, so for those with pet allergies the house is pet dander free.

Property manager

Karen Wenrich & Lenny Wildrick
Premier Host

Languages

English, German

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 12:00 PM
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Children

Adults only
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No parties, but 4 dinner guests are OK. We require the names of all guests. No additional guests without the owners permission.
Newly re-upholstered couch is not to be used for a bed. Guests must read "Guidance for Guests" upon arrival. $50 fee for unwashed dishes.
$30/night for 4th guest. Must be paid at time of booking.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
This property uses a grey water recycling system
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Tucson

Located in Tortolita, a neighbourhood in Tucson, this holiday home is in a rural area. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Saguaro National Park and Catalina State Park, while Berger Performing Arts Center and Red Barn Theater are cultural highlights. Travelling with kids? Consider Aeroball Sports Courts and Oro Valley Aquatic Center. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Tucson, AZ

What's nearby

  • Tucson Premium Outlets - 9 min drive - 7.2 km
  • El Conquistador Golf Course - 10 min drive - 7.5 km
  • Golf Club at Dove Mountain - 17 min drive - 13.5 km
  • Tucson Mall - 18 min drive - 17.9 km
  • University of Arizona - 25 min drive - 26.5 km

Getting around

  • Tucson Station - 20 min drive
  • Tucson, AZ (AVW-Marana Regional) - 19 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Sonic Drive-In - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪IHOP - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Subway - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Wendy's - ‬10 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Desert Adobe 5-acre Crystal Ranch pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Desert Adobe 5-acre Crystal Ranch?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Desert Adobe 5-acre Crystal Ranch?

Checkout is at 12:00 PM.

Where is Desert Adobe 5-acre Crystal Ranch located?

This family-friendly Tucson holiday home is located in a rural location, 2.3 mi (3.8 km) from Crooked Tree Golf Course, and within 6 mi (10 km) of Aeroball Sports Courts and Tucson Premium Outlets. Mike Jacob Sports Park and Catalina Golf Course are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 28 out of 32 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 32 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 32 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 32 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 32 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Wanda D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely stay at Crystal Ranch
Exactly as described, very clean, quiet property. Loved the nature, beautiful landscaping, lots of birds to watch. Great location, close to restaurants and plenty of things to do but also had the privacy you would want. Comfy beds and great showers, very relaxing home with everything you need. Would definitely stay again.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nancy S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great visit
We picked this property because of the dinosaurs. The space worked well for us and it was in a good location for the things we wanted to do.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Debbie S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Tucson Getaway
We really enjoyed our stay there! Wonderful host! Beautiful landscaping! A good place for a quiet getaway.
Stayed 11 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jackie R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Tucson stay
Nice house, very clean
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

John B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Desert oasis
The house was immaculate, and a garden spot in the desert. Many great golf courses made for one of my best ever golf trips. Property was exactly as described.
Stayed 11 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Mark E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
What a beautiful spot
It's quiet, folksy, out of the way, but still close to amenities. It was a perfect spot for us visiting close by relatives.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

mark m.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Tucson Tranquility
Relaxed on the back patio and soaked in the clean desert air while listening to birdsong! A well appointed home of original adobe brick set in picturesque grounds.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Quiet and private
Quiet and private.
Stayed 9 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Bruce J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Geologist’s Rock
We truly enjoyed staying at this quiet country home. Karen and Lenny are so enjoyable to talk to about many different subjects! They make sure their guests are comfortable.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Margie W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Winter getaway in Tortolita
We enjoyed the desert scenery at our doorstep and the ability to take long walks along the quiet roads around the property. Everything was clean, and well provisioned for guests.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jeff R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Recent stay in Tucson
Property is well located and very well maintained. Property owners are very nice and especially helpful. Easy to recommend for your next stay in Tucson.
Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A Gem in the Desert
It suited our purposes well!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bruce J., Neenah WI

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Quiet oasis
This was our 2nd stay in this quiet oasis. We love staying here. Karen and Lenny are wonderful hosts always ready to answer any questions we may have. They always have suggestions for things that we can do in the area. We enjoy our time staying here and hope to do so again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Donna M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Peaceful and Private
The house was spotless, had all the necessities for our 21-night stay, and the hosts were available and interested that we had what we needed. We loved watching the hummingbirds from the very pleasant kitchen and the lack of traffic on the roads made taking walks enjoyable. We very much enjoyed our visit and would stay again.
Stayed 21 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jeff E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place to stay
House was new and clean while also cozy and charming. Hosts were friendly and provided us with some groceries to start us off. Location is great. Close to Tucson, but in a rural desert area. Yard has beautiful cacti and fruit trees.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tom Z.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great hospitality
The guest house met all of our needs. It is comfortable, spacious, and conveniently located. We especially enjoyed relaxing in the back garden. Karen and Lenny are very hospitable hosts. All in all, a very pleasant experience.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

nancy t.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A week in the sun!
The property was beautifully managed by Karen and Lenny, who are very kind and thoughtful hosts. They were very solicitious and a big help in planning our week. Every morning coffee in the sunny yard, and a plan for the day. A wonderful break from cold, cloudy north!
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Laurie D.

