We live in the SW corner of Utah where it gets really hot during the summer so we use our timeshares to try to escape the heat by going up in elevation. We had never been to the Mogollon (pronounced Moe-ge-own) Rim area so decided to try a four night stay at the Worldmark Bison Ranch timeshare. We booked this using our Wyndham points during the third week of August. We figured this should give us a good idea of the weather during the summer.
The Mogollon Rim is a steep escarpment (elevation about 7000’) dividing the northern plateau region from the lower central and southern areas. The rim offers a trails as well as lakes for recreation. Time wise the Rim Country is about three hours from the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. While we were there Phoenix was 115 during the day but we had temperatures in the mid 80s. It was “monsoon” season for AZ, so it would be clear in the morning, clouds start building mid-morning and by 1-3pm thunderheads with lighting/thunder. Rain came during the rest of the afternoon, but it was spotty. It did this every day we were there, but it didn’t interfere with our activities too much.
This area of AZ isn’t really near any major attractions. Most things require a 1.5 to 2 hours of driving (Petrified Forest, Painted Desert, etc.). The closest towns are Payson and Show Low. Most people that stay in the area are from the valley (Phoenix) and are getting out of the heat and to relax. All the resorts are family oriented. There is fishing, hiking, and horseback riding nearby. During the winter there is skiing near the Pinetop resorts. Now that you have an idea of the area, in addition to staying at Bison Ranch, we also visited Kohl’s Ranch, Worldmark Pinetop and the two timeshares at the Roundhouse Resort in Pinetop. An advantage of staying at the Pinetop resorts is that you are closer to a town and groceries.
Worldmark Bison Ranch is in Overgaard (elevation 6500’) and was built in 2001, designed to look like a western town from the 1800’s. The units are either up or downstairs with windows on both sides so you get good ventilation through the unit. This resort does have air conditioning, although we only used it one day for a couple of hours. We stayed in #112 which was on the end of one of the buildings. It was a two bed-two bath unit of just under 1100 sq. ft. As you entered, the fully stocked kitchen was ahead with the dining on the left, then the living area. Worldmarks have a Murphy bed and this unit had plenty of space behind the couch to bring the bed down. There was a gas fireplace and entertainment unit. Besides the couch there were two club chairs, both quite comfortable. Besides the coffee table in front of the couch, there was a sofa table behind it. We used it and the dining table for working puzzles. There was an eating counter with two bar stools facing the kitchen (we used the coffee table when the puzzles were out). The TV had a limited selection of channels. Although they had satellite, to keep costs down they didn’t have the “big” package. You had 10-12 channels, but something for everyone – sports, kids, news, and regular. You had the Today show but no GMA in the morning. The weather channel was pretty useless as the “Weather on the Eights” didn’t cover the area, not even Phoenix. Going down the hall there was a closet for the washer/dryer combo and the second bathroom. It had a single sink with a tub/shower combination. At the end of the hall was the second bedroom. It had two twin beds, small chest of drawers but no TV. To the left at the end of the hall was the master bedroom. It had a king bed, chair, two night stands and a small chest with a flat screen TV. The attached bathroom was a single sink with a step-in shower. Be aware that Worldmark doesn’t supply shampoo, etc.
The resort has an outdoor pool and hot tub as well as a kiddie pool. There is also an area for horse shoes and a small playground with a slide/jungle gym combo. In the main building there is one computer/printer, arcade games, two pool tables, air hockey table and a ping pong table. There is a nice workout room that has a treadmill, recumbent bike and a universal gym that shows how to work most muscle groups. Two people can use the space at once, but it gets crowded quickly (we took turns). There is a schedule of limited activities that is given to you at check-in. There is a take-one/leave-one library as well as videos to rent. The staff is very friendly and willing to help.
