About us
Discover Desert Photo Retreat, a peaceful destination for bird and wildlife photographers in the Tortolita Mountains near Tucson, Arizona. Founded by photographer Ron Niebrugge and now owned by Jack and Elaine Uellendahl, the retreat offers a quiet, scenic setting where visitors can capture stunning images of desert birds and wildlife in their natural habitat.
Nestled on 10 acres of saguaro-studded land in the Tortolita Mountains north of Tucson, Arizona, the retreat was carefully designed with photographers in mind. It features two enclosed blinds for comfortable and immersive wildlife photography, along with endless opportunities to capture desert landscapes and bird species.
Today, Jack and Elaine are proud to continue what Ron started.
Desert Photo Retreat was founded by professional wildlife photographer Ron Niebrugge. Frustrated by the challenge of finding quiet, natural spaces to photograph wildlife, Ron dreamed of creating a place where photographers could experience the desert’s magic in peace. After years of searching for the perfect location, his vision became reality in 2016. Ron continues to offer his popular Alaska Wildlife Tours.
Jack and Elaine share Ron’s love for wildlife, photography, and the Arizona desert, and are dedicated to preserving the retreat’s peaceful spirit while welcoming new visitors to experience it for themselves.