Great desert property, great for birders
The owners, who live on the property, are warm and welcoming. Breakfast foods were an unexpected bonus. We were in Tucson for early spring birding and found the backyard desert pretty amazing. A comfortable house with a well stocked kitchen, I'd happily stay again.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2019

10/10 Excellent

Vicky L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A week in the “country” right in Tucson.
Karen and Lenny are wonderful hosts and Crystal Ranch was a great “vacation” at the end of our longer stay elsewhere in Tucson. We spent hours in the comfortable outside area, took long walks on the quiet road and made good use of the well equipped kitchen. Comfy beds, welcoming breakfast supplies and some cool furniture made the house feel like home.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Bruce J., Neenah WI

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Quiet and peaceful oasis
Karen and Lenny were fantastic hosts. We loved the home plus all the additional amenities. The hosts took time to talk and made us feel so welcome. They made themselves available for anything we needed. Hope to visit them again in the future.
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Philip A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Tucson house
Terrific hosts. Terrific location a few miles outside Tucson on 5 acres with great desert plants, especially the giant saguaro cactus. Best AirB&B in years. Thanks Lenny and Karen for sharing your place! Jeff
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

kathleen p.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Excellent 45th wedding anniversary getaway
Because of our last-minute decision to travel, our stay at Crystal Ranch was much too short because of our holiday activities with family at home.. Karin and Lenny are perfect hosts. The location is very convenient to the city, but not too close. A beautiful area with open spaces, surrounded by mountains. The house is very comforable and perfectly clean, with everything we needed for a wonderful stay. Thank you again, Karin and Lenny. We look forward to visiting you again.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Vangie H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Unforgettable and relaxing
We stayed four days in this unique home. There were many objects that reflect the owner’s interest in geology, both inside, and on the grounds. Five acres of specimen desert plants, with comfortable spaces to enjoy the sunrise. We loved the time we had here! The kitchen is gorgeous, and the bathrooms are accommodating.. Cannot recommend highly enough. I’ve already told family and friends!
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kenneth M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Nice place to get away.
Karen was great to accommodate our late arrival and gave us the quick tour. She had some staples ready to go for us when we arrived so we wouldn’t have to rush out and go shopping. We spent most of our time with friends, so it was nice being close to them in northwest Tucson. The property is off of any major roads and very quiet. We were able to get to most of upper Tucson in 20 minutes and central Tucson in 30 minutes. I-10 isn’t too far away. I would stay here again.
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

nancy F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Tucson Getaway
Great location, very clean, very responsive and considerate owner and property manager.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2022

About the host

Hosted by Karen Wenrich & Lenny Wildrick

Host profile image
Karen is a Uranium geologist with a Ph.D from Penn State. She went to high school in Wiesbaden, Germany. She worked for 25 years as a research geologist for the USGS and then worked for 3 years as a diplomat for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA, part of the UN) in Vienna Austria. She is reasonably conversant in German. Some knowledge of French and limited knowledge of Spanish (about 150 word vocabulary all nouns, mostly food!). She received the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize along with other employees at the IAEA. Lived in Golden, CO since 1974. and owns the small ranch north of Tucson, Arizona, which she is eager to share with guests. Lenny is a hydrogeologist with an MS degree. He met Karen at Penn State in geology class 50 years ago, but it took till 10 years ago for him to ask her to marry him. He works as a consulting hydrogeologist in the western U. S. Together they share the mineral, gem, and jewelry business, Crystals Unlimited (a hobby that got out of control 30 years ago), and are a vendor at the Tucson Gem and Mineral show. Anything guests would like to know about geology or any rocks/minerals they want identified, Karen and Lenny are happy to answer their questions.

Why they chose this property

Solitude with abundant wildlife viewing--hummingbirds nesting in the trees, quail, phainopeplas, doves, goldfinches, house finches, curved-billed thrashers, Gila woodpeckers, cactus wrens, roadrunners, Harris and Cooper hawks, great-horned and screech owls, coyotes, javalina, bobcats, rabbits (cottontails & jackrabbits), etc.

What makes this property unique

Very quiet. Privacy from neighbors. Very little traffic. Lush Sonora-Desert vegetation. Unpaved roads with horse riders and safe, easy walking or bicyling.

Languages:

English, German

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests