DrinkwaterRanch

4 bedroom / 3.5 bathroom / 2 living / pool 

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The 6.8 acre property is comprised of a main house up on the hill, and a guest house by the horse stalls and round pen. We have offered the guest house as a vacation rental for 2.5 years with 90 5-star reviews (airbnb listing). 2023 is the first time we've offered the main house for rent. We will not likely ever list it publicly (this is a hidden link on a site for our vacation rentals in North Carolina). Below are the highlights, and if you scroll down, there are numerous photos. 

We are located in a protected conservation area in the desert. Our home was grandfathered in on the mountain, and as such, no other homes will ever be built on the mountain. NO wood fires outside are permitted, other than in the outdoor fireplace on the patio. There is an abundance of wildlife and desert residents: rabbits, bobcats, great horned owls (there are two that we see /hear daily), javelina, deer, snakes, lizards, scorpions, mice, ground squirrels chipmunks), spiders, tarantulas, etc. We have never seen anything inside the house other than the occasional spider or scorpion. We have only seen snakes during summer months. We recommend keeping your pet on a leash whenever you let them out, or at a minimum, within your easy reach. All that said, we have two dogs and an indoor cat, and we live here happily and peacefully :-). We have the doors open daily in the Fall and Winter months with our dogs hanging out on the patio with us. 

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"My favorite color... the seam of a desert horizon."

~ Eileen Tabios

Drinkwater Ranch History

Ranching has been a rich part of Arizona’s history. The Spanish missionaries introduced ranching over 300 years ago, and it became one of the early reasons people came to Arizona. While Drinkwater Ranch has not always operated as a working ranch, it currently operates as a small gentleman's ranch in North Scottsdale, Arizona. 

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Drinkwater Ranch is a 6.8 Acre equestrian estate in North Scottsdale, Arizona. Located in the pristine Sonoran Desert, Drinkwater Ranch borders the McDowell Mountain Preserve and is near some of Scottsdale's world class golf club communities. The main residence sits ¾ up a desert mountaintop overlooking North Scottsdale's city lights, majestic Pinnacle Peak, and local hiking favorite, McDowell Mountain Preserve. 

The home and guest casita were originally built in 1994 by Herb Drinkwater. We purchased the home and began renovating this stunning property in 2018. The guest casita renovation was completed in early 2019.

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Herb Drinkwater, "Mr. Scottsdale"

In Old Town Scottsdale, sits an impressive sculpture of 'Mr. Scottsdale.' The 7.5 foot sculpture of Mayor Herb Drinkwater cuts an imposing figure wearing a Stetson, Western style jacket and blue jeans, ostrich boots, a bola tie, and belt buckle inscribed with his name, leaning against a fence post. By his side is “Sadie”, the family’s German shepherd. The sculpture was commissioned through donations from hundreds of citizens in appreciation of his 24 year service to Scottsdale.

Written on the plaque to the right of the sculpture:

“Serving the citizens of Scottsdale is the greatest job in the world.”

– Herb Drinkwater

 “Mr. Scottsdale,” Mayor Herb Drinkwater, served the citizens of Scottsdale 24 years, 8 as City Councilman and 16 as Mayor. A one-man Chamber of Commerce, he never knew a stranger. He personified the city’s “West’s Most Western Town” image by dressing in Western suits, a bolo tie, and cowboy boots. Everyone considered him a friend. One of Arizona’s most popular politicians, he received a 96 percent citizen approval rating. During his tenure, he transformed the city into an economic powerhouse with more jobs than workers.

In 1993, Scottsdale was named “America’s Most Livable City” by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which validated Mayor Drinkwater’s vision that small town values could still exist and pull citizens together in a big city atmosphere.

His legacy includes Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, Tournament Players Club, and the All-Arabian Horse Show. Voters showed their support by approving a bond issue to build a new Scottsdale Stadium and expand the Civic Center

Library.