Since we were at the resort after mid August, there weren’t many people so it was very quiet. I imagine that during the summer there would be many more families. There is a stable nearby for horseback riding and you can rent bicycles from one of the stores (some of the buildings have retail on the ground floor with timeshare units above). The stores had varied hours so it took us two tries to find the ice cream shop open. There is a restaurant among the retail shops but since the nearest grocery was 32 miles away, we brought everything we needed and did all our own cooking.
We have been to many timeshares in AZ over the years, so we have been to most of the sites that are day trips away. We just had a very relaxing time reading, doing puzzles and using the pool when the storms weren’t present.
We drove to Kohl’s Ranch which is about 16 miles out of Payson. It is lower than Bison Ranch at about 5000’ and sits along the Tonto Creek (among trees). We found it warmer and a little more humid than Bison Ranch. The resort has hotel units as well as one and two bedroom cabins. We were able to see one of the two-bedroom Rustic cabins. The Rustic cabins are the older ones and smaller. The one bedroom is 600 sq. ft. and the two bedroom unit 700 sq. ft. And they are RUSTIC. It reminded me of the cabins in Wisconsin our parents took us to back in the 1960’s. There was a tiny kitchen with an apartment size stove, no dishwasher and open shelving for your supplies. The dining table was across the living area. The furniture looked very old and uncomfortable. We didn’t try it as we would never stay in these units. There are also another group of cabins that are newer. We weren’t able to see these but according to the floor plans we were given, they are 1200 sq. ft. for a two bedroom deluxe. We learned later that these are basically the same as the PVC @ Roundhouse units. If they are, they should be nice as they are a modular type building with big bedrooms. The master has a whirlpool tub in the bathroom and the second bedroom has two queen beds with plenty of room to walk around. The second bathroom is near the kitchen. The kitchen is U shaped with a dining area next to it. We understand that these don’t have a washer/dryer, but instead have an extra closet. I do not know if they have air conditioning. If you are staying at Kohl’s Ranch, make sure you are in unit 301 – 310 to get the two bedrooms Deluxe cabins. The Rustic cabins are #201 – 208. Diamond Resorts has recently taken over this resort, but I don’t know if they are making/planning any updates.
Kohl’s Ranch has an outdoor pool and hot tub. There is a restaurant on site as well as a putting green, volley ball/sports court, horseshoe pit, children’s playground and bocce ball area. There is horseback riding on site too. There are BBQs nearby if your unit doesn’t have one on its deck.
The next day we drove in the opposite direction through Show Low to Pinetop (elevation 7200’). We stopped at the Worldmark Pinetop and saw a one-bedroom unit. The resort is in a very pretty setting with pine trees all around. Units are up and down. They do not have air conditioning but have fans. The resort has outdoor pools and spas, sport/tennis courts, kid’s play area, fitness center, pool table, arcade games, horseshoe pit, tetherball, foosball and ping-pong. They have an activity schedule that changes monthly with something going on each day. This resort is just east of Pinetop where you can find a grocery store, restaurants and shopping. Show Low isn’t too far away for a larger town. The one-bedroom is 855 sq. ft. and the two-bedroom is 1047 sq. ft. The kitchen has a small island/eating area in addition to the dining table in the dining area. We did sit on the couch and chairs in the unit we saw. They were comfortable. Both size units have the Murphy bed and king beds in the master. The 2nd bedroom has two twin beds. All units have their own balcony/deck with a gas grill, table and chairs. As long as you don’t require A/C (allergies, etc.), this is a very nice resort. There is horseback riding, golf and bike rental nearby.
Just down the road from Worldmark Pinetop is the Roundhouse Resort. There are actually two separate resorts – PVC @ Round House and the original Roundhouse Resort. There is a big difference between the two, although PVC guests can use the Rec Center at Roundhouse and their guests get a round of miniature golf at PVC. So you don’t get disappointed, make sure you know which resort you are going to – check the address.
