Smoke Tree Ranch

Smoke Tree Ranch is located on a gently rising alluvial fan, created and landscaped by nature, and sheltered by the guardian San Jacinto Mountains. The Ranch has irreplaceable desert shrubs, Smoke Trees, and breathtaking acreage touched by undisturbed wildflowers.

Smoke Tree Ranch History

Fred and Maziebelle Markham bought a shaky venture in 1936 and quietly transformed it into a materialized dream. Envisioned was a place where like-minded people, with their families, could enjoy the desert free from pressures. They did not seek publicity and made no effort to impress.

It has always had a Western theme. Cowboys would join in the square dances called by the Ranch Foreman. Western singers living on the Ranch were ready with guitars to add to the festivities.

Of the approximately 400 acres of Ranch land, 300+ acres are reserved for the Colony and 20 acres for the Guest Ranch. A part of the remaining acreage, acting as a buffer strip along East Palm Canyon Drive, is leased for the Smoke Tree Village and Smoke Tree Commons shopping centers. The land is leased for the stables at the opposite end of the Ranch.

Smoke Tree Ranch Cottages

Smoke Tree Ranch has 49 cottages that can be rented. They range in size from a Studio to a Family Unit Cottage with multiple bedrooms.

All 49 of the cottages provide guests with flat-panel televisions, wet bars, refrigerators, coffee makers, cozy down pillows, deluxe down comforters and blankets, luxurious bathrooms with separate tubs and showers, plantation shutters, telephones with voicemails, private patios, and complimentary in-room WiFi. Most cottages have carports and wood-burning fireplaces, while all have complimentary parking. Cottages offer breathtaking desert and mountain views.

The focal point of Smoke Tree Ranch is the Guest Ranch. All facilities, including the Ranch House, Dining Room, Kiva, Disney Hall, swimming pool, bowling green, and tennis courts, serve both Colonists and Guests. Programs, parties, and activities are planned with both groups in mind.

Smoke Tree Ranch Meal Plan

Smoke Tree Ranch cottages are traditionally sold with a Full American Meal plan, including three full meals daily in the Ranch House Dining Room.

The Ranch House Dining Room and Lounge are at the heart of the Ranch. The Dining Room is furnished with Old Hickory chairs, enhanced with windowed doors that open the dining room’s indoor “porch” to gentle desert breezes, the croquet lawn, and the magnificent views beyond. The solid beam dining room ceiling is enhanced with tongue-and-groove construction, while the lounge is perfect for relaxing next to the cozy fireplace after dinner. Relaxed outdoor dining beside a rock fire pit allows guests to enjoy the desert setting.

The meal plan begins with dinner on the day of check-in, followed by breakfast and lunch the following day. The package includes all gratuities.