Your casa is hosted by our family -- this is not a professional for-profit home. Rather, you will enjoy the peace of your own place without robotic management, yet you will have plenty of privacy. If there is a problem, we will take care of it immediately, because the two of us live next door on the 5-acre ranch. We look forward to hosting and meeting new and repeat guests. Our place is close to golf courses & Interstate-10, with good access to downtown Tucson (20-min drive), Tucson airport (30 min), and Phoenix Airport (85 min), but with the Sonoran desert privacy--very quiet ranch lands, shopping 10 min away, views of Tucson Mountain sunsets and Catalina Mountain sunrises. From the front of the house and front rooms, you can enjoy Tucson's spectacular sunsets. You'll love our place because of the coziness, location, solitude, security, lush desert vegetation, flowers, hummingbirds, and minerals. The South Wing is good for couples, solo adventurers, and business travelers. Karen & Lenny are available in the North Wing of the ranch for help or questions. The South Wing has a private front entrance for guests and a carport for 2 cars. There is a locked door between the two wings. We have additional security for guests that is provided by a code-box-operated front gate, security doors, and 2 dinosaurs (a stegosaurus and a styracosaurus (a triceratops family member). THE SPACE: The home provides a 1500-sq-ft Casa, not a Casita. A corral, with water on-demand for horses and some roof shelter, is available for those traveling with their horses. There is a large living room, large kitchen, and dining room, along with the two bedrooms, all available for our guest's private use -- see photos. The dining-room buffet has 20 picture puzzles and one game for guest entertainment. One bedroom is a master bedroom with a full bed, 2 dressers, 2 night stands, and a private bath. The bath has been recently (April 2024) remodeled with a new serpentine ("granite") counter top adorned with a Talavera Sink from Mexico and a copper "waterfall" faucet. The second bedroom, with a queen bed and dresser, has a large office table, chairs, and computer screen--it has a full bath directly across the hall. The full bath has also just been remodeled (April 2024) with a serpentine ("granite") countertop, a Mexican Talavera Sink, and a gold-plated UFO faucet. New oak cabinets, mirrors, and 2 medicine cabinets were just installed. A full kitchen is available -- dishes, cookware, dishwasher, garbage disposal, large side-by-side refrigerator, microwave, full 4-burner gas stove w/self cleaning oven. There is a medium-size TV in the living room in front of the couch, with an antenna on the roof that brings in about 30 stations. The master bedroom has a very small TV with an attached DVD/VCR player and about 30 classic VCR tapes. The house has central air conditioning, central heat, and optional central air by a swamp cooler for those who like the fresh breeze and hearing the birds sing outside. A gas grill is available adjacent to the veranda. 6 citrus trees are teeming with lemons, oranges, and tangelos that are available to guests for fresh fruit at breakfast during the 5-months of citrus production. An initial offering of breakfast foods (coffee--12oz, 20+ tea bags, sugar, Splenda, flour, salt & pepper, some spices, vinegar, 1/2 gallon of milk, box of cereal (guests choice), loaf of bread (guests choice), dozen eggs, quart of juice (guests choice), stick of butter, and salad dressing is provided to get our guests started, so there is no need for them to rush to the grocery store on arrival day, and they can avail themselves of our fully equipped kitchen. Subsequently, guests will provide their breakfast supplies. A locked gallery connects the south guest wing with Karen & Lenny's north wing. GUEST ACCESS: Guests have full access to the fenced backyard, horse corral, laundry room with washer and dryer (free), and the remainder of the 5 acres of Sonoran Desert. They will be provided with a guest code to open and close the gate to the ranch. The heavily treed backyard has a large shaded and covered veranda off the kitchen, with cushioned chairs and glass table, a propane grill, a swing set, 6 citrus trees, flower beds, rose bushes nestled among the ironwoods, Aleppo pines, and palo verde and mesquite trees. HOST INTERACTION WITH GUESTS: We are both geologists and are happy to interact with our guests, providing them with various tourist advice and information on local geology. We have tourist books and maps available for guest use. A small library of novels is also available in the living room bookcase. THE NEIGHBORHOOD: The "neighborhood" is all ranch land of 5-10 acre properties with corrals on county dirt roads. Your vacation casa is isolated from other houses -- none can be seen from your vacation home bedrooms or yard. OTHER THINGS TO NOTE: Guests have two bedrooms, for 2 persons in the master bedroom with a private bath and large shower, and a queen-size bed for 1 person in the other bedroom that also has office accommodations and a separate full bath with tub and shower. A second person (4th guest) may sleep in the second bedroom for an additional charge of $30/night. Free Wifi is available throughout the house and on the veranda. Guests will have their own key and entrance separate from Karen & Lenny's North wing of the ranch. A maximum of 3 persons (a 4th person-- second person in 2nd bedroom--is ok for an extra $30/night ), and they have exclusive use of the casa's south wing. There is abundant parking within the secure, gated property, in addition to the 2 places available under the carport. Pets have not been allowed in the house, so for those with pet allergies the house is pet dander free.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.