PVC @ Roundhouse Resort is at 5801 Buck Springs Rd and is managed by Diamond Resorts. This resort is the first one you see as you turn onto the side road. It looks like a small mobile home park. The setting isn’t as pretty as the Worldmark resort, but it is still nice. Diamond has been doing a lot of updating since they took over this year. We got a tour of one of the cabins (all 2 bedrooms, 1100 sq. ft.) from the maintenance man so we were able to get a lot of information. These are modular units with log cabin style siding, manufactured in 2005/2006. Diamond has replaced all the beds and small appliances. They are in the process of installing A/C (3 done at the time of this writing) and should all be done by next summer. Carpeting and furniture are scheduled to be replaced next year. The units have a washer/dryer in the kitchen area. The master has a whirlpool tub in the bathroom and the second bedroom has two queen beds with plenty of room to walk around. The second bathroom is near the kitchen. The kitchen is U shaped with a dining area next to it. All cabins have a porch/deck. There is a miniature golf course on site and guests have access to the Rec Center run by the Roundhouse Resort (see description below). There is horseback riding, golf and bike rental nearby. Once the updates are done, this will be a very nice place to spend some quiet time during the summer or ski nearby in the winter.
The Roundhouse Resort is at 5829 Buck Springs Rd, farther back along the private drive. This is the original resort (built in the 1970’s) and is VERY dated. It has an interesting history as it was a station stop for a railroad. In fact, the building we saw was the ticketing building. The area around the lodge and rec center has gazebos and swings with awnings. They have one, two and three bedroom units here. A few have been updated but we saw one that wasn’t. We don’t know what has been done. The unit we saw was dark and had no dishwasher (website says it has A/C, but double check). We talked with one couple who owned there and they love it and go back every year (they were sitting in one of the swings, reading their bible). There are updates planned, such as more insulation between units (shared walls and ceilings), but not a specific time table. There is a laundry facility on site with a charge for soap and machines. The Rec Center is quite nice with a half court basketball court (new floor), handball court, indoor pool and spa and a very well equipped fitness center. Guests here get a free game of miniature golf at PVC resort next door. They have a website: http://rhresort.com.
The Mogollon Rim is a steep escarpment (elevation about 7000’) dividing the northern plateau region from the lower central and southern areas. The rim offers a trails as well as lakes for recreation. Time wise the Rim Country is about three hours from the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. While we were there Phoenix was 115 during the day but we had temperatures in the mid 80s. It was “monsoon” season for AZ, so it would be clear in the morning, clouds start building mid-morning and by 1-3pm thunderheads with lighting/thunder. Rain came during the rest of the afternoon, but it was spotty. It did this every day we were there, but it didn’t interfere with our activities too much.
This area of AZ isn’t really near any major attractions. Most things require a 1.5 to 2 hours of driving (Petrified Forest, Painted Desert, etc.). The closest towns are Payson and Show Low. Most people that stay in the area are from the valley (Phoenix) and are getting out of the heat and to relax. All the resorts are family oriented. There is fishing, hiking, and horseback riding nearby. During the winter there is skiing near the Pinetop resorts. Now that you have an idea of the area, in addition to staying at Bison Ranch, we also visited Kohl’s Ranch, Worldmark Pinetop and the two timeshares at the Roundhouse Resort in Pinetop. An advantage of staying at the Pinetop resorts is that you are closer to a town and groceries.
