The Southern Arizona guest ranch as a symbol of the West Item Type text; Thesis-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Norris, Frank B. (Frank Blaine), 1950-. Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 07/10/2021 15:00:58 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/555065 THE SOUTHERN ARIZONA GUEST RANCH AS A SYMBOL OF THE WEST by Frank Blaine Norris A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND URBAN PLANNING In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS WITH A MAJOR IN GEOGRAPHY In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 1 9 7 6 Copyright 1976 Frank Blaine Norris STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This thesis has been submitted in partial fulfill­ ment of requirements for an advanced degree at The University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this thesis are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowl­ edgment of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the copyright holder. SIGNED: APPROVAL BY THESIS DIRECTOR This thesis has been approved on the date shown below: ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This thesis is the collective effort of many, and to each who played a part in its compilation, I am indebted. Thanks go first to the geography professors who formed my thesis committee; these include my advisor, Dr. Lay Gibson, who planted the seed of this endeavor, as well as to Drs. Melvin Hecht and Thomas Saarinen. They have all provided excellent comments, needed perspective, and supportive criticism to the text, and in doing so, helped make this study far more cohesive and readable. However, the errors and contradictions which have survived their scrutiny are my own. In a more general scholastic sense, I would like to thank the library staffs of The University of Arizona and the Arizona Historical Society, who helped me locate many excellent source materials. Thanks also go to Ms, Kathy Meredith, at the Valley National Bank, who assisted with data collection. A special thanks is due the University administration, whose WATS-line telephone system has made so many needed communications possible. I am also grateful to the many, many persons involved in the Arizona guest ranch industry who have pro­ vided so much of the information contained here. More than anyone else, it is they who have made Arizona synonymous with Western warmth and hospitality, and it is to them that iv this thesis is dedicated. Their assistance and hospitality, whether on the telephone or at the various ranches, was very much appreciated. Mr. Boyd Wilson, Mrs, Sophie Burden, the Howard Millers, and Ms. Lynn Thompson, all long associated with the Arizona guest ranch industry, have been of singular help; but to be fair, several score of other persons, in locations throughout Arizona, should be included here. Thank you! Finally, I would like to thank those in my personal sphere who enabled me to persist in the preparation of this thesis. There have been many whose input has affected my work, and I wish I could cite you all individually. However, I would particularly like to thank fellow graduate . students Tom Szot and Steve Caldwell, who provided both advice and needed relief; Judy Svore, who accompanied me on many a guest ranching foray; Rick and Nancy Bothell, whose diversion and support helped me persevere through a productive but trying summer; and Janice Vandeventer, whose understanding and patience enabled me to continue working on this study while I was living away from the study area. Finally, I would like to contribute a word of special thanks to my family? their encouragement and belief in my eventual success has given me hope and strength. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS...............................viii LIST OF T A B L E S ....................................... X ABSTRACT ................................. ............ xi CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION . ................. .............. 1 The Guest Ranch in Its Western Setting . 1 Perceptions of the West ........ 3 The Western Appeal as a Commercial E n t i t y .......... ............ .. P u r p o s e .............. ............ .. CO KO Methodology . , . , . , . Written Material ............ Owner Interviews 12 Lists of Patrons , .... ......... 14 Patron Interviews ........... 14 Guest Ranch Listing .......... 15 Location of the Study Area ......... 17 Relation of the Study Area to Other Guest Ranch Locations ..... 17 Rationale Behind the Selection of the Study Area .................. 22 Definitional Note ................... 25 II, THE EARLY GUEST RANCH PERIOD .......... 