Ventana Canyon Resort
Tucson, Arizona

We had driven by this resort in the past and were slightly put off by the milk chocolate-colored, jagged cinder block construction of the building.

The façade looked like an attempt to imitate the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix.

Although the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort didn’t look overly appealing from the outside, we knew that many people loved staying there.

So we decided to take advantage of their very low summer season reduced rates and see for ourselves.

The Santa Catalina Mountains dominate the skyline behind the resort

We discovered that Ventana Canyon Resort is an elegant property with comfortable, spacious rooms and a scenic desert setting.

Unfortunately, the service and the food can be inconsistent and the resort's many extra fees and high prices for food can definitely be off-putting.

If you're an avid golfer, you may want to stay here just so you can play the spectacular and famous but semi-private Ventana Canyon Resort golf course.

Although expensive – in season rates start around $350/night - Ventana Canyon Resort is a nice resort choice for those who want access to great golf and to be near some of the best outdoor attractions in Tucson, such as Sabino Canyon, Mount Lemmon and Saguaro National Park's eastern district.

We recommend trying Ventana Canyon Resort during the summer when the rates are lower and eating some of your meals off-site.

If you like to travel with your pet, you may also want to stay here because this is one of the few pet-friendly Arizona resorts.

The northeast wing of Ventana Canyon Resort overlooks the waterfall

Much of the grounds have a very natural, desert feel except, of course, for the golf course and lake, which are on the south side of the property.

The front of the resort is surrounded by lush lawns.

Rooms that face this direction have sweeping views looking down on the golf course and the city.

The main building has a long, low, Y-shaped layout with the lobby and restaurants in the center.

Guest rooms are split into two long wings on either side.

Some of the hallways to the guest rooms are partially open to the elements.

Walking to our room, we could look out at the mountains and often found ourselves stopping to watch birds in the mesquite trees.

The resort interiors are contemporary with deep, earth-toned fabrics that echo Ventana's desert surroundings.

Ventana Canyon Resort’s lobby has soaring windows along the back wall that provide views of the brick patio, swimming pool and steep canyon walls of the mountains.

Ventana Canyon Resort’s rooms have a contemporary Southwestern style

Ventana Canyon Resort refurbished all of its guest rooms in 2005.

The rooms now have a contemporary Southwestern style with dark wood furniture and fabrics in shades of tan, gold and terracotta red.

Our room was spacious and comfortable. A separate sitting area had a couch, coffee table and writing desk.

The room was well lit with lots of lamps.

The bathroom was quite colorful with its orange walls, stone tile floor and a granite-topped counter.

The bathroom even had its own small TV.

A combination spa style tub/shower was large enough to fit two people.

Bright orange walls and a TV liven up the bathroom at Ventana Canyon Resort

Curiously there was only one glass shower door, which didn’t completely close off the entire shower.

Unfortunately, every time we showered, water rained out onto the bathroom floor - a curious design flaw.

A well lit vanity table outside the bathroom held a coffeemaker.

Our room had no refrigerators, however, only a minibar.

Each room has its own furnished patio or balcony.

While no one else can access your balcony, not all of them are completely private.

At night, we enjoyed relaxing on our balcony, watching the twinkling lights of Tucson in the distance.

If your room doesn’t have a city view, take the elevator up to the Observation Tower at the front of the resort for a dramatic 180° view of the area.

The resort’s property is adjacent to the Coronado National Forest.

So guest rooms with mountain views look out at the craggy peaks studded with giant saguaros, prickly pear cactus and mesquite trees.

Some rooms have sweeping city vistas. Unfortunately, many of the views also include a view of the resort's parking lots.

The main pool at Ventana Canyon Resort has nice views of the surrounding mountains

However, its setting, tucked into a rocky outcropping shaded with large mesquite trees, gives the area the feeling of a secluded canyon oasis.

The patio areas have great views of the saguaro-studded mountains.

There is also a Jacuzzi set away from the pool in a quiet, stone terrace.

