Rusty's RV Ranch

We had originally planned to camp at Sunny Flats in Cave Creek Canyon nearby, but in the middle of January, the weather was really cold and we were recommended to try Rusty’s RV Ranch by birding friends we met along the road. We are SO glad we did! We loved this place. Staff is really friendly and Rusty runs a tight ship! Everything was very well maintained. Many of the residents are here for the dark skies and amazing birding in nearby Cave Creek Canyon. So no outside lights allowed at night. Made it lovely to see all the stars! Rusty has a collection of exotic caged birds well housed in a lovely little garden to attract birds migrating through the area. And we were given a map of the eastern Chiricahua area when we arrived, showing all the great birding sites and hiking trails. Rusty’s puts on a “Tacos Tuesday” and “Friday Potluck” (it was a well attended fish fry when we were there) to help build the community and meet your neighbors.

We are looking forward to coming back and staying here again - later in the spring when the birds are migrating through here. We will stay at Rusty’s rather than fight for a spot at Sunny Flats or the other NF campgrounds. They were mostly taken even in mid January! So Spring would be difficult for FCFS! Better to come with a reservation and get full hook ups for only $9 more a night at Rusty’s, than the NF campsites!

We had acceptable cell service with our T-mobile hotspot and WeBoost. Our phones - with AT&T and Verizon were ok, too, but much of the time only 1-2 bars of LTE. Just enough to do emails and small downloads.

This was my second stay at Rusty's, near the small town of Rodeo, NM. Since my last stay less than a year ago, Rusty's has made some great improvements, adding 2 new private full bathrooms and enclosing a former outdoor space. One of Rusty's biggest attributes, though, is its location. Far from any town of any size and surrounded by mountains and natural beauty, Rusty's offers a quiet escape from the stresses of everyday life. Rusty herself, and the rest of the folks who run the park, are genuinely friendly and very helpful. There are unique and exotic birds from around the world that Rusty houses in large cages along a shaded pathway (complete with full descriptions), as well as a beautiful pond housing 3 large black swans and, new from a year ago, 2 seemingly friendly goats. The surrounding area is ripe for exploring. The stunning Cave Creek Canyon is nearby in Portal, Arizona. The RV sites are spacious, with full hookups, picnic tables, and some include firepits. Every one of them offers 360 degree scenic views. Rusty's gets rave reviews across every platform I've seen, and I fully concur with the park's high ratings.

We love Rustys so much that we plan to come back and stay a month!! The reviews before me are all correct! This is a gorgeous place and so homey and so many amenities! I watched the sunrise from the hot tub today. Does life get any better?? It’s pretty far away from any town, but completely worth the trip. And there are very few hills on the toad in, despite being surrounded by mountains.

I came down here to spend the winter because it tends to be a bit mild during the coldest months. I was happy to see this place was in excellent condition and kept up very well. The spots are all large. Very large. My 20 footer took up a very small portion of my space. It seems everyone has quite a bit of privacy. The units are spaced out nicely. I walk around the park regularly and they have a nice pond and a perimeter walking trail that is really enjoyable. It does add to the experience. They also have a nice shaded walking area with water features and some birds in large cages for you to check out. It's done really well.

For cell service I am using Verizon right now. I use a jetpack with a stick-on window antenna. It is working okay for me. Enough to stream tv regularly and surf the net too. I am a programmer so internet is required for my work. I have enough internet with this jetpack to get by for just myself. Sometimes it does get slowed down but not often. I have heard that the AT&T service is much better here so I am thinking about purchasing service with them to have faster speeds. Although Verizon works I would love more speed/bandwidth.

The staff here is very friendly and accommodating. They can suggest all sorts of things to do nearby (in nature). There's not much nearby except for nature. A couple small cafe's and grocery store (kinda). Walmart is an hour away. I don't find that too bad. Gas is about 20 min away but pumps are open 24 hours.

All in all I have enjoyed my stay.

Stayed at Rusty’s for 7 weeks and can honestly say it is the overall the best RV stop we’ve ever been at! Rusty and Tim (the owners) have created a family atmosphere. They treat their guests like family. RV spaces are huge (all pull through) at 150 feet with large spacing. Huge, clean whirlpool - probably 5 ft deep. Comfortable clubhouse with great outside seating. Pristine laundry facility. 1.2 mile path around the property. Extremely clean and well-sanitized during this challenging coronavirus crisis. Ten miles from one of the best birding areas in the world! In a dark sky area that attracts many stargazers. At the edge of the Chiricahua Mountains that have hundreds of miles counof spectacular trails. It is somewhat off the beaten path but absolutely worth going there. You will not be disappointed. In a county that as of May 18th had ZERO COVID-19 cases!

We got here just in time for the shutdown. $313 for a month. Buy one get one for a short stay, I think. Huge lots. Rusty collects exotic birds, plus there's lots of birds migrating through. Birders paradise. About ten miles to Portal AZ and the famous Cave Creek Canyon. Also residents yards where you can watch birds. Only negative was the distance to get groceries, 50 miles, but Rusty and a couple local stores had eggs, milk, etc. Come prepared. Huge sites. Minimal highway noise. AT&T tower close, otherwise slow wifi and 3G Verizon.

Amenities aren't usually a big deal to us, but they really stood out here. They have a very nice pond with a black swan and ducks, a small aviary with some interesting exotic birds (and Koi pond), and a lot of astronomy lovers willing to let you check out their telescopes. There was also a lot of little touches like having free bikes, games, and grills available, a 24/7 hot tub, and dog walk. Even without the amenities its well worth the Passport America price, the spots are huge and everything was exceptionally clean and well maintained.

Great RV park to recover from remote camping. We loved it!

PROs

- well kept park w beautiful mountain views
- shower and toilet is kept clean, just for one person, like at home
- awesome hot tub pool, available 24/7
- club house open 24/7 w full kitchen
- full hookups and wifi for surfing not streaming
- amazing dark skies
- they have a little zoo going on w ducks, birds and turtles

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND

- it is REMOTE, bring all the groceries you need. There are some spices in the club room if you are in a pinch
- you are 50 miles from MX so the area is patrolled. This may bring some people comfort, or feel like a military state to others. I kinda go both ways.
- Goatheads - they are pervasive in the entire southwest. I got one in my flip flop one the way to the hot tub and the hurt like hell. Stick to the roads and not the softer ground. Not a good place for paws.

We needed a place to bathe and recuperate from boondocking. Rusty’s fit the bill perfectly.

PROs

- Well kept grounds and spaces
- Awesome hot tub - can use 24/7
- dark skies, wonderful star gazing
- Sites are full hookups, plus fire pit and picnic table
- Nice shower facility for one (basically a bathroom like you would have at home)
- very quiet and remote

GOOD TO KNOW
- the office closes at 5 or earlier, depending on season. Call ahead if you may arrive later. The gate opens to let you in, but it may feel sketchy arriving at night since it is so remote and dark
- the hot tub may be covered but you can still use it, leave it as you found it
- come prepared w groceries, etc as Rusty’s is very remote
- goat heads - those mean little seed thorns are everywhere (not just at Rusty’s!) so mind your feet. I was wearing flip flops to the hot tip and got speared. Walk on the road and it’s safer