Worldmark Bison Ranch is in Overgaard (elevation 6500’) and was built in 2001, designed to look like a western town from the 1800’s. The units are either up or downstairs with windows on both sides so you get good ventilation through the unit. This resort does have air conditioning, although we only used it one day for a couple of hours. We stayed in #112 which was on the end of one of the buildings. It was a two bed-two bath unit of just under 1100 sq. ft. As you entered, the fully stocked kitchen was ahead with the dining on the left, then the living area. Worldmarks have a Murphy bed and this unit had plenty of space behind the couch to bring the bed down. There was a gas fireplace and entertainment unit. Besides the couch there were two club chairs, both quite comfortable. Besides the coffee table in front of the couch, there was a sofa table behind it. We used it and the dining table for working puzzles. There was an eating counter with two bar stools facing the kitchen (we used the coffee table when the puzzles were out). The TV had a limited selection of channels. Although they had satellite, to keep costs down they didn’t have the “big” package. You had 10-12 channels, but something for everyone – sports, kids, news, and regular. You had the Today show but no GMA in the morning. The weather channel was pretty useless as the “Weather on the Eights” didn’t cover the area, not even Phoenix. Going down the hall there was a closet for the washer/dryer combo and the second bathroom. It had a single sink with a tub/shower combination. At the end of the hall was the second bedroom. It had two twin beds, small chest of drawers but no TV. To the left at the end of the hall was the master bedroom. It had a king bed, chair, two night stands and a small chest with a flat screen TV. The attached bathroom was a single sink with a step-in shower. Be aware that Worldmark doesn’t supply shampoo, etc.
The resort has an outdoor pool and hot tub as well as a kiddie pool. There is also an area for horse shoes and a small playground with a slide/jungle gym combo. In the main building there is one computer/printer, arcade games, two pool tables, air hockey table and a ping pong table. There is a nice workout room that has a treadmill, recumbent bike and a universal gym that shows how to work most muscle groups. Two people can use the space at once, but it gets crowded quickly (we took turns). There is a schedule of limited activities that is given to you at check-in. There is a take-one/leave-one library as well as videos to rent. The staff is very friendly and willing to help.
Since we were at the resort after mid August, there weren’t many people so it was very quiet. I imagine that during the summer there would be many more families. There is a stable nearby for horseback riding and you can rent bicycles from one of the stores (some of the buildings have retail on the ground floor with timeshare units above). The stores had varied hours so it took us two tries to find the ice cream shop open. There is a restaurant among the retail shops but since the nearest grocery was 32 miles away, we brought everything we needed and did all our own cooking.
We have been to many timeshares in AZ over the years, so we have been to most of the sites that are day trips away. We just had a very relaxing time reading, doing puzzles and using the pool when the storms weren’t present.
We drove to Kohl’s Ranch which is about 16 miles out of Payson. It is lower than Bison Ranch at about 5000’ and sits along the Tonto Creek (among trees). We found it warmer and a little more humid than Bison Ranch. The resort has hotel units as well as one and two bedroom cabins. We were able to see one of the two-bedroom Rustic cabins. The Rustic cabins are the older ones and smaller. The one bedroom is 600 sq. ft. and the two bedroom unit 700 sq. ft. And they are RUSTIC. It reminded me of the cabins in Wisconsin our parents took us to back in the 1960’s. There was a tiny kitchen with an apartment size stove, no dishwasher and open shelving for your supplies. The dining table was across the living area. The furniture looked very old and uncomfortable. We didn’t try it as we would never stay in these units. There are also another group of cabins that are newer. We weren’t able to see these but according to the floor plans we were given, they are 1200 sq. ft. for a two bedroom deluxe. We learned later that these are basically the same as the PVC @ Roundhouse units. If they are, they should be nice as they are a modular type building with big bedrooms. The master has a whirlpool tub in the bathroom and the second bedroom has two queen beds with plenty of room to walk around. The second bathroom is near the kitchen. The kitchen is U shaped with a dining area next to it. We understand that these don’t have a washer/dryer, but instead have an extra closet. I do not know if they have air conditioning. If you are staying at Kohl’s Ranch, make sure you are in unit 301 – 310 to get the two bedrooms Deluxe cabins. The Rustic cabins are #201 – 208. Diamond Resorts has recently taken over this resort, but I don’t know if they are making/planning any updates.
Kohl’s Ranch has an outdoor pool and hot tub. There is a restaurant on site as well as a putting green, volley ball/sports court, horseshoe pit, children’s playground and bocce ball area. There is horseback riding on site too. There are BBQs nearby if your unit doesn’t have one on its deck.
