The Farm

Ponderosa Perormance Horses is located on 20 acres at Cold Water Ranch owned by Reta and Virginia Conner. The ranch is located in Black Canyon City, Arizona, just 30 miles north of Phoenix and backs up to the Agua Fria National Monument. The preserve's 71,000 acres encompasses 2 mesas and the Agua Fria River canyon at elevations ranging from 2,150 feet along the canyon, to 4,600 feet in the northern hills. This contrasting mosaic of semi-desert area divided by veins of riparian forest, offers one of the most magnificant systems of prehistoric sites in America's Southwest. At least 450 known prehistoric sites exist within its boundaries, and many of the monument's intact petroglyph sites feature rock art symbols etched into boulders and cliff faces.

Black Canyon City has been known by several names in the past, including Goddard, Canon, and Black Canyon. It was a stage stop on the Phoenix to Prescott line and a Military stopover while traveling to Fort Whipple and Fort Verde during Territorial days. The Woolsey Trail in Black Canyon was named after King Woolsey, an early settler who is credited with bringing in the first wagon in the mid-1860's. The best known trail was the Black Canyon wagon road and stage line. Beginning in the 1872's, a stage stop on the Agua Fria River and Jack Swillings' Ranch served the area. Stagecoach service between Phoenix and Prescott continued until 1917. In the 1920's electricity was brought to Black Canyon City for the Kay Copper Mine. The Rock Springs Store supplied groceries and other goods to the mine and it's many workers sometime in the 1920's. Today, Rock Springs Cafe is famous for it's homemade pies, and Black Canyon City is home to about 4,000 residents.