‘100 Years of Dude Ranching’ celebrates the history of Dude Ranchers’ Association

A new photo-driven coffee table book is being released in December called “100 Years of Dude Ranching,” commemorating the centennial of The Dude Ranchers’ Association in 2026. The book which celebrates the Centennial of the Dude Ranchers’ Association dives into the history of dude ranching.

Russell True, board member of the Ranch Preservation Foundation, chairman of the board of the Dude Ranch Foundation and a two-time past president of the Dude Ranchers’ Association joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the upcoming book and his roles in dude ranching and western lifestyle.

A question you may have is: What exactly is dude ranching? Well according to True, “A lot of people have different definitions, mine is simply a place that brings guests onto a ranch,” True said. And it also all depends on which ranches you’re on. There are cattle ranches, tourist ranches, horse ranches etc. There are a lot of different places that allow people to experience different types of ranching activities. Anything from fixing fences, chasing cows and collecting water to playing tennis and going to spas and experiencing fine cuisine. “Some of these are five star places,” True said

According to True, dude ranching itself has been around since the late 1800s . Eaton’s Ranch was the first dude ranch along Custer Trail in The Dakota Territory and the first guest was signed in 1892.

The book also includes a section on “Centennial Ranches,” which were welcoming guests in 1926 and are still operational today. True is also the managing partner of the True Ranch Collection, which comprises two Centennial Ranches in Arizona. These are the Kay El Bar Guest Ranch in Wickenburg and Rancho de la Osa in Sasabe, both of which are featured in the book. His family’s ranch, White Stallion Ranch in Tucson, is part of the True Ranch Collection as well, but it is not a Centennial Ranch.