Historic home close to UofA private pool and spa in a magical garden 4 BR/4BA

Top rated by guests
Pool large enough to swim laps.
Dining room table seats 8.  One table for 10 and another for 6 on porch.
Guest house breakfast room. Guest house also has its own bathroom and shower.
Breakfast in Tucson...
We've kept this lawn, for now. We love it, as do kids!
review stars
9.6Outstanding
(116 Ratings)
"We had a fantastic stay! Toby and Tom were wonderful hosts, and the house was impeccably clean and well-equipped with everything we needed. The kids absolutely loved the pool, especially since it was ..."
Robert S.
Don't miss out! Price and availability may change
9.6 / 10.0
Outstanding(116 Ratings)

House in Catalina Foothills, AZ

8 guests · 4 bedrooms · 4 baths

Reasons to book

Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Great for petsBring all your friends and family, even the furry ones
High-end valueWell priced for this area

About this house rental

Welcome to your home away from home !

Our charming home is centrally located in Tucson, 10 minutes from the University of Arizona. Yet, it is entirely walled by a 7 foot fence and remote controlled entrance gates, offering a secluded and safe heaven in town.
Within the walls, our large magical desert garden has 3 majestic ancient saguaros, a variety of olive, citrus trees, and roses.
The porches give you plenty of spaces where you can gather, sit, relax, work, dine etc while watching our many birds's hotels and enjoying the mountain views.
At any moment, you can swim in the blue saguaro pool, or enjoy the jacuzzi! The large pool, big enough for laps, is designed to safety codes with surrounding fence and closing child-proof 5 and under gate.
And all this is within minutes of supermarkets, restaurants, downtown, U of A, racquet and gym club.

In the house, you'll be able to enjoy the luxury memory foam beds designed for a perfect sleep, and a well supplied kitchen (We like to cook).

The property has a main house and a guest house.
The main house has two master bedrooms, each with a king bed and its own attached bathroom with shower. There is a smaller bedroom with a queen bed and closet without an attached bathroom. However there is a third bathroom with its own shower off the living room. Each bedroom has its own door that opens on to the front or back garden.
The guest house has a king bed, living room with its own cable tv, outside sitting area, and kitchen (refrigerator and microwave and seating area). It has its own bathroom with shower.

The house sits on a little hill and is completely surrounded by a seven foot fence, so it floats somewhat above the neighbourhood and gives unobstructed views to the north and east of the nearby Catalina mountains and foothills. It gives a truly unique experience of an 'old Tucson' gem in northeast central Tucson with a feeling of security and privacy.

Sit on the front porch and enjoy the view of the Catalina Mountains, or take a dip in the luxurious stone-decked pool.
The giant saguaros, with their many birds and hummingbirds of all colors, are the main attraction of the garden (and one of the main reasons we bought the house!) They are ancient and majestic, and 150 years old plus. The saguaros and mediterranean trees, orange and lemon trees and roses invite birds of all sorts to this quiet natural sanctuary, where all the best Tucson attractions are at your fingertips. Bird seed provided and we encourage the guests to feed the birds.
There are various sitting areas around the property, including a sitting area in front of a Mexican cheminea for outside fires. Wood is provided, mesquite, eucalyptus, and white pine.

The pool and oversized jacuzzi can be heated upon request and subject to weather conditions for an additional charge. In the wintertime we advise just heating the jacuzzi. We stop heating the pool on November 1 through March 1 as the nighttime temps are often below 40 degrees, even though the days can be above 70 degrees! That's the desert. The charge to heat the jacuzzi is $40 per day, the pool $60 per day. These are billed as supplemental invoices after a booking is completed and are charged in advance.

The side patio has a Weber propane grill and bar/seating area for dinner parties.

50 channels of Cox-provided cable television, broadband WiFi throughout the property, and a CD/tape stereo are provided, along with a decent library of CD’s. There is a large private library stocked with a variety of nonfiction and fiction titles. Not to mention a sizeable collection of Betty and Veronica and Archie comic books for the young ones.

Nest thermostat controlled heating/air conditioning in the main house via a powerful Trane HVAC .
EV charging capability inside gates. 240v nema 14-50 outlet

The house was a ranch, constructed in the early 1940's, when this part of town was still completely undeveloped with giant saguaros and became part of an artist's colony.
As Tucson evolved, the artist's colony was subdivided, but this property remained a rare 2/3’s acre lot that preserves a secluded desert feel right in central Tucson !

We have kept the Tucson spirit alive in the house with antiques, art, and a garden that still has a wild character. Native creosote bushes abound on the property, which many developers used to just tear up. They are now protected and give the garden it's unique smell during rain.

Ideally located just minutes from the University of Arizona, La Paloma and Lowes Ventana golf courses, the Tucson Tennis and Racquet Club, Refkin Tennis Center, Gem Show and Spring Training venues, it is also close to some of the city’s best restaurants and shopping places.

