Where the Road Ends, the Experience Begins.
Leave the city behind and discover a historic ranch surrounded by mountains, open skies, and the kind of quiet that’s getting harder to find.
There’s Always Something Happening at the Ranch
Arizona Western Photography Retreat
Feb 5th - 7h
Join us for an intimate photography retreat at a beautifully restored historic guest ranch tucked away in the Rincon Mountains, approximately one hour east of Tucson, Arizona. Surrounded by stunning desert landscapes, horses, cattle, historic adobe architecture, antique-filled interiors, and expansive mountain views, this retreat is designed to inspire creativity while fostering connection with fellow photographers.
Unlike large workshops, attendance is intentionally limited to create a relaxed, collaborative atmosphere with plenty of shooting time at each styled session. Throughout the retreat, you'll photograph multiple professionally styled setups featuring western-inspired couples, individual models, horses, and authentic ranch scenery.
Whether you're looking to expand your portfolio, meet other creatives, or simply spend a weekend immersed in photography, this retreat is designed to provide a unique Arizona experience both behind and away from the camera.
What's Included
2 nights at a historic Arizona guest ranch
Multiple professionally styled photography sessions
Couples, individual models, and horses
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, coffee, water, and non-alcoholic beverages
Full access to the ranch and shared gathering spaces
Small group experience with limited photographer attendance
Tentative Itinerary
Day 1
Afternoon arrival & check-in
Welcome Dinner
Campfire social
Day 2
Breakfast
Break-out styled shoots
Lunch
Creative free time / networking
Golden hour session
Dinner
Day 3
Creative free time / networking
Breakfast
Final images sharing
Check-out
Final itinerary may be adjusted
Booking Options
Private Room: $600
Enjoy your own private bedroom and private bathroom while participating in the full retreat experience.
Includes:
Private room and bathroom
Full retreat itinerary
Private rooms may accommodate one additional guest for an additional fee. Shared rooms and private-bedroom suites are priced and limited to one registered guest per bed/bedroom.
Private Bedroom Suite (Shared Bathroom): $450
Enjoy your own private bedroom within a two-bedroom suite. You'll share a bathroom with one other photographer while still having your own private sleeping space.
Includes:
Private bedroom
Shared bathroom with one guest
Full retreat itinerary
Two of the four suite rooms have twin beds as the sleeping arrangements. Beds will be assigned as first come, first serve in these rooms.
Shared Queen Room: $400
Share a spacious room with one other photographer in a traditional two-queen layout.
Includes:
Shared bedroom
Shared bathroom
Full retreat itinerary
Location
The retreat takes place at a private historic guest ranch approximately one hour east of Tucson, Arizona. The final hour of the drive is on a maintained dirt road, creating the feeling of a true destination retreat surrounded by Arizona's rugged beauty. Guests are encouraged to arrive prepared to unplug, slow down, and enjoy the peaceful ranch setting. Please note that there is wifi provided in the main courtyard and most of the rooms, but cell service will be limited.
Attendance is intentionally limited to provide plenty of shooting time and a personalized experience.
An ACOTAR-Inspired Fantasy Reader Retreat
January 15–17, 2027
The book is out. You've had three days to devour it.
Now come talk about it.
Escape into the mountains for an unforgettable two-night fantasy reader retreat celebrating the newest chapter of the world we've spent years obsessing over. Hidden away at a historic guest ranch in the Rincon Mountains outside Tucson, Arizona, we'll spend the weekend surrounded by fellow readers, crackling fires, candlelit rooms, horses, mountain views, good food, and enough ACOTAR conversation to make your group chat jealous.
This isn't a conference. It isn't a giant convention. And it definitely isn't a quiet book club.
It's a weekend in Prythian.
From the moment you arrive, you'll be welcomed into a thoughtfully curated fantasy experience designed for the readers who have reread the books, highlighted the clues, argued over theories, fallen in love with characters, had their hearts destroyed by others, and already know they'll finish the newest book far too quickly.
Your invitation is waiting.
Welcome to the Ranch
Upon arrival, you'll receive a wax-sealed welcome envelope containing your weekend itinerary, room assignment, and your very own Court assignment.
