The natural beauty of this land is spectacular
Cherry Creek lodge is nestled among 40,000+ acres in the heart of the Tonto National Forest with hundreds of miles of trails through varying terrains including tall pines, high desert, vast rolling hills, great vistas, rock cliffs, riparian, secluded canyons and distant mesas reaching toward the Arizona sky. The Tonto National Forest is the fifth largest forest in the United States, along the Mogollon (moh-guh-yohn) Rim. The landscape includes rolling Ponderosa pine hills, Sonoran scrub valleys, and rocky washbasins. In fact, the Tonto National Forest is part of the largest continuous tract of Ponderosa pine in the world.
Owners Sharon and Mike Lechter vowed to preserve and share the beauty of the land, its history and the old-west cowboy culture for future generations after purchasing the ranch in 2005. A few years later, the Lechters bought an additional nearby tract of land from the Ruger family (of Sturm Ruger fame), the original homestead of the Voris family.
In 2008, Cherry Creek Lodge opened to the public, a self-sustained facility that is completely off the grid (with an independent solar system and deep freshwater wells), although there is a limited bandwidth satellite Internet connection and a landline phone.
There are three parts to the Lechter’s vision for the Lodge—to provide all the modern comforts while staying true to a working cattle ranch, to treat everyone that stays at the Lodge like family, and to provide a broad enough variety of experiences so that everyone in a family or a group finds something to their liking.
Purchased in 2005 by Mike and Sharon Lechter, and opened in 2008 as a self-sustained, off-grid retreat, Cherry Creek Lodge offers a rustic yet charming and comfortable immersion for guests looking to experience the ranch lifestyle. Tilting H Ranch is a companion endeavor and the gateway to Cherry Creek Lodge, which means guests — immediately upon arrival — are exposed to the trappings of an active, working ranch.
Covering three acres, Lake Sharon sees ducks, geese, bullfrogs, and blue herons and swims with crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, and crawfish. It’s a perfect spot for swimming, paddling, fishing, boating or just relaxing on the shore.
The 57-mile Salt River tributary for which the lodge is named, Cherry Creek offers a cool respite — allowing our cattle, horses, and our tired feet to recharge after long days on the range. The clear water is ideal for rock hunters or minnow-chasers who are on the prowl.
Tilting H Ranch isn’t just home to cattle and horses. While our working ranch includes chickens and goats, the wildlife that call the area home include elk, mule deer, Coues deer, turkeys, bobcats, coyotes, bears, javelina, mountain lions, hawks, and eagles.
