Entire home

Catch a "Tiger by the Tail"! Pet Friendly with hot tub and pool table.

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December 2024
January 2025

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Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
TV, fireplace, DVD player, ping pong
Terrace/patio
A heated pool, a lap pool
Interior

Reviews

8.6 out of 10

Excellent

Entire home

3 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 8255 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Hot tub
    Hot tub
  • Pet-friendly
    Pet-friendly
  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Washer
    Washer
  • Pool
    Pool
  • Barbecue grill
    Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
Ruidoso Downs, NM
  • Billy the Kid Scenic Byways Visitors Center
    3 min drive
  • Free Spirits at Noisy Water
    4 min drive
  • Ruidoso Downs Racetrack
    4 min drive
  • Ruidoso, NM (RUI-Sierra Blanca Regional)
    31 min drive

Room options

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Catch a "Tiger by the Tail"! Pet Friendly with hot tub and pool table.

Tiger by the Tail: A Retro Getaway with a Cinematic Twist

Step into a piece of Ruidoso history at Tiger by the Tail, a unique 2,740 sq. ft. home where vintage charm meets modern comfort. Named after the movie filmed in and around the property in 1970, this one-of-a-kind retreat offers an unforgettable escape, complete with a private lap pool (pool is ONLY available from May 15 - Oct 15.), spacious courtyard, and southwestern flair.

As you enter through the front gate, the open, wraparound patio welcomes you into a beautiful stone courtyard—your personal oasis. Relax in the abundant seating, surrounded by native New Mexico plants, or take a refreshing dip in the lap pool, featured in scenes from the movie. The courtyard, enclosed by a privacy fence, is perfect for morning swims or stargazing at night. And when it's time to eat, fire up the BBQ grill and enjoy a meal al fresco in this serene setting.

Adding to the charm is the separate Casita, a private suite with a queen-sized bed, sleeper sofa, full bathroom, and its own AC unit. This cozy, self-contained space has direct access to the courtyard, offering an ideal retreat for guests or family members seeking extra privacy. A laundry room with a full-sized washer and dryer connects the Casita to the main home.

Inside the main house, you'll be greeted by high vaulted ceilings, abundant natural light, and a spacious living area with a large sofa, flat-screen TV, and expansive windows framing the stunning outdoor views. The modern nautical décor throughout the home adds a stylish and playful touch to this nostalgic retreat. Gather around the dining table, which comfortably seats eight, and enjoy meals prepared in the retro-modern kitchen, fully equipped with a gas stove, separate oven, and all the cookware you need. For more intimate meals, a charming breakfast nook with vaulted ceilings and seating for four provides direct access to the courtyard.

On the opposite wing of the house, the master suite offers a luxurious escape with a brand-new king-sized bed, cozy seating area, and a gas fireplace. Step out onto your private patio to soak in incredible views, or let your furry friend explore the fenced-in dog run and gazebo just outside. The master bathroom shares space with the guest bedroom, featuring a Jack and Jill vanity, sunken bathtub, and walk-in shower. The guest bedroom, complete with a four-poster queen bed, TV, and private courtyard access, ties the home's nautical theme together beautifully.

For even more fun, enjoy the brand-new hot tub, installed in October 2023, or challenge friends and family to a game on the pool table, which converts into a ping-pong table, added in June 2024. With central AC and heating, Tiger by the Tail ensures year-round comfort, making it the ultimate destination for a mix of relaxation, vintage vibes, and family fun. Don't forget to bring your pets—this home is dog-friendly with a two-dog maximum!

Please Note: The pool is ONLY available from May 15 - Oct 15.

Please Note: This property has two gas and two pellet stove fireplaces (pellets are NOT provided).

Ruidoso, Alto, and surrounding areas: Submerse yourself within the towering pines of Lincoln County and watch local wildlife such as elk, deer, wild horses, turkey, birds, and more in their natural habitats. Plan a day basking in the stillness of our national forest while hiking, biking or fishing, golfing at one of our multiple golf courses or spend a fun night out on the town at one of the area's local attractions! Be sure to swim or fish at the beautiful Grindstone or Alto Lake, delight your senses at Winter Park with roller coaster and tubing, and explore the ski slopes and hiking trails throughout Ski Apache. Win big at one of our three local casinos and enjoy the excitement of live quarter horse racing at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack. Be happy you took a respite from the concrete jungle. Come relax and refresh with us!

Distances to Area Attractions and Travel Time (barring there is not an elk or wild horse traffic jam):
Bonito Lake 19.7 miles; 39 minute drive
Grindstone Lake 6.7 miles; 15 minute drive
Inn of the Mountain Gods 8.3 miles; 17 minute drive
Midtown Shopping District 5.9 miles; 13 minute drive
Ruidoso Downs Racetrack & Casino 2.6 miles; 8 minute drive
Ski Apache Ski Resort 22.5 miles; 45 minute drive
Ruidoso Winter Park/Screaming Eagle Roller Coaster 11 miles; 20 minute drive

Please Note: This home is dog-friendly with a limit of 2 dogs. A pet fee of $50.00 (plus tax) per pet applies. Please let us know if you'll be bringing your furry friend so we can make the necessary arrangements. For their safety and comfort, pets are required to be kenneled when left alone in all of our pet-friendly cabins.

