A woven wood headboard and loom woven bed accessories reflect southern Arizona’s wild western heritage, where frontier’s people were settling down in previously Indian Territory. This room is light and inviting, with views of the Santa Catalina Mountains beyond the front lawn and the pool. The classic 1950’s tile in blue and yellow, and original wood-beamed shower ceiling, create a one of a kind Rancho Merlita experience.
Tucson was captured by the Mormon Battalion during the Mexican-American War. Following the Gadsden Purchase in 1853, Arizona became a territory of the United States, although the American military did not formally take over control of Tucson until March 1856. In the late 1800’s, the great-grandfather of Rancho Merlita owner Diana Osborne was a Territory Representative by the name of Eugene Childs. In 1882, Frank Stilwell was shot and killed by Wyatt Earp near Tucson’s train station. This event helped trigger the Arizona War, also known as the Earp Vendetta Ride that lasted a few weeks. The vendetta ride is an example of a jurisdiction dispute and failure of the law enforcement system on the Old West American Frontier.
One of our guests told us that he was invited to swim in the Rancho Merlita pool fifty years ago by John Wyatt Earp, a direct descendant of the famed Wyatt Earp. John Wyatt Earp’s aunt, Anita King, was a friend of Merle Norman. Anita King was known as the Paramount Girl, and was the first woman to drive across the country by herself.
$99 – $185
Additional Room Amenities
- King Bed, refrigerator, safe, TV, DVD, wireless internet
- View of the swimming pool and mountains
- Private bath – shower only, blow dryer, robes, slippers, iron and ironing board
