A Gem In the Desert
Donna Reiner has written many articles over the years for the Arizona Republic and others about Phoenix history and memorials. She is a regular contributor to our newsletter. This month Donna tells us about the Rancho Ko-Ma-Ke, a beautiful historic stone structure near south mountain.
Nestled between Highland Canal and South Mountain, in the middle of a city park, quietly stands a shaded two-story stone building. A plaque near the building’s entrance indicates that this structure is on the City of Phoenix Historic register, but city staff knows little about its former life.
The name Rancho Ko-Mat-Ke conjures up images of some large estate, but in actuality, it contained only 35 acres of citrus and dates along with the Spanish Mission Revival home. It was a quiet place in the desert whose means Hump-Turtle’s Back in O’odham.
John and Helen Albrecht purchased the land in 1932, and built their home sometime after that. While the 1938 city directory lists them residing on South 16th Street near the Highland Canal, later directory entries also listed it as a guest ranch.
According to ads and a brochure, the five bedroom Tufa stone construction offered exclusive residency for only eight people from October through June. Each room had its own bath and the secluded area offered a unique retreat. Glassed-in sun porches and places for private sun bathing along with areas for shuffleboard, badminton, croquet, and quoits (a game similar to ring toss) were amenities were offered to the guests for the mere price of $35-$70 per week. According to the brochure, “Rancho Ko-Mat-Ke” [was] not a Dude Ranch, Hotel or Resort, but a Spacious Country home.” The elevation of 1,100 feet provided views of Phoenix which was six miles away in 1942.
One distinguished guest was Baroness Bettina Von Hutten who came for the winter in 1942. Born in Pennsylvania, she was once married to a German Baron. The Baroness was the author of 23 mystery romances and later moved to England in 1948 where she died in 1957. Whether she worked on a new novel during her stay is not known, but she did give at least one lecture before a local women’s group.
John Albrecht died in 1945 and the property changed hands a number of times before the city acquired it in 1972. For a short period, Rancho Ko-Mat-Ke may have been a retreat for Sears and Roebuck executives and later it was a youth hostel. Today it is the headquarters for the Southern Division of the Phoenix Parks Department located in Circle K Park between 12th and 16th Streets and the Highland Canal and South Mountain Avenue.