32 Introduction . ............ 32 Historical Evolution .... ................ 32 Early History of the Dude Ranch Industry . ..................... 32 Establishment of the Guest Ranch in Arizona ............... 38 Description . .............. 42 Location .... ....... 44 Activities , . .......... ....... 51 Clientele , 56 Atmosphere . 61 image of the Early Guest Ranch ....... 75 v vi TABLE OF CONTENTS— Continued Page Influence of the Arizona Environment Upon the Early Guest R a n c h .............. 85 Reality of the Western Experience on the Guest R a n c h ........ ............ 85 Influence of the Early Guest Ranch Upon the Arizona Tourist Image .... 88 III. THE TRANSITIONAL GUEST RANCH PERIOD .......... 97 Introduction ................ ....... 97 Historical Evolution ................ 98 Early Evidences of Change ....... 98 Reasons for the Change . ........ 106 Impact of World War II on the Guest Ranch Industry.......... 107 Postwar Growth ............. 108 Description .'.......... 109 Location ................ 110 Activities ....................... 122 Atmosphere ............ 128 Clientele ............... 145 Image of the Transitional Guest Ranch . ' 152 Influence of the Arizona Environment Upon the Transitional Guest Ranch .... 157 Factors Influencing the Image of Arizona During the Transitional Guest Ranch Period . , . , . 157 Influence of the Transitional Guest Ranch on Arizona Tourism .... 168 Effect of Western Exposure Upon the Transitional Guest Ranch ....... 180 IV. THE CONTEMPORARY GUEST RANCH PERIOD ..... 184 Introduction ......... ............ 184 Historical Evolution . ............ 185 Evidences of Change . ............... 188 Reasons for the Change ......... 190 Description , . ............... 197 Location . , . 197 Activities.............. • , ........... 198 Clientele . ........ ....... 206 Atmosphere . ....................... 211 Image of the Contemporary Guest Ranch . 214 Influence of the Arizona Environment on the Contemporary Guest Ranch ..... 216 vii TABLE OF CONTENTS— Continued Page V. CONCLUDING REMARKS 220 S u m m a r y .......... .. 220 Thematic Generalizations 224 APPENDIX A. GUEST RANCH PATRON QUESTIONNAIRE .... 227 APPENDIX B. COMPOSITE DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF WINTER-ORIENTED ARIZONA GUEST RANCHES— INTRODUCTORY MATERIAL .... 231 APPENDIX C. COMPOSITE LIST OF WINTER-ORIENTED ARIZONA GUEST RANCHES AND THEIR LOCATIONS................ 238 APPENDIX D. DIRECTORY OF PHOENIX AREA GUEST RANCHES.................. 247 APPENDIX E. DIRECTORY OF TUCSON AREA GUEST RANCHES ................... 250 APPENDIX F. DIRECTORY OF WICKENBURG AREA GUEST RANCHES.......... 257 i APPENDIX G. DIRECTORY OF GUEST RANCHES LOCATED OUTSIDE OF PHOENIX, TUCSON, AND WICKENBURG, BY AREA .......... 259 APPENDIX H, MAJOR SOURCE MATERIAL USED IN COMPILING THE GUEST RANCH LISTING . 271 APPENDIX I, LIST OF PERSONS CONTACTED 278 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 284 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure Page 1. The Study Area 18 2. Areas of Guest Ranch Concentrations .......... 19 3. Guest Ranching in the United States, 1974 . 21 4. Wintertime Guest Ranches in Arizona, 1927 . 45 5. Wintertime Guest Ranches in Arizona, 1935 . 46 6. Main Building, Faraway Ranch, Wonderland of Rocks (Chiricahua National Monument) Area . ........ ............. 63 7. Main Ranch House and Cabins, Triangle L Ranch, near Oracle , ......................... 63 8. Exterior of Early Guest Cabin ................. 64 9. Interior of Early Guest Cabin ................. 65 10. Dining Room, Early Guest Ranch ............ 70 11. Living Room, Early Guest Ranch ......... 73 12. Present Example, Bottle Club , 74 13. Early Guest Ranch Advertisements ........ 76 14. Entrance Gate, Early Working Guest Ranch , , , , 87 15. Proportion of Guest Ranches by Type, 1925-1975 ............ .. 99 16. Urban Orientation of Wintertime Arizona Guest Ranches, 1925-1975 , 102 17. Wintertime Guest Ranches in Arizona, 1940 . , , 112 18. Wintertime Guest Ranches in Arizona, 1948 , , , 113 viii ix LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS— Continued Figure Page 19. Phoenix Guest Ranches Before World War II . 116 20. Tucson Guest Ranches Before World War II . , 117 21. Phoenix Guest Ranches After World War II . 118 22. Tucson Guest Ranches After World War II .... 119 23. Chuck Wagon Supper, Non-Working Guest Ranch ....................................... 125 24. Layout of Buildings/ Non-Working Guest Ranch . , , .............. 130 25. Labelling, Guest Cabin ........ 132 26. Interior of Main Living Room, Resort- Oriented Ranch ................ 135 27. Entrance Gates, Non-Working