High in the Sonoran desert, Wickenburg sits just below the mountains on the fertile flood plain of the Hassayampa River. For centuries, this area was home to the Yavapai Indians who called it “Haseyamo – following the water as far as it goes.” In the 1820s, trappers explored the region in search of beaver pelts that were sent back east to be fashioned into hats. The area did not become part of the United States until it was seceded by Mexico in 1848, following the Mexican American War.

In 1862, the discovery of gold brought many pioneers, eager to strike it rich. Among them was Henry Wickenburg, who realized his dream and established the lucrative Vulture Mine. The fertile soils of the Hassayampa drew farmers and ranchers who joined with Wickenburg and settlers from Sonora, Mexico to found the town of Wickenburg. The young town faced many challenges, including Indian wars, mine closures and a disastrous flood in 1890. However, the town’s prosperity was cemented in 1895 with the arrival of the railroad. The creation of Highway 60 from California brought in tourists eager to experience the Western way of life and made Wickenburg the Dude Ranch Capital of the World.

During the 1930s, Dallas Gant managed one of the area’s ranches. After marrying in 1941, he returned with his wife Edie and partnered with a pair of former guests to form Rancho de los Caballeros. The 20,000-acre ranch honors the spirit of the early settler who tamed the desert while providing up-to-the-minute amenities and comforts. The property is now proudly run by the second generation of Gant owners.