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Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
This property uses a grey water recycling system
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadbolt lock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
About the neighborhood
Tucson
Located in Tortolita, a neighborhood in Tucson, this vacation home is in a rural area and near a water park. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Saguaro National Park and Pusch Ridge Wilderness, while Red Barn Theater and Frankling Auto Museum are cultural highlights. Traveling with kids? Consider Aeroball Sports Courts and Oro Valley Aquatic Center. Discover the area's water adventures with swimming nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with rock climbing, horse riding, and mountain climbing.
El Conquistador Golf Course - 9 min drive - 7.6 km
El Conquistador Country Club - Sunrise Golf Course - 9 min drive - 7.6 km
Getting around
Tucson Station - 20 min drive
Tucson, AZ (AVW-Marana Regional) - 19 min drive
Restaurants
Wetzel's Pretzels - 10 min drive
Circle K - 6 min drive
Circle K - 5 min drive
McDonald's - 4 min drive
Subway - 4 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Desert Adobe 5-acre Crystal Ranch pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Desert Adobe 5-acre Crystal Ranch?
As of May 7, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Desert Adobe 5-acre Crystal Ranch on Jun 1, 2026 start from $199, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking?
Onsite parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Desert Adobe 5-acre Crystal Ranch?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Desert Adobe 5-acre Crystal Ranch?
Check-out is at 12:00 PM.
Where is Desert Adobe 5-acre Crystal Ranch located?
This family-friendly Tucson vacation home is located in a rural location, 2.3 mi (3.8 km) from Crooked Tree Golf Course, and within 6 mi (10 km) of Aeroball Sports Courts and Tucson Premium Outlets. Mike Jacob Sports Park and Catalina Golf Course are also within 6 mi (10 km).
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
Loved this place. It's an actual separate 2 bdrm, 2 bath house with a full kitchen, living rm and laundry - not someone's basement or a couple of spare rms. Very comfortable, very private. Karen and Lenny were very nice, sociable and thoughtful. They even invited us to watch the Superbowl with them. Their employee, Rob, was also very friendly and helpful. We'll definitely stay there again!
Richard M.
Stayed 35 nights in Jan 2026
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 17, 2026
Richard & Sharlene were some of the best guests we have ever had. They took advantage of all aspects of Tucson, which makes us happy. They enjoyed the gem show, rode their electric bikes, played pickle-ball, and enjoyed the desert. They even patiently taught us pickle-ball. We would be delighted to host them again.
It's quiet, folksy, out of the way, but still close to amenities. It was a perfect spot for us visiting close by relatives.
