Tom and Alicia Davidson own and operate the Double D Guest Lodge situated in this beautiful and rugged part of Arizona. They clearly enjoy sharing with their guests the natural desert & mountain beauty, fresh air, gentle animals, and the amazing history of this place.
In October 2014, Ms. Karen, Ms. Sue, Ms. Rosemary, and I headed east from Tucson to explore the Chiricahua Mountains. Returning to our home in the Tucson Mountains, we soon published a slideshow of our excellent adventure.
Included in that slideshow were several photographs of us riding in a little carriage pulled by a miniature horse at the DD Gamble Guest Lodge on the eastern slope of the Chiricahuas at the base of Horseshoe Canyon. But that was far from the whole story.
Accommodations consist of 4 rustic, but clean & comfortable rooms and a large common area with sitting room, dining room and kitchen. All meals are included in the rate. Based on “customer reviews” and our lunch experience with Tom & Alicia, these are out-of-the-ordinary gourmet meals. Definitely way superior to typical “ranch grub”. Read More
Things To See & Do
There is so much to experience on the Ranch and nearby. Here’s the short list. Extraordinary birdwatching opportunities not far away around Portal, AZ and throughout Cave Creek Canyon. Horseback riding in Horseshoe Canyon. Wine Tasting Tours near Willcox and Bowie. Stargazing (there’s no light pollution out here). Visit historic Fort Rucker or Fort Bowie National Historic Site where the 25-year-long Apache Wars started with Cochise in 1861 and ended with the surrender of Geronimo in 1886. Rock climbing at Cochise Stronghold. Or hiking through the magnificent “Wonderland of Rocks” in Chiricahua National Monument. And of course, mini-horse carriage driving (Tom will teach you how. It’s pretty easy.) Tom & Alicia can arrange for a local historian and bird guide to enhance your experience. When we return to the Double D, this is something we would like to do.
Tale of the Miniature Therapy Horses
The Double D has a couple dozen miniature horses, and their story is remarkable. Here’s what Alicia told me.
Miniature Therapy Horse at DD Gamble Guest Ranch.
In 2009, we bought our first 4 miniature horses. My mother, with congenital heart failure and in a wheelchair, was visiting us at the time. She would sit on the porch reading, relaxing, napping and asked me to bring one of the minis to her. Our eldest mare, “Golden Willow” who was pregnant, spent the whole day next to my mother keeping her company and making her smile and laugh.
At that time, we saw that the minis could serve a therapeutic purpose with people who had all kinds of needs. Starting to breed our minis (yes, they are like potato chips – you can’t have just one), our herd grew to 38. We take minis to the VA hospital in Tucson every month to interact with wounded troops and their families.
Coming out of their rooms and away from doctors and TV, wounded troops find that they truly enjoy petting, brushing the minis in the fresh air and even talking to them. We also visit the Blind Rehabilitation Center of the VA where troops enjoy handling the minis as they walk around. They especially enjoy our little blind mini as they teach him how to get around the way they are currently learning at the VA.
It brings smiles to wounded troops and their visiting family members that they thought were long lost. “Wait ’till I tell my family a horse came to visit me today!” is what we often hear.
Doctors often ask us to take a horse into a particular room, so we know that medical staff fully comprehend the significance of animal therapy. Also, our visits with horses to hospice patients during their final hours, are especially meaningful to them and their families.
We find the same effects as we take our minis to visit the elderly at assisted living homes throughout our county.
Agencies serving mentally and physically challenged children and adults come out to the ranch to interact on a one-to-one basis with our minis.
They pick their favorite, walk them, talk to them, bathem and even clean some corrals as they enjoy the fresh air of our breathtaking desert & mountains. These visitors feel a sense of responsibility as they “care for their horse” for a couple of hours.
Agency staff tell us that their clients talk about their time with the miniature horses for weeks following their visit.
Tale of the Miniature Cow
You will not believe this. In addition to miniature therapy horses, Tom & Alicia raise miniature cattle. Tom explained:
We breed Dexter Cattle which is considered the first of the miniature cattle breeds. The breed is more than 300 years old. It was originally bred in Ireland for milk, carriage pulling, and meat. The size of a Dexter is 1/2 to 2/3 of a full size cow. We breed our cattle for beef.
We use no growth hormones or any other chemicals. Most of the beef served at the DD Gamble is from our herd.
DD Gamble Cattle Roundup.
Perhaps one of the most fun activities at the DD is the Cattle Roundup.
Southern Arizona has several very fine, well-known, guest ranches, including Tanque Verde Guest Ranch on Tucson’s eastside and White Stallion Ranch on the westside. But, considering that the DD Gamble offers (a) gourmet meals; (b) by far the most unique experiences, and (c) the greatest variety of Southwestern experiences, we award them a 5-Saguaro rating: Best of the Best.
And that’s not even considering Tom & Alicia’s philanthropic enterprises, which we find highly praise-worthy. DD Gamble Guest Ranch is only 2.5 hours east of Tucson, so there’s no excuse not to take off a couple of days and go. We are certain you and your family will have a great experience.
DD Gamble Guest Ranch
8374 E Rocksprings Rd, Portal, AZ 85632
(520) 558-1090
For a list of more Lodging Reviews in Southern Arizona see our Lodging Review page.
For a map and reviews by area see our Lodging Maps and Reviews page.