Settle into your room, grab a drink, meet your fellow readers, and explore the historic ranch before gathering for our first feast together.
Throughout the weekend, expect themed meals, book discussions, trivia, games, surprises, fireside conversations, plenty of time to enjoy the ranch, and more than a few opportunities to defend your most controversial ACOTAR opinions.
Attendance is intentionally limited, creating an intimate weekend where you'll actually have the chance to meet everyone around the table.
The Weekend
Friday — Welcome to Prythian
Arrive Friday afternoon and leave the real world behind.
After check-in and Court assignments, we'll gather for welcome drinks before sharing our first dinner together. Then grab a blanket and a glass of wine and settle in around the fire.
This is where we finally get to talk about the new book.
Favorite moments. Biggest shocks. New theories. Questions. Connections we can't stop thinking about.
No spoiler warnings necessary here.
Saturday — A Day in the Courts
Wake up slowly with coffee, pastries, fresh fruit, and breakfast at the ranch before a day filled with books, games, creativity, and plenty of time to simply enjoy where you are.
Test your knowledge with ACOTAR trivia. Compete alongside your Court. Explore the ranch. Curl up somewhere quiet with a book. Make something to take home. Debate characters. Share theories. Meet people who understand exactly why you've spent entirely too much time thinking about fae.
At midday, gather for The Suriel's Tea—an afternoon spread of tea sandwiches, fruit, pastries, cheeses, desserts, tea, and, naturally, plenty of gossip.
Then retreat to your rooms.
Because tonight, we're dressing for Starfall.
The Starfall Masquerade
Saturday Evening
Fantasy formal. Court-inspired. Character-inspired. Full costume. A beautiful dress and a little starlight.
Come however Prythian looks to you.
As the sun begins to fall behind the mountains, we'll gather for drinks and golden-hour portraits around the historic ranch. Horses, desert landscapes, adobe architecture, and sweeping mountain views create the backdrop while everyone arrives dressed for the evening.
Then step into a candlelit fantasy dinner.
A long table. Flickering candles. Wine. Music. Beautiful food. Masks. Stars. And a room full of people who love these books just as much as you do.
The evening continues with music, drinks, photos, desserts, and fireside conversations beneath the Arizona night sky.
Dress-up is encouraged, never required. Whether you arrive in an elaborate character-inspired look or simply wear black with a few stars, you're invited to experience the evening your way.
Sunday — One Last Morning
Sunday is for sleeping in, strong coffee, a cozy farewell brunch, and one final morning together at the ranch.
We'll share favorite moments from the weekend, revisit our wildest theories, make predictions for what comes next, take entirely too many final photos, and slowly make our way back to reality.
Until the next book.
What's Included
Your retreat registration includes:
Two nights at a private historic Arizona guest ranch
All meals throughout the weekend
Coffee, tea, water, snacks & refreshments
Welcome drinks
Themed meals and dining experiences
Court assignment & welcome experience
ACOTAR discussions, trivia, games & activities
The Suriel's Tea
The Starfall Masquerade
Candlelit fantasy dinner
Golden-hour fantasy portraits
Fireside gatherings
A thoughtfully curated welcome keepsake
Full access to ranch common areas and gathering spaces
Plenty of free time to relax, read, explore & connect
A small-group experience with limited attendance
Limited rooms available.
This is an independently hosted, fan-inspired reader retreat and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Sarah J. Maas, Bloomsbury Publishing, or the official ACOTAR franchise.
Choose Your Stay
All accommodations include the complete two-night retreat experience, all meals and refreshments, themed activities, The Suriel's Tea, The Starfall Masquerade, welcome keepsake, and access to ranch amenities and gathering spaces.
Private Room — $800
Your own private retreat for the weekend. Enjoy a private bedroom and private ensuite bathroom while participating in the full Weekend in Prythian experience.
Additional Guest: +$150
Bring your best friend, partner, or fellow reader and share your private room. The additional guest receives the complete retreat experience, including all meals, activities, and events throughout the weekend.
Limited to one additional guest per private room.