Tucson is becoming a bike city, there are dedicated bike paths everywhere. The house is 5-10 minutes from the Riilto Wash bike path, the longest and most known bike path that cuts for 15 miles plus through the center of Tucson and then loops all the way around Tucson for serious bikers. We find biking on the streets around the house and over to the shopping/restaurants on Campbell very easy as the streets are unusually wide and have very little traffic. Its a 15-20 minute ride to the University of Arizona campus. A cyclist's paradise! Bike to the Riilto Park Saturday farmer's market or to the Roasting Sage Coffee shop (voted best in town!).

Select grocery shopping at the Rincon Market /AJ's/Trader Joe's and the city’s best farmers’ market at St. Phillips Plaza. The new (and massive!) Whole Foods at River and Craycroft is 15 minutes from the house, and also reachable by the Riilto bike path. Upscale dining options include Vivace, Hacienda del Sol (voted #1 in Tucson) and Acacia restaurant. And local favorite El Corral. Don't miss the antiques on Country club ..., and Sammy's Sonoran hot dog stand at Country Club and Grant.

Convenient, affordable, and accessible day care options within ten minutes of the address.

Night-life at the historic Hotel Congress, Rialto Theater and Centennial Hall’s fine arts performances will keep you more than entertained. When you’re ready for adventure, take a day trip to Mt. Lemmon, Sabino Canyon or Saguaro National Park.

You will love the confort, privacy, and charm of this wonderful Tucson vacation getaway.

Perfect for snowbirds, families with children, hikers, golfers..
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Amenities at Historic home close to UofA private pool and spa in a magical garden 4 BR/4BA

Pets allowed
Family friendly

Map of Catalina Foothills, AZ


Ratings and reviews

9.6 / 10.0
Outstanding(116 Ratings)
10.0 / 10.0Outstanding·Jun 2025
We had a fantastic stay! Toby and Tom were wonderful hosts, and the house was impeccably clean and well-equipped with everything we needed. The kids absolutely loved the pool, especially since it was fully shaded by early evening. We'll definitely be considering another visit!
10.0 / 10.0Outstanding·Apr 2025
My family and I loved it here and look forward to returning next year. Some of the features we especially enjoyed: The authentic “Old Tucson” feel of the place, like stepping back in time, when life was less complex and one lived closer to nature. Except for the sounds of the garbage trucks and an occasional siren in the distance, one would never know we were in the middle of a bustling city. The old hacienda style house, the garden and century old saguaros, the birds and other wildlife, the veranda, the old but comfy furniture, the art work throughout the house and casita all combined to create a private world of our own to enjoy the peace, beauty and tranquility of this magical place. One afternoon, we sat on the veranda mesmerized by a handsome Cooper hawk, who perched on the rim of the bird bath, surveying “his” territory for over an hour! We couldn't get enough of watching the little bird heads, peeking out from their Saguaro nests, including the woodpecker who occupies the penthouse of one of the cacti and, by the sounds of his rat-a-tat-tat, was in the process of remodeling the interior. Early one morning, two of us spied a bobcat in the neighbor’s tree! Amenities we particularly enjoyed include the fabulous hot tub, the well-equipped kitchen, the grill, the extensive library; the comfortable beds; and the excellent WIFI. A special thanks to our wonderful hosts Toby and Tom, who were very responsive to our questions and needs without being the least bit intrusive.
10.0 / 10.0Outstanding·Feb 2025
Our stay was wonderful! The property is very clean, the home is spacious and very comfortable. The service was top notch. It was very easy to check in/check out and communicate with property management. Thank you!
6.0 / 10.0Average·Jan 2024
I thought the grounds were lovely, and the property is very conveniently located to many amenities. The hot tub is large, though when I stayed in December it took several hours to come up to temperature - completely understandable, but something to watch out for. The beds were quite comfortable, the kitchen was well stocked with tools and appliances (though no garbage bags that fit the kitchen can) and the house was decorated in a fun, eclectic style. It is a comfortable home. There were some issues with our stay. On arriving, we were informed that the bathroom in the casita had no hot water (though I'm sure it will be fixed). The casita on the property also has no central heat (the host supplied us with a portable radiator which was limited in its usefulness). The wireless network for the house also does not reach the casita. This latter issue is completely understandable, but should have been communicated prior to booking or our stay. Additionally, there was a rainstorm during our stay, and the ceiling in both the main house and the casita leaked filthy water in three of the four bedrooms. These leaks made one bedroom unusable for an evening as water was dripping on the bed. Was the rain storm unusual for Arizona? Absolutely. Do significant rain storms happen in Arizona on occasion? Absolutely. The property owner agreed to offer a small refund for the inconveniences, which I appreciate.

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FAQs

Is parking included with this house?

Parking is not specified as an available amenity at Historic home close to UofA private pool and spa in a magical garden 4 BR/4BA. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.

Is there a pool at this house?

We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this house. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.

Is Historic home close to UofA private pool and spa in a magical garden 4 BR/4BA pet friendly?

Yes! This house is pet-friendly. For more information, we recommend contacting the booking provider about animal policies.

What amenities are available at Historic home close to UofA private pool and spa in a magical garden 4 BR/4BA?

We found 2 amenities for this rental. This includes pets allowed, and family friendly.


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