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A rare piece of flagstaff history. The Burrus Homestead.
A bit about the farm:
Tucked beneath the peaks of Mt. Humphreys and Mt. Elden, this historic Flagstaff homestead is surrounded by wide-open views and the quiet beauty of Northern Arizona. The 10-acre equine training facility combines everyday practicality with a strong sense of history.
At its heart is the 1920s Malpas stone farmhouse, shaded by towering Ponderosa Pines that have stood for centuries. A 1970s log cabin guest house and a carefully restored 1890s post-and-beam party barn add to the character of the property. Additional buildings include a bunkhouse, guest bath, shower house, and a remodeled 2-bedroom, 2-bath mobile home.
The land is flat and usable, well-suited for horses, livestock, or gardens. It’s connected to Doney Park Water and sits on a county-maintained road that’s plowed early on snowy days—making life here both rustic and reliable.
A place where history, nature, and everyday living come together in a timeless mountain setting.
the farms Backstory:
Mr. Ernest Burrus
This land was first homesteaded in the late 1800s by Mr. Ernest Burrus—whose name still marks the street here, though misspelled over time. Mr. Burrus ran the original full section of land, along with another 350 acres leased from the Forest Service, as both a cattle ranch and an organic potato farm.
He played a key role in shaping Flagstaff’s agricultural roots, even constructing the network of berms that still stretch across Doney Park today. One of the largest remains on this very property as a lasting piece of that legacy.
More of Mr. Burrus’s story, along with his contributions to local agriculture, can be explored through the Arizona Historical Society Pioneer Museum.
Mr. Bill Owen, Cowboy Artist Association
The farm was once home to celebrated Western artist Bill Owen, a three-time president of the Cowboy Artists of America. As the last to operate the land as a working cattle ranch, Owen also left behind an indelible artistic legacy woven into the property itself.
He built the Log Cabin as his painting studio and added a log extension to the Malpas stone house to serve as his sculpting studio. Though that space has since been transformed into a master suite, its artistic roots remain visible in the preserved log walls, timbered ceilings, and rough-cut window trim.
The Log Cabin, too, evolved over time—converted in the late 1970s into a mother-in-law home with modern comforts, yet retaining the spirit of its original purpose. A lasting tribute to Owen’s presence can still be found in the Cowboy Artist “CA” brand, carefully preserved on the hearth of the great stone fireplace.