Private Bedroom Suite — $600
Have your own private sleeping space while sharing a bathroom with just one other retreat guest.
Each historic suite contains two separate bedrooms connected by a shared bathroom, giving you the privacy of your own room while still offering a more affordable way to experience the weekend.
Two of the four suite bedrooms feature twin beds. Bed assignments are first come, first served.
Shared Queen Room — $500
Come with a friend or meet a fellow reader when you arrive. Share a spacious room featuring two queen beds and a private ensuite bathroom.
Each guest has their own queen bed while sharing the bedroom and bathroom with one other retreat attendee.
Roommate requests are welcome. Guests booking individually will be thoughtfully paired with another attendee.
Geminid Meteor Shower Night
December 13th–14th, 2026
Spend a magical night beneath the dark skies of the Rincon Mountains during the peak of the Geminid meteor shower—one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year.
Far from the lights of Tucson, our historic guest ranch offers an incredible setting to slow down, look up, and experience the night sky the way it was meant to be seen. Settle in for an evening of stargazing, astronomy, warm drinks, good food, and time around the fire before retreating to your room for the night.
The experience will be centered around the Geminid meteor shower, with an astronomer guiding guests through the night sky and sharing more about the meteors, stars, planets, and constellations visible overhead.
Attendance will be intentionally limited to preserve the quiet, uncrowded atmosphere and give everyone plenty of space to enjoy the night sky.
What's Included
1 night at a historic Arizona guest ranch
Guided stargazing with an astronomer
Geminid meteor shower viewing
Dinner
Breakfast the following morning
Late-night snacks and treats
Hot chocolate, coffee, tea, water, and refreshments
Campfire gathering
Full access to the ranch and shared gathering spaces
Small-group experience beneath some of Arizona's beautiful dark skies
Tentative Itinerary
December 13th
Afternoon arrival & check-in at 2pm
Time to explore and settle into the ranch
Sunset gathering
Welcome dinner
Introduction to the night sky & Geminid meteor shower
Guided stargazing
Meteor shower viewing
Campfire, hot drinks & late-night snacks
Stay up as late as you'd like watching the sky
December 14th
Slow morning at the ranch
Coffee & breakfast
Time to relax and enjoy the property
Check-out by 2pm
Final itinerary and astronomy programming may be adjusted based on weather and viewing conditions.
Booking Options
Private Room $300
Enjoy your own private bedroom and private bathroom for the night.
Includes:
Private room and bathroom
Full event itinerary
Private rooms may accommodate one additional guest for an additional fee. Shared rooms and private-bedroom suites are priced and limited to one registered guest per bed/bedroom.
Private Bedroom Suite (Shared Bathroom) $250
Enjoy your own private bedroom within a two-bedroom suite while sharing a bathroom with one other guest.
Includes:
Private bedroom
Shared bathroom with one guest
Full event itinerary
Two of the four suite bedrooms have twin beds. Bed assignments within the suites will be made on a first-come, first-served basis.
Shared Queen Room $200
Share a spacious room with one other guest in a traditional two-queen layout.
Includes:
Shared bedroom
Shared bathroom
Full event itinerary
Location
The event takes place at a private historic guest ranch tucked away in the Rincon Mountains approximately one hour east of Tucson, Arizona. Its remote location and distance from city lights create a beautiful setting for an evening centered around the night sky.
The final hour of the drive is on a maintained dirt ranch road, and a high-clearance vehicle is strongly recommended. Wi-Fi is available in the main courtyard and most guest rooms, but cell service is limited.
A Note About Stargazing
Astronomy is dependent on Mother Nature. While December 13th is selected to coincide with the peak of the Geminid meteor shower, clear skies and the number of visible meteors cannot be guaranteed. The event will still take place in the event of less-than-ideal viewing conditions, with the evening's programming adjusted as needed.
Make the Ranch Yours
From destination weddings and milestone celebrations to retreats, workshops, and weekends with your favorite people, the ranch is yours to gather, celebrate, and create something unforgettable.
Have Questions? Let’s Connect
Have a question about the ranch, an upcoming event, or planning your own? Send us a message—we’d love to hear from you.