Mark E.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2024
Response from VrboOwner on Oct 28, 2024
We would like Mark to provide us the opportunity to correct whatever problems he thought were wrong with our home, since he only gave us a 4-star review. We were rather shocked since with only 2 exceptions in 7-years we have always had 5-star reviews. Our on-site ranch hand asked Mark to let him know if he could do anything for them, since we were out of town. We also spoke to Mark on the telephone and asked if there was anything we could do -- he expressed pleasure with our home. Mark, please provide us with information on what we can do to rate a 5-star review from you. Ironically, we just spent 10s of thousands of dollars remodeling the bathrooms and Mark is the first one to use them. The old worn-out bathrooms seemed to garner us 5-star reviews.
We really enjoyed our stay there! Wonderful host! Beautiful landscaping! A good place for a quiet getaway.
Debbie S.
Stayed 11 nights in Jan 2025
Response from VrboOwner on Jan 31, 2025
Thanks for being such wonderful guests. We enjoyed hearing about all your adventures in the Tucson area, and how incredibly busy you were. We welcome you back any time! Karen & Lenny
We picked this property because of the dinosaurs. The space worked well for us and it was in a good location for the things we wanted to do.
Nancy S.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2025
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 6, 2025
Greetings Nancy,
We particularly enjoy guests, such as you, who appreciate the Earth Science features, dinosaurs & rocks & Minerals, of our property, since as geologists that is our first love. You are welcome back anytime
Karen & Lenny
Exactly as described, very clean, quiet property. Loved the nature, beautiful landscaping, lots of birds to watch. Great location, close to restaurants and plenty of things to do but also had the privacy you would want. Comfy beds and great showers, very relaxing home with everything you need. Would definitely stay again.
Wanda D.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2025
Response from VrboOwner on Apr 11, 2025
Hi Wanda -- thanks for taking the time to enjoy our home in the desert. We really appreciate guests who also find the birds and landscaping a peaceful place to visit. You were a wonderful guest and left the place as it was when you arrived. We welcome you back any time. Karen & Lenny.
We enjoyed the desert scenery at our doorstep and the ability to take long walks along the quiet roads around the property. Everything was clean, and well provisioned for guests.
Margie W.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2022
Response from VrboOwner on Jan 5, 2023
Margie went out of her way to contact us after they departed, to let us know how much they enjoyed their stay at our ranch, and how lovely the place and the accommodations were. With such glowing praise and a surprise thank you, we are mystified as to what they found unsatisfying so as to rate us only 4 stars rather than our usual 5 stars.
Property is well located and very well maintained. Property owners are very nice and especially helpful. Easy to recommend for your next stay in Tucson.
Thanks Ann & Don for being such gracious and fun guests. We enjoyed talking to you in between your busy schedule. Thanks also for your restaurant reviews -- we can pass them on to other guests.
The house was immaculate, and a garden spot in the desert. Many great golf courses made for one of my best ever golf trips. Property was exactly as described.
John B.
Stayed 11 nights in Mar 2025
Response from VrboOwner on Apr 2, 2025
Hi John,
We thoroughly enjoyed your visit -- Rob had a nice time talking to you guys. He said you were fun. One of our greatest pleasures in renting out our home is to see guests like you who enjoy the outside and our Sonora Desert. Glad your golfing went well, and thanks for taking such good care of our home.
Best Regards,
Karen & Lenny
We truly enjoyed staying at this quiet country home. Karen and Lenny are so enjoyable to talk to about many different subjects! They make sure their guests are comfortable.
Bruce J.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2025
Response from VrboOwner on Feb 3, 2025
Hi Joanne & Bruce -- We thoroughly enjoyed your stay and appreciated your updates on the various gem and mineral shows. I'm waiting till Tuesday to tackle the JOGS show, after your description! We look forward to your visit next year! Cheers, Karen & Lenny
Nice, clean home. Pictures are accurate. The Q bed was too firm for hubby, but just right for me!Great water pressure in the shower.Lots of space indoors and out. I sat outside every day for some sun or shade, as needed. Great location on North side of the city. Close to Marana and Oro Valley where we had friends.Rob, the Handi man/host was great since owners were out of town.Absolutely special that the owners provided breakfast items for us and Rob did the shopping. So, the very first morning there we had coffee & food without yet making a grocery store run. We would stay here again.
