Entire home
Stargazers' Sabbatical
Photo gallery for Stargazers' Sabbatical
Reviews
9.49.4 out of 10
Exceptional
Highlights
- Made for relaxationTop-rated for comfort — guests feel right at home here.
- GamesA rare find - enjoy a variety of games available on-site.
- A quiet escapeGuests like the location for the peace and quiet.
- Discover nearby landmarksClose to Ajo Plaza
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 4
Popular amenities
- Onsite parking available
- Kitchen
- Washing machine
- Air-conditioning
- Firepit
- Deck or patio
Explore the area
Ajo, AZ
- Cabeza Preita National Wildlife RefugePlace, Cabeza Preita National Wildlife Refuge1 min walk
- Ajo PlazaPlace, Ajo Plaza17 min walk
- Gibson Neighborhood ParkPlace, Gibson Neighborhood Park2 min drive
Rooms & beds
2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)
Bedroom 1
1 Queen Bed
Bedroom 2
2 Single Beds
1 bathroom
Bathroom 1
Spaces
Deck or patio
Kitchen
About this property
Stargazers' Sabbatical
Sadly necessary preface: All available dates are on the calendar. All bookings must be completed through the Vrbo website. There will never be any exceptions. Messages reflecting ignorance of this paragraph will be ignored.
Phew. Okay, now the fun stuff.
Our little house was one of hundreds built by the Phelps-Dodge mining company to house the workers at its New Cornelia copper mine between 1916 and 1985. We recently completed the first phase of a long term renovation plan and it's ready for people to enjoy.
This former mining town turned artist colony is emerging as a base camp for outdoor adventurers, astrophotographers, and everyone else who wants to revel in the remote beauty of the Sonoran Desert.
The town's burgeoning scene includes live music and dance shows, literature and art presentations, open air markets, and a growing range of artisanal culinary offerings, all with a Sonoran Desert twist that is unique to Ajo.
Phoenix and its metropolitan amenities are two hours away by car, and the laid back culturepalooza of beautiful Tucson is only a 2.5 hour drive along scenic AZ 86.
If you're feeling the need to get your beach on, bring your passport and pop down to the former fishing village and current resort town of Puerto Peñasco, a two hour jaunt across the Mexican border to the Gulf of California (don't forget to buy Mexican car insurance in Ajo before you go).
As beautiful as the desert is, Ajo's greatest natural attraction is its dark night sky. More than a hundred miles from the nearest major city, the absence of light pollution allows Ajo visitors to see the night skies of their ancestors. The backyard of the house is on the lowest fringe of Bortle 4. Bortle 3 is a five minute walk, and Bortle 2 is a five minute drive. (You'll need camping gear and a 4WD vehicle to enjoy Bortle 1.)
The property is slowly being optimized for amateur astronomy, because its owner hopes to spend his winter nights that way upon retirement. In the meantime, you can enjoy its already ample charms.
Phew. Okay, now the fun stuff.
Our little house was one of hundreds built by the Phelps-Dodge mining company to house the workers at its New Cornelia copper mine between 1916 and 1985. We recently completed the first phase of a long term renovation plan and it's ready for people to enjoy.
This former mining town turned artist colony is emerging as a base camp for outdoor adventurers, astrophotographers, and everyone else who wants to revel in the remote beauty of the Sonoran Desert.
The town's burgeoning scene includes live music and dance shows, literature and art presentations, open air markets, and a growing range of artisanal culinary offerings, all with a Sonoran Desert twist that is unique to Ajo.
Phoenix and its metropolitan amenities are two hours away by car, and the laid back culturepalooza of beautiful Tucson is only a 2.5 hour drive along scenic AZ 86.
If you're feeling the need to get your beach on, bring your passport and pop down to the former fishing village and current resort town of Puerto Peñasco, a two hour jaunt across the Mexican border to the Gulf of California (don't forget to buy Mexican car insurance in Ajo before you go).
As beautiful as the desert is, Ajo's greatest natural attraction is its dark night sky. More than a hundred miles from the nearest major city, the absence of light pollution allows Ajo visitors to see the night skies of their ancestors. The backyard of the house is on the lowest fringe of Bortle 4. Bortle 3 is a five minute walk, and Bortle 2 is a five minute drive. (You'll need camping gear and a 4WD vehicle to enjoy Bortle 1.)
The property is slowly being optimized for amateur astronomy, because its owner hopes to spend his winter nights that way upon retirement. In the meantime, you can enjoy its already ample charms.
