An ecotourism resort with a holistic healing spa and outdoor activities ranging from horseback riding to gold panning is to be constructed east of U.S. Highway 60 off Peralta Road, at the end of Gold Rush Road in Gold Canyon.
The Pinal County Board of Supervisors on April 24 voted 4-0 on three applications to approve planning and zoning items with stipulations, as recommended by the planning commission, for a land-use change, rezoning and a planned-area development overlay for the 124.86-acre property that eventually house the Tela Peralta eco-tourism resort. Supervisor Stephen Q. Miller, District 3, was absent.
Approved at the meeting were:
A non-major comprehensive plan amendment to designate the land from major open space to general commercial;
Rezoning it from general rural zone to local business zone and manufactured home zone;
A planned-area development overlay district to apply commercial development standards to allow development of a luxury eco-resort.
The site is surrounded by vacant Arizona State Trust, National Forest and Bureau of Land Management land with the nearest single-family home more than 4 miles to the west.
“They’re trying to use sustainable methods in this resort complex. Some of the features for the Tera Peralta eco-resort are the development philosophy ensures that open spaces are respected and the Sonoran Desert environment are protected with minimal disturbance respecting this ecology of this Superstition (Mountains) area,” Senior Planner Sangeeta Deokar told the board. “Uses allowed will only be related to eco-tourism. Built structures will be earth-hugging and not protruding out, kind of jelling with the environment.”
Jordan Rose of Rose Law Group is the agent. Amy J. Doyle of Rafter D Cattle Co. Inc. is the owner.
Rose said she and the property owners have worked with Pinal County on the project for four years.
“If you haven’t gone out to see this land to hike and just recreate, it’s amazing,” Rose told the board.
High-end “tents” are planned for the resort units, she said.
“It’s a real luxury experience in the heart of the Superstition Mountains. The desert’s just incredibly lush, and again the goal is to become the best eco-friendly resort in the world,” Rose said.
How much the development of Tela Peralta will cost is not yet known, Rose said in an email.
“They do not yet have any pricing information as they are now exploring their operating partner relationship options,” she said.
The Backus/Doyle families, who own the property, are longtime Pinal County ranching families who decided to develop what will be a boutique luxury eco-resort. A total of 43 resort units — single rooms and resort residences — and eight employee bunkhouses are planned, according to a written project narrative.
Rafter D. Cattle Co. and/or the owners intend to own, operate and maintain Tela Peralta, including its amenities, landscaping, open space, streets, recreation areas, refuse disposal and utility systems, and other infrastructure, it states.
The site operates a working cattle ranch while also planning and holding weddings and other special events with temporary amenities and a temporary-use permit, it states.
Planned activities and amenities at Tela Peralta include a Sonoran culinary experience, horseback riding, gold panning, wine tasting and culinary experiences, a holistic healing spa, and outdoor activities such as rock climbing/mountain biking/jeep tours/trails.
“Tela Peralta will be a boutique luxury eco-resort catering to an intimate number of distinguished guests. The proposed rezoning of the site will allow the development of permanent structures to establish a unique resort secluded in one of the most beautiful places in the world,” it states. “Complementing the boutique luxury eco-resort experience, the Doyle family plans on utilizing the current cattle ranch to provide guests with an immersive Western-style experience unique to this type of upscale venue.”
Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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