Kathy B.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2026
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 15, 2026
Hi Kathy -- We certainly enjoyed having you as a guest -- you are one of our "dream guests". It makes us happy to host guests who really enjoy our ranch and the Sonoran Desert. We were so disappointed not to get back from Denver to meet you. Hopefully, you will come again and we will have a chance to greet you. Karen & Lenny
Hi Mark,
We enjoyed your brief visit. We hope you have a reason to return to Tucson because you were the perfect guests. We welcome you back any time.
Karen & Lenny
This was our 2nd stay in this quiet oasis. We love staying here. Karen and Lenny are wonderful hosts always ready to answer any questions we may have. They always have suggestions for things that we can do in the area. We enjoy our time staying here and hope to do so again.
Bruce J.
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2024
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 9, 2024
Hi Bruce & JoAnn,
We always enjoy your visit -- you guys are perfect guests. It's particularly fun to have you during the gem show so we can trade gem show experiences. We look forward to a third visit from you! Karen & Lenny
The house was spotless, had all the necessities for our 21-night stay, and the hosts were available and interested that we had what we needed. We loved watching the hummingbirds from the very pleasant kitchen and the lack of traffic on the roads made taking walks enjoyable. We very much enjoyed our visit and would stay again.
Donna M.
Stayed 21 nights in Feb 2023
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 23, 2023
Hi Donna,
We are so glad that you enjoyed your stay here and the peace and birds of our ranch. You guys were wonderful -- the house was spotless when you left and we can't thank you enough for taking such good care of our home. We welcome you back any time. Karen & Lenny
Relaxed on the back patio and soaked in the clean desert air while listening to birdsong! A well appointed home of original adobe brick set in picturesque grounds.
mark m.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2025
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 6, 2025
Thanks Mark & Julie. We so much enjoy guests like you, who appreciate the beauty and peace of the Sonora Desert. We welcome you back any time.
Karen & Lenny
House was new and clean while also cozy and charming. Hosts were friendly and provided us with some groceries to start us off. Location is great. Close to Tucson, but in a rural desert area. Yard has beautiful cacti and fruit trees.
Jeff E.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023
Response from VrboOwner on Jan 16, 2023
Thank you Jeff for enjoying our property and taking such good care of it. Finding guests, such as you, who find joy in our Sonoran Desert and our home, make hosting on VRBO totally worth while. We look forward to hosting you again. Karen & Lenny
The guest house met all of our needs. It is comfortable, spacious, and conveniently located. We especially enjoyed relaxing in the back garden. Karen and Lenny are very hospitable hosts. All in all, a very pleasant experience.
Tom Z.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2022
Response from VrboOwner on May 23, 2022
Greetings Tom & Yong. We very much enjoyed your visit and want to thank you for leaving the house so clean for us. We welcome a return visit from you anytime you want to visit Tucson again.
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Laurie D.
Mar 22, 2019
Great desert property, great for birders
The owners, who live on the property, are warm and welcoming. Breakfast foods were an unexpected bonus. We were in Tucson for early spring birding and found the backyard desert pretty amazing. A comfortable house with a well stocked kitchen, I'd happily stay again.
Laurie D.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2019
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 6, 2020
Thank you, Laurie for taking the time to let others know about the birds on our 5-acres. It's guests like you, who truly enjoy nature, that make hosting on Home Away worth while. Karen & Lenny
Karen and Lenny are wonderful hosts and Crystal Ranch was a great “vacation” at the end of our longer stay elsewhere in Tucson. We spent hours in the comfortable outside area, took long walks on the quiet road and made good use of the well equipped kitchen. Comfy beds, welcoming breakfast supplies and some cool furniture made the house feel like home.
Vicky L.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023
Response from VrboOwner on Apr 14, 2023
Thanks so much for taking the time to write the review. It makes us feel so good to know that you enjoyed our place, especially the outside. We love it here too and are happy to share it with others -- especially those our age! Karen & Lenny
The property was beautifully managed by Karen and Lenny, who are very kind and thoughtful hosts. They were very solicitious and a big help in planning our week. Every morning coffee in the sunny yard, and a plan for the day. A wonderful break from cold, cloudy north!
nancy t.