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House Rules
Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
Children
Children allowed: ages 0–17
Parent/guardian must be present for < 18 guests
Events
No events allowed
Pets
No pets allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Property # 2389919vb
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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
About the area
Ajo
Ajo is home to this holiday home. Ajo Plaza and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Cabeza Preita National Wildlife Refuge and Bud Walker Park.
Ajo, AZ
What's nearby
- Cabeza Preita National Wildlife Refuge - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
- Bud Walker Park - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
- Ajo Plaza - 17 min walk - 1.5 km
- Gibson Neighborhood Park - 2 min drive - 1.6 km
- Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument - 25 min drive - 33.1 km
Restaurants
- Oasis Coffee - 16 min walk
- Ranger Cafe & Bistro - 19 min walk
- Circle K - 20 min walk
- Agave Grill - 4 min drive
- Curley Coffee - 17 min walk
Frequently asked questions
Is Stargazers' Sabbatical pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Stargazers' Sabbatical?
As of 8 Sept, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Stargazers' Sabbatical on 18 Sept, 2026 start from S$336, 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 at Stargazers' Sabbatical?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Stargazers' Sabbatical?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Stargazers' Sabbatical?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Stargazers' Sabbatical located?
Situated in Ajo, this holiday home is steps away from Cabeza Preita National Wildlife Refuge and Bud Walker Park. Ajo Plaza and New Cornelia Branch Hospital are also within 1 mile (2 km).
About the host
Hosted by David Powell
Just a snowbird in training.
Why they chose this property
I discovered Ajo in while living in Tucson in 1995 on a day trip born out of restless boredom. After trekking through the Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation, after driving past Kitt Peak National Observatory, I arrived in a carefully planned town designed originally in Spanish revival style.
It was beautiful, or, rather, had been. Nobody was taking care of anything. Broken windows and yards gone to seed at every third house. A majestic high school with an equally majestic view of the boulevard leading to the town plaza had begun to crumble. Layers of reddish brown dust seemed to hang in the air and settle on everything. It looked like a place that was dying, if not already dead.
Completely missing the one-mile wide hole in the ground, and unmindful of Arizona’s significance in the mining industry, I couldn’t imagine why someone would build a town like this in such a remote corner of the Sonoran Desert, then let it fall apart. But I could see, even then, that it had what real estate flippers call “good bones.” I never forgot the place and, in the years that followed, would periodically Google it.
It turns out that the mine I failed to notice in 1995 had closed in 1985. The International Sonoran Desert Alliance (ISDA), founded in 1993, took on the daunting mission of rebuilding Ajo’s civic identity in the wake of the mine’s closure. The non-profit organization is the closest thing to a local government in Ajo, which relies on Pima County for most governmental functions.
Under its stewardship, Ajo has evolved into an artist colony and a basecamp for the thousands of outdoor recreation enthusiasts who want to explore the surrounding Sonoran Desert, including Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, the Cabeza Prieta Wildlife Refuge, and the legendary Camino del Diablo.
I bought this house in 2021 with the intent to make it my winter home. After a lot of TLC, it's finally ready for guests.
It was beautiful, or, rather, had been. Nobody was taking care of anything. Broken windows and yards gone to seed at every third house. A majestic high school with an equally majestic view of the boulevard leading to the town plaza had begun to crumble. Layers of reddish brown dust seemed to hang in the air and settle on everything. It looked like a place that was dying, if not already dead.
Completely missing the one-mile wide hole in the ground, and unmindful of Arizona’s significance in the mining industry, I couldn’t imagine why someone would build a town like this in such a remote corner of the Sonoran Desert, then let it fall apart. But I could see, even then, that it had what real estate flippers call “good bones.” I never forgot the place and, in the years that followed, would periodically Google it.
It turns out that the mine I failed to notice in 1995 had closed in 1985. The International Sonoran Desert Alliance (ISDA), founded in 1993, took on the daunting mission of rebuilding Ajo’s civic identity in the wake of the mine’s closure. The non-profit organization is the closest thing to a local government in Ajo, which relies on Pima County for most governmental functions.
Under its stewardship, Ajo has evolved into an artist colony and a basecamp for the thousands of outdoor recreation enthusiasts who want to explore the surrounding Sonoran Desert, including Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, the Cabeza Prieta Wildlife Refuge, and the legendary Camino del Diablo.
I bought this house in 2021 with the intent to make it my winter home. After a lot of TLC, it's finally ready for guests.
Languages:
French
Premier Host
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