Gravel paths wind around the pool area through the desert to shaded terraces and benches.

In addition, other activities available at Loew's Ventana Canyon Resort include:

• eight lighted tennis courts,
• Ping-Pong tables,
• croquet court,
• a basketball court.

Outside the lobby on the way to the pool, we stopped to view a small but beautiful mineral collection from the Sonoran Desert region housed in a tall, glass case.

Sulfur, malachite and azurite from Bisbee’s Copper Queen Mine are on display at Ventana Canyon Resort

The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum provided the minerals, all of which were collected from various locales around the state.

The large specimens included beautiful blue-green azurite, fluorescent yellow sulfur and deep green malachite.

We enjoyed the display and thought that it added a nice touch to the resort.

One of Ventana Canyon's nicest features is the desert nature trail.

This meandering, paved path winds through the desert.

Colorful interpretive signs provided by the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum describe the plants and animals you might encounter along the way.

The trail follows a stream to a cascading, artificial waterfall that drops 80 feet over a rock wall into a manmade pool below.

The paved nature trail

Along the path are shaded benches that make great spots to just sit and enjoy the sights and sounds of the desert.

There are also many hiking, biking and horseback riding opportunities in the Coronado National Forest right next door to the resort.

The popular Ventana Canyon Trail starts in the Ventana Canyon Resort’s west parking lot.

The 12.8 mile roundtrip hike climbs through its namesake - and the resort’s - canyon all the way to a huge natural, weather-carved rock arch.

This "window" is 15 feet high and 25 feet wide and is often called by its Spanish name of La Ventana.

Along the way, hikers pass the Maiden Pools, a series of shallow depressions in the rock filled with water from a perennial stream.

Casual walkers take note: this is a strenuous, uphill hike that ascends 4,000 feet from the 3,000 foot trailhead at the resort to 7,000 feet at the window.

The upper canyon is a protected Bighorn Sheep Management Area, so no dogs are allowed beyond the pools.

The hike to the pools is roughly 2.5 miles or about 2 hours one way.

The trailhead to the Ventana Canyon Trail starts at the back of the Ventana Canyon Resort’s west wing parking lot

Also nearby is the popular Sabino Canyon Recreation Area.

This beautiful desert canyon has a perennial stream that attracts wildlife and people to its lush, shady banks.

The paved trail up the canyon is a favorite of local hikers, joggers and cyclists (evenings only).

For those who don’t want to walk, you can take a tram ride.

Sabino Canyon is one of our favorite Tucson destinations.

It is a great place to explore the Sonoran Desert and see the native wildlife.

Tucson’s Pet Friendly Resort

One Ventana Canyon Resort amenity that many travelers will appreciate is Loews Hotels pet friendly policies.

Guests can bring their pets and there is no size regulation; both dogs and cats are welcome.

Loews provides hotel pet services and has a pet room service menu, developed and approved by a licensed veterinarian, which includes treats like BowWow Tenderloin of Beef ($19) and Kitty’s Salmon Supreme ($17).

Pet amenities include toys, treats and place mats with food and water bowls.

The concierge can suggest local dog walking routes and arrange for pet-walking and pet-sitting services.

The Cascade Lounge’s windows look out on the croquet court

Loews also has a variety of family-friendly and kid-friendly activities.

Special offers include lending game libraries, special menus, tours, welcome gifts for kids under ten and supervised recreational activities.

On Fridays, Cascade Lounge has the free Happy Hour for kids and dogs on the croquet court outside the lounge.

Children get treats like Gummy Bears and orange slices and canines can try Loews’ special recipe dog biscuits.

There is plenty of space for kids and dogs to play while parents relax in the lounge and watch their children through the huge picture windows.

The tennis courts and spa at Ventana Canyon Resort

It is not as grand as the resort.

However, this small, full-service spa offers a nice, basic menu of massages, facials and body wraps.

Prices start at $90, which is a lower cost than many other Tucson resort spas.

The spa also has:

• a full service salon
• sauna and steam rooms
• a fully-equipped fitness center with Cybex equipment
• an aerobics studio.

In addition to traditional aerobics classes, there is aqua aerobics, step, Pilates, body sculpting, yoga and meditation available.

There is a lap pool and Jacuzzi behind the spa. It is also open to resort guests.

Spa goers here will share the small locker rooms with golfers and tennis players.

The Canyon Course’s 18th green at the Ventana Canyon Resort golf course looks south to the Santa Rita Mountains

Both are 18-hole, par-72 desert style, target courses with gorgeous mountain and city views.

Rugged desert and craggy rock formations hug the greens.

Golfers routinely see Arizona desert animals such as roadrunners, deer, coyotes and other animals amid the many stands of tall saguaros and native plants.

Ventana’s Mountain Course is the more famous of the two, attracting celebrities and pro-golfers alike.

This course’s signature, scenic third hole is world-renowned and often photographed, as it was literally bored out of the surrounding rock wall.

With several elevated tees and many changes in elevation, golf experts consider this to be the toughest course in the area.

The Canyon Course is more level but still a demanding play.

Both courses have undulating greens which makes putting a challenge.

The courses are part of the semi-private Ventana Canyon Golf and Racquet Club.

Note that Ventana Canyon Resort guests and the public are allowed to play the Mountain Course on even days of the month and the Canyon Course on odd days.

The dining room of the Flying V Bar and Grill

The Flying V Bar and Grill sits at the edge of the lake and overlooks the golf course’s 18th green.

The outdoor patio makes for a pleasant dining experience with its cascading waterfalls and views of Tucson.

Inside, the dining room evokes the Southwest with its leather and copper décor.

The food is a "surf and turf" mix of steaks, chops and seafood with Southwestern seasonings.

We had dinner here and were underwhelmed by the experience.

We started out with one server and then, without explanation, ended up with another server not long after we’d been seated.

The second server forgot about us several times.

We never received the complimentary amuse bouche and our food was slow to arrive.

The kitchen must have been having an off night too because the grilled chicken ($20) was dry and flavorless.

The tuna in the seared ahi tuna salad ($16) was mostly raw and cold.

Looking to the patio of Ventana Canyon Resort’s Flying V restaurant

At the end of the meal, we waited forever for our sever to return with a dessert menu but by that time we just wanted to leave.

We had to flag her down eventually to get the check. When we did so, she looked startled to see us.

For the price, there are better restaurants in the area than the Flying V.

Ventana Canyon Resort also has the award-winning Ventana Room.

This high end restaurant is on the second floor of the hotel and is considered to be one of the best restaurants in Tucson.

Their gourmet menu features cuisine in the "New American" style.

Dishes include Summerfield Kobe beef filet with candied vegetables and tarragon chervil emulsion and steamed orange cinnamon pudding with Louis XIII black truffle.

A three course meal starts around $75/person excluding wine.

The casual Canyon Café looks out onto the patio and pool.

It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as Sunday brunch.

The menu is a mix of American and Southwestern favorites. Breakfast entrées start around $15.

The Canyon Café dining room

The food is good but service is inconsistent here too.

Sometimes, the staff is on the ball and other times, we’ve waited a long time to be helped.

Bill’s Grill is the poolside dining option.

The menu features burgers, sandwich wraps and salads plus a variety of drinks.

In Ventana Canyon Resort’s lobby is the Cascade Lounge, a popular spot that attracts locals and visitors alike.

Cascade’s menu offers trendy cocktails and appetizers such as Spanish tapas, Italian antipasti and Asian specialties.

A relatively new feature to Ventana Canyon Resort is the Vista Barista coffee bar, also in the lobby.

Colorful flowers surround a saguaro cactus at the Ventana Canyon Resort

• Ventana Canyon Resort is about a 25-minute drive from downtown Tucson.
• The resort is set well off of Kolb Road, the only access to the hotel and grounds. You can easily miss the driveway - it will be on your right side - if you aren’t keeping an eye out for it.

