Half Moon Ranch

Half Moon Ranch is magical. Its beautiful setting is inspirational! The only thing that kept me from giving it an excellent rating is that some of the cabin needs some TLC, and for $150 a night, there should be no problems at all. I put the blame squarely on the Forest Service, which does not employ enough caretakers to adequately maintain the properties. The caretaker, a really swell guy named Donnie, has over 10 widely-dispersed properties to maintain, and given that workload, it's inevitable the some things might fall by the way-side.

Here are my tips for a great stay at Half Moon Ranch:
1. Come in the fall, winter, and spring. After May, the weather is too hot. The cabin doesn't have a swamp cooler, so you are dependent on the EXCELLENT cross-ventilation from open windows. The heat builds up during the day, and the cabin can get uncomfortably warm in the late spring-summer-early fall.
2. The kitchen is well-stocked with cooking and eating utensils. Don't bring any. You will need wine and water glasses though, as those were in short supply.
3. We swept and mopped all the floors on our departure. It's clear that people don't do this enough, after all, who wants to do housekeeping on vaycay, but it's nice for the next guests.
4. Respect the wildlife. The pond is a crucial watering hole for skunks, deer, javelina (who will attack dogs), birds, and other wildlife. You're in their home. Respect them.

The beds are comfy, the water is hot, the views are SPECTACULAR of the night sky. Come and expect to want to return.

Half Moon Ranch is magical. Its beautiful setting is inspirational! The only thing that kept me from giving it an excellent rating is that some of the cabin needs some TLC, and for $150 a night, there should be no problems at all. I put the blame squarely on the Forest Service, which does not employ enough caretakers to adequately maintain the properties. The caretaker, a really swell guy named Donnie, has over 10 widely-dispersed properties to maintain, and given that workload, it's inevitable the some things might fall by the way-side.

Here are my tips for a great stay at Half Moon Ranch:
1. Come in the fall, winter, and spring. After May, the weather is too hot. The cabin doesn't have a swamp cooler, so you are dependent on the EXCELLENT cross-ventilation from open windows. The heat builds up during the day, and the cabin can get uncomfortably warm in the late spring-summer-early fall.
2. The kitchen is well-stocked with cooking and eating utensils. Don't bring any. You will need wine and water glasses though, as those were in short supply.
3. We swept and mopped all the floors on our departure. It's clear that people don't do this enough, after all, who wants to do housekeeping on vaycay, but it's nice for the next guests.
4. Respect the wildlife. The pond is a crucial watering hole for skunks, deer, javelina (who will attack dogs), birds, and other wildlife. You're in their home. Respect them.

The beds are comfy, the water is hot, the views are SPECTACULAR of the night sky. Come and expect to want to return.

The setting is absolutely stunning, and the house is comfortable and has character. We were only two people, so we didn't use all of the available space, but I am sure the house would work well for a larger group. The only issue we had was a plumbing clog that apparently had been an issue before. On our final morning, the sinks and one toilet all became seriously clogged. We called the caretaker, who was very nice, and who said he would immediately contact someone about repairs. All in all, it was a lovely place to go for a getaway.

The setting is absolutely stunning, and the house is comfortable and has character. We were only two people, so we didn't use all of the available space, but I am sure the house would work well for a larger group. The only issue we had was a plumbing clog that apparently had been an issue before. On our final morning, the sinks and one toilet all became seriously clogged. We called the caretaker, who was very nice, and who said he would immediately contact someone about repairs. All in all, it was a lovely place to go for a getaway.

Half Moon Ranch is a beautiful and private spot to stretch out for a few days. It's in the heart of the beautiful Dragoon Mountains and close to Cochise Stronghold. I'd stay there again in a minute.

Half Moon Ranch is a beautiful and private spot to stretch out for a few days. It's in the heart of the beautiful Dragoon Mountains and close to Cochise Stronghold. I'd stay there again in a minute.

First off, I LOVE the place! Very secluded, peaceful, and the views! UT the morning of my second day (Thurs. the 9th Dec.) a guy came in--said he was with the FS. Said he was there to fix some plumbing. I said fine. some time passed and I noticed his truck was gone. Later I turned on the faucet in the kitchen-and the water was OFF. He never came back and with the cell service spotty, I just lived through it. I left a note for the next tenants. PLEASE be better at management!!

First off, I LOVE the place! Very secluded, peaceful, and the views! UT the morning of my second day (Thurs. the 9th Dec.) a guy came in--said he was with the FS. Said he was there to fix some plumbing. I said fine. some time passed and I noticed his truck was gone. Later I turned on the faucet in the kitchen-and the water was OFF. He never came back and with the cell service spotty, I just lived through it. I left a note for the next tenants. PLEASE be better at management!!

Very nice place. Cleaner than last time we visited. Lots to like. But I have to go three stars because one toilet was out of order. We had no warning for this. Five adults and four kids with one working toilet is seriously problematic.
The proximity to the big rocks in the stronghold is fantastic, and the spaces of the house are nice.
Other little improvements would include getting the propane grill working properly. (We couldn’t turn it on so did our grilled meat on the stove/oven.) Also the woodstove in the living room needs attention/repair.
A great place to stay to access the Dragoon’s during cold weather. Be sure to note the instructions on the website about towels and bedding.

Very nice place. Cleaner than last time we visited. Lots to like. But I have to go three stars because one toilet was out of order. We had no warning for this. Five adults and four kids with one working toilet is seriously problematic.
The proximity to the big rocks in the stronghold is fantastic, and the spaces of the house are nice.
Other little improvements would include getting the propane grill working properly. (We couldn’t turn it on so did our grilled meat on the stove/oven.) Also the woodstove in the living room needs attention/repair.
A great place to stay to access the Dragoon’s during cold weather. Be sure to note the instructions on the website about towels and bedding.