Roy P. Drachman-Agua Caliente Regional
Park
12325 E. Roger Road
Open daily from 7:00 a.m. to Sunset
ADA accessible facilities, horseshoe pits, picnic area, restrooms,
drinking water, interpretive information, wildlife and aquatic viewing
opportunities, historical sites, warm springs, walking path, art gallery, and nature shop.
Permits:
Permits are required for groups of more than 25 people. Call (520) 749-3718.
Permits are required to use Agua Caliente Park on Easter Sunday. Permits can be acquired by calling (520) 749-3718 no earlier than 30 days prior to Easter Sunday.
Agua Caliente, literally meaning hot water, is a unique 101-acre
park with a perennial warm spring flowing into three large ponds, The
water source has attracted a wide variety of waterfowl and other wildlife
species. Human habitation has been found to date back about 5,500 years.
The site makes for a perfect place for a picnic or day hike.
Agua Caliente Park is located
on the far east side of Tucson. Agua Caliente Park has a
long and interesting history behind it. In 1873, a ranch and
health resort was developed to promote the curative properties
of the warm springs. The ranch bunkhouse, which dates back to
the 1920s, was used by ranch hands.
Improvements have added the modern conveniences without eliminating
the historical aspects of the park, including a paved entry drive,
parking lot and sand topped paved trails designed to blend with
the surrounding ground surface.
Interpretive signs explaining the geology and history of the
warm spring and the natural and human history of the site are
installed throughout the park. The entry gates and interpretive
sign supports were produced as part of the public art component
of the park development. The ranch house, caretaker cottage, now known as Rose Cottage, and the bunk house
have been restored. The ranch house depicts the home as it may have appeared in the 1920s. In addition, there are historic photos of the ranch and an art gallery that exhibits art by local artists on a rotating basis.
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