Steam Pump Ranch: The 16-Acre Founding Site of Oro Valley Most Drivers Pass Without Noticing — and What's Open This Saturday

Most drivers heading north on Oracle Road past Hardy and Magee never realize the low cluster of pale-painted historic buildings on the east side of the highway, just north of the Cañada del Oro Wash, is a 16-acre property listed on the National Register of Historic Places — and the actual founding site of Oro Valley. Steam Pump Ranch was started by German immigrant George Pusch and Swiss immigrant Johann Zellweger in 1874, became the most important watering stop on the cattle drives between Tucson and the northern markets, and was purchased by the Town of Oro Valley in 2008. The Pusch House restoration finished in 2010, the Garage/Workers House restoration finished in 2022-2023, and a network of new self-guided tour signs lets visitors walk the property year-round. The seasonal Second Saturdays special programming pauses for the summer in May; the Heirloom Farmers Market continues every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. Here is a sourced May 7, 2026 hidden-gem walk-through for Oro Valley residents, northwest-Tucson buyers, and anyone evaluating the town as a relocation target.