Posted by: Lori Reinhold

Spending some time in sunny Sedona, Arizona can be relaxing, rejuvenating and even educational. Did you know that the V Bar V Ranch is just a few miles from the Alma de Sedona Inn?

The V Bar V Ranch is part of the University of Arizona’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. This research center is dedicated to the study of the environment, wildlife and domestic livestock issues that Arizona and the surrounding area face each day. Right now, they’re working on a cattle project that aims to evaluate the productivity and profitability of cows under stressful environmental conditions.

This ranch plays a big part in the agricultural and environmental future of the Southwest U.S., and it has a storied history. At the turn of the 20th century, the ranch was a small homestead, and the owners branded their cattle the “100.” Some people called the ranch the “100 Place.” The Bradford family, who owned land and other small holdings in the area, bought and incorporated the land to create the V Bar V Cattle Co. Since then, the ranch has been owned by many different groups of people before ending today as a large part of the Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ operations.

For visitors to the area, the ranch offers tours. Visitors can see some of the 40 acres that are privately held, as well as other areas that are leased to the U.S. Forest Service. There are 550 head of cattle, part of a diverse collection of wildlife, ranging from other and birds to fish and reptiles. There are also a number of different vegetation zones, since the ranch land covers such an expanse of land that the variation in altitude means there is high desert chaparral, pine forest and pinyon-juniper woodland areas.

The V Bar V Ranch is an excellent place to visit for anyone who’s interested in agriculture, its history and its future. The ranch tour will provides families with kids of all ages a chance to see what frontier life was like back in the heyday of the Wild West. Is there anything better than a vacation that’s both educational and really fun?

If you’re interested in scheduling a trip to visit this historic ranch as part of your stay at the Alma de Sedona Inn, just let us know. Our complimentary concierge service can help you find delicious restaurants and other activities in the area and take care of your travel arrangements and tickets for the V Bar V Ranch and many other great destinations and attractions. Call us today at 928-282-2737 or make your reservations online now – and don’t forget to take advantage of our seasonal specials to make the most of your trip!