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2024
Response from VrboOwner on Feb 13, 2024
Thank you for staying with us. We enjoyed your "sunny" dispositions despite coming from the "cloudy north". We welcome a return visit from you any time! Glad you could enjoy our lush desert here in Tucson.
Karen & Lenny
Karen and Lenny were fantastic hosts. We loved the home plus all the additional amenities. The hosts took time to talk and made us feel so welcome. They made themselves available for anything we needed. Hope to visit them again in the future.
Bruce J.
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2023
Response from VrboOwner on Feb 18, 2023
Hi Bruce & JoAnn,
We really enjoyed hosting you. You guys were a lot of fun and are the kind of guests we love having. It was neat to have someone else who enjoys rocks & minerals! We hope that our home fits into your schedule again some time in the near future. Karen & Lenny
Terrific hosts. Terrific location a few miles outside Tucson on 5 acres with great desert plants, especially the giant saguaro cactus. Best AirB&B in years. Thanks Lenny and Karen for sharing your place! Jeff
Philip A.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2022
Response from VrboOwner on May 31, 2022
Hi Jeff,
Thanks for staying with us -- we really enjoyed having you guys at the house. You were a lot of fun and we really appreciate the good care you took of our home. We welcome you back any time. Hope you enjoyed Tucson enough to come back and see more sights -- the area has so much to offer. At least we think so, but we are biased! Karen & Lenny
We stayed four days in this unique home. There were many objects that reflect the owner’s interest in geology, both inside, and on the grounds. Five acres of specimen desert plants, with comfortable spaces to enjoy the sunrise. We loved the time we had here! The kitchen is gorgeous, and the bathrooms are accommodating.. Cannot recommend highly enough. I’ve already told family and friends!
Vangie H.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2022
Response from VrboOwner on Jan 22, 2022
We thoroughly enjoyed your visit and would be very happy to have you back anytime. It was a lot of fun to have your visit, and to see how much you enjoyed the Sonoran Desert's flora and fauna here at our home, and elsewhere in the Tucson area.
About the host
Hosted by Karen Wenrich & Lenny Wildrick
Karen is a Uranium geologist with a Ph.D from Penn State. She went to high school in Wiesbaden, Germany. She worked for 25 years as a research geologist for the USGS and then worked for 3 years as a diplomat for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA, part of the UN) in Vienna Austria. She is reasonably conversant in German. Some knowledge of French and limited knowledge of Spanish (about 150 word vocabulary all nouns, mostly food!). She received the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize along with other employees at the IAEA. Lived in Golden, CO since 1974. and owns the small ranch north of Tucson, Arizona, which she is eager to share with guests. Lenny is a hydrogeologist with an MS degree. He met Karen at Penn State in geology class 50 years ago, but it took till 10 years ago for him to ask her to marry him. He works as a consulting hydrogeologist in the western U. S. Together they share the mineral, gem, and jewelry business, Crystals Unlimited (a hobby that got out of control 30 years ago), and are a vendor at the Tucson Gem and Mineral show. Anything guests would like to know about geology or any rocks/minerals they want identified, Karen and Lenny are happy to answer their questions.
Why they chose this property
Solitude with abundant wildlife viewing--hummingbirds nesting in the trees, quail, phainopeplas, doves, goldfinches, house finches, curved-billed thrashers, Gila woodpeckers, cactus wrens, roadrunners, Harris and Cooper hawks, great-horned and screech owls, coyotes, javalina, bobcats, rabbits (cottontails & jackrabbits), etc.
What makes this property unique
Very quiet. Privacy from neighbors. Very little traffic. Lush Sonora-Desert vegetation. Unpaved roads with horse riders and safe, easy walking or bicyling.
Languages:
English, German
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests