Golf, art and history draw visitors to Tubac, Arizona
If art and golf are not your interests, Tubac is also a shoppers’ paradise.
This quiet little town along the Santa Cruz River in southern Arizona is a great place to visit for history buffs and individuals who appreciate the arts. Located 45 miles south of Tucson and only 18 miles from Nogales, Mexico, Tubac is a must-visit. The word Tubac originated from the O’odham Indians and means rotten, although there is nothing rotten in this town Where Art and History Meet.
History
When the Spanish established the Vice Royalty of New Spain, Tubac was the first presidio or fort established in 1752, being the oldest European settlement in Arizona. Its first commandant was Juan Bautista de Anza, who founded the city of San Francisco. The presidio was used to protect the settlers and the peaceful Pima, Akimel and Tohono O’odham Indians. Tubac was part of the Camino Real or Royal Road from Mexico to California. Only three miles from Tubac, Father Kino established the Mission San Jose de Tumacacori in 1691. It’s now a national monument. The Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and Museum tells the story of Tubac, including an underground archaeology display.
A centre for the arts
What attracts people to this little town is its history, the Tubac Golf Resort and Spa and the artistic community. Tubac has gone through several periods of growth then decline, with the arts community its present saviour. This little village emerged when Dale Nichols established an art school in 1948. Tubac found its purpose. Today Tubac is internationally acclaimed for having the longest-running art gathering in the United States. This little town of 1,200 people has 28 art galleries/studios and often bills itself as the Sedona of southern Arizona. The Tubac Center of the Arts hosts various seasonal exhibitions. The best time to visit Tubac is in February during the Festival of the Arts and in March for the annual Art Walk.
An outstanding golf resort
One of the biggest attractions in Tubac is its golf course. In 2011, Tubac Golf Resort received an award for excellence as a golf resort. The 27-hole layout is a upscale golf destination with deluxe accommodations and amenities. The course received notoriety when the Rancho Course was used in 1995 to shoot the movie Tin Cup starring Kevin Costner.
If art and golf are not your interests, Tubac is also a shoppers’ paradise. The streets are lined with shops selling Mexican goods, handcrafted items, sculptures, clothing, Southwest art, imported art and plenty of lawn art. Tubac seems to have something for everyone.