The next day we drove in the opposite direction through Show Low to Pinetop (elevation 7200’). We stopped at the Worldmark Pinetop and saw a one-bedroom unit. The resort is in a very pretty setting with pine trees all around. Units are up and down. They do not have air conditioning but have fans. The resort has outdoor pools and spas, sport/tennis courts, kid’s play area, fitness center, pool table, arcade games, horseshoe pit, tetherball, foosball and ping-pong. They have an activity schedule that changes monthly with something going on each day. This resort is just east of Pinetop where you can find a grocery store, restaurants and shopping. Show Low isn’t too far away for a larger town. The one-bedroom is 855 sq. ft. and the two-bedroom is 1047 sq. ft. The kitchen has a small island/eating area in addition to the dining table in the dining area. We did sit on the couch and chairs in the unit we saw. They were comfortable. Both size units have the Murphy bed and king beds in the master. The 2nd bedroom has two twin beds. All units have their own balcony/deck with a gas grill, table and chairs. As long as you don’t require A/C (allergies, etc.), this is a very nice resort. There is horseback riding, golf and bike rental nearby.
Just down the road from Worldmark Pinetop is the Roundhouse Resort. There are actually two separate resorts – PVC @ Round House and the original Roundhouse Resort. There is a big difference between the two, although PVC guests can use the Rec Center at Roundhouse and their guests get a round of miniature golf at PVC. So you don’t get disappointed, make sure you know which resort you are going to – check the address.
PVC @ Roundhouse Resort is at 5801 Buck Springs Rd and is managed by Diamond Resorts. This resort is the first one you see as you turn onto the side road. It looks like a small mobile home park. The setting isn’t as pretty as the Worldmark resort, but it is still nice. Diamond has been doing a lot of updating since they took over this year. We got a tour of one of the cabins (all 2 bedrooms, 1100 sq. ft.) from the maintenance man so we were able to get a lot of information. These are modular units with log cabin style siding, manufactured in 2005/2006. Diamond has replaced all the beds and small appliances. They are in the process of installing A/C (3 done at the time of this writing) and should all be done by next summer. Carpeting and furniture are scheduled to be replaced next year. The units have a washer/dryer in the kitchen area. The master has a whirlpool tub in the bathroom and the second bedroom has two queen beds with plenty of room to walk around. The second bathroom is near the kitchen. The kitchen is U shaped with a dining area next to it. All cabins have a porch/deck. There is a miniature golf course on site and guests have access to the Rec Center run by the Roundhouse Resort (see description below). There is horseback riding, golf and bike rental nearby. Once the updates are done, this will be a very nice place to spend some quiet time during the summer or ski nearby in the winter.
The Roundhouse Resort is at 5829 Buck Springs Rd, farther back along the private drive. This is the original resort (built in the 1970’s) and is VERY dated. It has an interesting history as it was a station stop for a railroad. In fact, the building we saw was the ticketing building. The area around the lodge and rec center has gazebos and swings with awnings. They have one, two and three bedroom units here. A few have been updated but we saw one that wasn’t. We don’t know what has been done. The unit we saw was dark and had no dishwasher (website says it has A/C, but double check). We talked with one couple who owned there and they love it and go back every year (they were sitting in one of the swings, reading their bible). There are updates planned, such as more insulation between units (shared walls and ceilings), but not a specific time table. There is a laundry facility on site with a charge for soap and machines. The Rec Center is quite nice with a half court basketball court (new floor), handball court, indoor pool and spa and a very well equipped fitness center. Guests here get a free game of miniature golf at PVC resort next door. They have a website: http://rhresort.com.
Our main excuse was we couldn't trade into any of these (easily) but, now that DRI is taking over some of the management I'm pretty sure that will change. Don't suppose there are updated pictures???