Deciding on a Room

• Given the resort’s sprawling layout, be prepared to walk some distance from the lobby to your room if you are at either end of one of the wings. If you prefer to be closer to the main part of the resort, be sure to say so when booking your room.
• There are different types of basic guest room (450 square feet) – standard, basic, deluxe and premium. The difference between them is the type of view. Room cost varies depending on the view.
• Note that the least expensive rooms have no view at all.

Dining: As with many resorts, food and beverage prices are high.

Favorite Features: Scenic desert views; comfortable, spacious room; desert nature trail; close to Tucson outdoors and hiking opportunities.

What We Didn’t Like: Lots of extra fees, even for parking; inconsistent service in some of the restaurants; high cost of food; small spa facilities.

Nearby Amenities and Attractions: Ventana Canyon Resort is close to Saguaro National Park East, Sabino Canyon and Mount Lemmon. However, it is about a 25-minute drive from downtown Tucson and about one hour from west side attractions like the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Saguaro National Park West and Old Tucson Studios.

Good for Kids: Yes. Children’s activities and special offers include lending game libraries, special menus, tours, welcome gifts for kids under ten and supervised recreational activities. There’s also a children’s playground.

Pet Friendly: Yes. See Resort Amenities section for details.

Location: East side of Tucson, about 25 minutes from downtown.

Address: 7000 North Resort Drive, Tucson, AZ 85750

Management:   Loews Hotels

Style: Contemporary Southwestern

Room Types:   398 guest rooms and suites

Cost: In Season Rates: $$$$ - $$$$$
Summer Rates: $$ - $$$
Go to Cost Key

Extra Fees:

• Ventana Canyon Resort Tucson charges a $9/day parking fee, whether or not you use the valet or bell service.
• $12 entrance fee per person for spa/fitness center use without booking a spa appointment.
• Internet service: $11 from 3:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. the following day.

Room Service:   There is a 21% service charge plus a $3.00 per person fee.

Views/Setting: Desert setting with city and mountain views.

Pools: Two. One pool is directly behind the lobby, the other is behind the spa and fitness center.

Restaurants:   Four plus a lounge and coffee bar. Advance reservations are recommended for the Ventana Room and Flying V Bar and Grill.

The Ventana Room is the most expensive option. Located on the second floor, it serves cuisine in the "New American" Style and has beautiful views. A three course meal will cost about $75/person excluding wine. Jacket required.

The Flying V Bar and Grill menu is a mix of grilled meats and seafood with Southwestern seasonings and also features an extensive tequila menu; has city and golf course views. Serves dinner daily and brunch on Sundays. Entrées start around $16. Business casual.

The Canyon Café is downstairs and looks out onto the patio and pool. It serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. The menu is a mix of American and Southwestern favorites. Breakfast dishes start at $15. Casual.

Bill’s Grill is poolside. The menu features burgers, sandwich wraps and salads plus a variety of drinks.

Vista Barista is the coffee bar located in the lobby, serving coffees, teas, pastries and fresh fruit. Hours are 5:00am – 5:30pm.

Spa: Full-service spa offering treatments such as shiatsu massage, facials and body wraps. Prices start at $90.

Golf: Two award-winning, 18-hole, par-72 championship courses designed by Tom Fazio: the Mountain Course and the Canyon Course.

Troon Golf manages both courses which are part of the semi-private Ventana Canyon Golf and Racquet Club. The Mountain and Canyon Courses are available to guests and outside play on a rotating, every-other-day basis. One course is always reserved for member play.

Activities: Tennis, Ping-Pong, croquet, basketball, hiking, biking, horseback riding

Parking: Self-parking and valet. Parking cost is $9 per day no matter which one you choose.

Accommodations Cost Key (based on a standard guest room, double occupancy):
$: $50 - $100
$$: $100 - $150
$$$: $150- $200
$$$$: $200 - $300
$$$$$: Above $300
Back to Cost

The information in this review was accurate at the time of our visit. All contact information, availability, access, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the resort, golf course, restaurant or spa before making reservations and/or travel plans.

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