Rockin’ R Ranch in Mesa winding down after 35 years
Nov 29, 2018, 9:42 AM | Updated: 12:00 pm
(Facebook Photo)
PHOENIX — An East Valley ranch-dining-entertainment mainstay will be closing its doors for good Saturday, after 35 years of serving up barbecue dinners, staged cowboy gunfights and country western songs.
The Rockin’ R Ranch near Baseline and Recker roads in Mesa announced in October it was going out of business. Owners Jim and Mary Robson have sold the property to developers who will be building condominiums, ABC15 reported.
The ranch’s website said Robson’s great-great grandfather, Charles Robson, set up the homestead in the late 19th century. He and other three Mormon men — Charles Crismon, Francis Martin Pomeroy and George W. Sirrine — are considered the city’s founding pioneers (streets are named after all four men).
The family eventually turned the cattle and horse ranch into an entertainment venue, complete with horse-drawn wagons and Old West-related activities.
A short history of the ranch on Facebook said:
“When you step onto the Rockin’ R Ranch, you’ll be transported to a time of wranglin’ and gun slingin’. You’ll walk past saloons and spot people gold panning. You might even catch a glimpse of the Ghost Rider as he passes through town.”
Showtimes Friday and Saturday were scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m.
Much of the inventory, including wagons, picnic tables, seating and signage, will go up for auction Monday starting at noon.