The Call of the West: Russell True and the Living Legacy of the Dude Ranch...An Arizona Roundup Feature from the Sharlot Hall Museum

In the wide-open spaces of the American West, some traditions refuse to fade into history.
They live on through the people who love them, preserve them, and invite the rest of us to experience them.

One of those people is Russell True—longtime rancher, author, historian, and steward of the Western guest-ranch tradition.
In a recent episode of Arizona Roundup, host Stuart Rosebrook welcomed True to share stories from more than six decades of life in the saddle and in the hospitality business.

The conversation, recorded in partnership with the Sharlot Hall Museum in Prescott, Arizona, is more than an interview—it is a celebration of a Western tradition that continues to inspire travelers from around the world.

FROM SNOWSTORMS TO THE SONORAN DESERT

The story of White Stallion Ranch begins with a blizzard.

In 1965, Russell True’s parents were living in Denver when a late spring snowstorm finally convinced his father that enough was enough.
He boarded a plane to Arizona looking for sunshine—and perhaps a new life. What he found was a rundown guest ranch outside Tucson.

It was hardly a sure thing.

Russell recalls that when his mother first saw the property, she famously declared it “the worst idea you’ve ever had.”
But then she looked south at the rugged peaks of the Sonoran Desert and made a simple request:

“If I can wake up every morning and see those mountains, we’ll give it a try.”

Sixty years later, those same mountains still frame the ranch—and the True family’s life story.

A CENTURY OF DUDE RANCHING

The conversation also arrives at a remarkable moment in Western history.
The Dude Ranchers Association is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Founded in 1926—during the golden age of rail travel—the association helped promote guest ranch vacations across the West.

Railroads discovered that city dwellers were eager to leave crowded streets behind and experience the wide-open landscapes of Arizona, Wyoming, Montana, and New Mexico.

Dude ranches became the original Western destination vacation.

At one time, Arizona alone boasted more than 300 dude ranches, with Tucson serving as one of the greatest concentrations anywhere in the West.

Today, far fewer remain—but those that do carry forward a living tradition.

A RANCH THAT CHANGES LIVES

For many guests, a visit to a dude ranch is not just a vacation—it becomes part of their life story.

Russell True shared a powerful example. Recently, the ranch family gathered to spread the ashes of a longtime guest at the base of Panther Peak.
The man had first visited as a child and had spent 67 of his 80 years returning to the ranch.

Stories like that are common in the guest-ranch world.

Families return year after year, generation after generation, drawn by the same simple pleasures:

• Riding horses through desert trails
• Watching the sunrise over cactus-covered hills
• Sharing meals and laughter with new friends
• Living—if only for a few days—the rhythm of the West

As True puts it, dude ranchers believe something deeply: people need this experience now more than ever.

KEEPING THE WESTERN TRADITION ALIVE

Over the years, Russell True and his partners have expanded their stewardship of historic ranch properties through the True Ranch Collection.

Their work includes restoring and operating several unique Western destinations, including Rancho de la Osa, whose adobe buildings date back to the early 1700s.

That ranch alone holds remarkable history:

• Spanish mission outposts from the early colonial period
• Visits by U.S. presidents including Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson
• Connections to Western legends like John Wayne and Zane Grey
• Even stories linked to Pancho Villa and the Mexican Revolution

In the West, history is never far from the saddle.

HONORING A TRUE WESTERNER

Russell True’s lifelong work preserving ranching heritage has not gone unnoticed.

This year he will receive the True Westerner Award from True West Magazine, honoring individuals who help keep the spirit of the West alive.

It is a fitting recognition for someone who has spent a lifetime welcoming travelers to experience Western life firsthand.

THINGS TO REMEMBER

• Dude ranches were among the first destination vacation experiences in the American West.
• Arizona once hosted hundreds of guest ranches, with Tucson a major hub.
• Ranches like White Stallion continue to preserve Western culture, horsemanship, and hospitality.
• For many guests, a dude ranch becomes a lifelong tradition shared across generations.

THINGS TO SHARE

• The American West is not just history—it is still alive in places like guest ranches.
• Experiences rooted in nature, community, and tradition are increasingly valuable in today’s busy world.
• A week at a dude ranch may offer more lasting memories than many modern vacations.

THINGS TO DO

• Listen to the Arizona Roundup program featuring Russell True.
• Visit the Sharlot Hall Museum in Prescott, Arizona, to explore the region’s remarkable Western heritage.
• Consider planning your own Western adventure at a classic guest ranch like White Stallion Ranch.

FINAL THOUGHT

The West has always been more than a place.

It is an experience—of open skies, honest work, strong horses, and friendships formed around campfires and long rides.

Thanks to ranchers like Russell True, that experience remains alive for new generations to discover.