Surprises at Tucson’s oldest vintage market

When Grae Verlin purchased the Pantano Stables a few years ago, her vision for using the property clearly extended beyond stabling horses. Now called Medella Vina Ranch, it is–much to my surprise–an event hub. Horses are still welcomed. They even offer horseback rides to non-horse owners. Additionally, I discovered that there is a charming wedding venue, weekly yoga classes, a farmer’s market, a vintage market, wine tasting, and goats. (Goat yoga? I don’t think so.)

It was the First Sunday Vintage Market (which comes complete with a bar!) that attracted me. It claims to be the oldest Vintage/Antique market in Tucson. So after a long drive from the opposite corner of Tucson, this is what I saw.

I thought this was the entrance to the Vintage Market, but when I stepped inside I discovered a leafy, green, 3 acre garden, called Kallista Park, with white pavilions for weddings. On Sunday the pavilions were doing double-duty as spaces for vendors to sell their vintage and sometimes newish goods. One pavilion was open air, the other enclosed and air conditioned, which was nice. It was hot and humid out in the sunlight.

After rambling around the enclosed pavilion, and seeing the bar as well as long guns, a new quilt, an old rug, vintage dresses and Hawaiian shirts for sale, I headed out to a second parking area through a passage where a lady selling home-baked French bread and croissants was already sold out.

This parking area was devoted to vendors and here are a few things that were for sale. I now see that I took photos of items with a Western theme. There was a lot of other stuff, including jewelry and clothing.

Mystery buildings, mystery saguaros, and a mystery carriage

Behind this open area market a hillside rose with some mystery buildings at the top, along with 4 seemingly fake Saguaros. Are they cell towers? Something else? Whatever they are they appear artificial, as you can see in comparison to the real Saguaros lower down on the hillside. Oh, the Medella Vina Ranch is very close to the Saguaro National Park.

As I made my way back toward the entrance I noticed a white carriage near the gate which I’d complete missed on my way into the Kallista Park. I don’t know whether or not it is available for use at weddings. Another mystery at this interesting location.