Rio Rico

Rugged, rustic and surreal are just a few of the words that might describe Rio Rico. For thousands of years people have found this area along the Santa Cruz River to their liking. But in the post NAFTA era, this planned community of 11,000 just might become a model for bi-cultural communities of the future (the local market still accepts pesos as readily as dollars).

Once part of a vast land grant from the King of Spain, Rio Rico finds itself in the unique position of balancing a luxury Four Diamond resort with an unspoiled rural residential ambiance. While coyotes still howl under crystalline skies and the cattle roam free, its Esplendor Resort at Rio Rico, par 72 Robert Trent Jones Sr. Golf Course ranks among Arizona’s top 25 public courses. Rio Rico’s major attraction is a resort lifestyle, affordable housing, and its proximity to Mexico. For more information contact: Esplendor Resort at Rio Rico at (520)281-1901.

Long before Geronimo and Will Rogers walked these trails, Rio Rico was home to a pre-historic race known as “The Forgotten Ones.” When the mastodons and swamps disappeared, sometime between the birth of Christ and 400 AD, they gave up their caves for primitive dwellings. An 18-acre village constructed by the Forgotten Ones was rediscovered in 1954. Fortunately the village was partially rebuilt by the Upper Pima Indians, providing the first link to modern history.

Pena Blanca Lake, near Rio Rico, offers residents a pleasant picnic getaway.

The centerpiece of the modern community is the Rio Rico Resort and Country Club, a pampered oasis surrounded by rugged mountains and pristine Sonoran landscape. During the summer months heat-weary guests from Phoenix and Tucson come to enjoy the brisk climate and legendary cuisine. Hiking, horseback riding and golf can be enjoyed year around-even July and August.