Tanque Verde Ranch

BizTUCSONApril 4, 2025

1 minute read

After the Gadsden Purchase, Don Emilio Carrillo moved his family to Tucson in 1856 and began ranching in the lush Tanque Verde area– “green tank” in Spanish for the area’s water tank notorious for its green algae. Bandits raided his ranch in 1904 and tried to hang Carrillo, but the tough rancher survived. It’s just the start of the storied history of Tanque Verde Ranch. His son Rafael sold the ranch to Jim Converse in the 1920s and it would eventually be purchased by Brownie Cote in 1957, with his son Bob and wife Rita taking over management in 1969. Tanque Verde, today, remains one of the nation’s largest working dude ranches. Guests from across the globe enjoy horseback riding, hiking, swimming, delicious cookouts and more on the ranch grounds. The 69-room, award-winning ranch also boasts 14-plus event venues, including an 8,400 square-foot barn.