Bedding: 1 King, 2 Queen, 1 Full Sized Sleeper Sofa

Please Read: Hummingbird Cabins, LLC is the host and who will provide customer service after you've booked your rental home through VRBO. Therefore, be advised that our cancellation policy, in-house policies, and procedures may differ from VRBO. All guests will receive our Guest License Agreement that outlines our policies and procedures and are asked to initial and e-sign before receiving their rental information (address and access code). We ask that you please read our policies as we will adhere to them once you've booked your reservation with us (even when booking through a 3rd party entity).

The fine print, what to expect: Our cabins include basic cable, satellite or streaming television, basic cooking utensils, propane gas grill (propane provided), washer and dryer (if applicable- please look at the amenities), towels and bed linens for guest use along with heating for winter. Our homes come equipped with either a drip or Keurig coffee maker. *Linens and bath towels *Extra blankets and bedding *Spa towels for properties with spas/hot tubs. While our kitchens are fully equipped with glassware/cookware/utensils/dishes, etc. this does not ensure that all homes will have a blender, crock pot, spices, coffee, or condiments. Please call ahead to confirm if items such as these are available. If not, we ask that you bring your own. Basic toiletries in the Master bathroom only are: *One (1) travel-sized each of shampoo, conditioner, lotion, disposable toothbrush, toothpaste, bar soap, and facial bar soap, *three (3) rolls of toilet paper; one (1) on the holder and two (2) stored in the bathroom. Basic toiletries in all additional bathrooms (if applicable) are: *three (3) rolls of toilet paper; one (1) on the holder and two (2) stored in the bathroom, *one (1) travel-sized bar soap and/or facial soap, *one (1) hairdryer in the home. Basic supplies in the home: *five (5) All-Clear laundry pods, *dish detergent in pod or liquid form (quantities may vary and/or be limited), and three (3) Lemi Shine rinse agent in single-use cups (for homes with dishwashers), *liquid dish soap in (at minimum) a partial container (may only be in homes without dishwashers- check amenities to ensure the home you booked has a dishwasher), *two to three (2-3) rolls of paper towels, *two (2) trash liners in each waste basket; one (1) prepared in a basket and at least one (1) in the bottom or under the sink. We encourage guests to please be mindful of the supplies we provide and always bring extras as housekeeping does not deliver more than what is required to be left in the homes. We highly encourage guests to be prepared with access to chains and/or 4-wheel drive in winter months. Firewood is not provided for homes with wood burning fireplaces.
During your stay at this vacation home, you'll be within walking distance of Hubbard Museum of the American West. Features include a spa tub and an arcade/game room. A private pool and a kitchen are available in the vacation home.
  • Air-conditioned home with private pool, kitchen, and washer/dryer
  • Just a 2-minute drive from Hubbard Museum of the American West and a few minutes from Billy the Kid Scenic Byways Visitors Center
As a guest of this vacation home, you'll find a spa tub, barbecue grills, and an arcade/game room. The front desk is open around the clock.

Property manager

Hummingbird Cabins

Languages

English, Spanish

Property amenities

Ski

  • Close to skiing

Pool/Spa

  • Private pool
  • Exercise/Lap pool
  • Heated pool
  • A hot tub

Internet

  • Internet access

Parking and transport

  • On-site parking

Kitchen

  • Fridge
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Dishwasher
  • Blender
  • Paper towels
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils
  • Coffee/tea maker

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathrooms

  • 2.5 bathrooms
  • Shower
  • Shampoo
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Towels provided
  • Hairdryer
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper

Living spaces

  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • TV with satellite service
  • Pool or billiards table
  • Ping pong table
  • Games room
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • Stereo

Outdoor areas

  • Patio
  • Fenced garden
  • Gas grills

Laundry

  • Washing machine and dryer
  • Laundry detergent

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have any requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Wheelchair-accessible
  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Limited housekeeping
  • Phone

Location highlights

  • In the mountains
  • Near a hospital
  • In a village

Things to do

  • Fitness facilities nearby
  • Golf nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Power boating nearby
  • Horse riding nearby
  • Casino nearby
  • Theme parks nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Mountain climbing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector installed (host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector installed (host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Unit size: 2740 sq ft (255 sq m)

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

  • Pets are welcome
  • Service animals are exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions. You will also receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account which will enable you to manage your booking.

Property is also known as

523283

Catch a "Tiger by the Tail"! Pet Friendly with hot tub and pool table. Reviews

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 11 out of 17 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 17 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 17 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 17 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 17 reviews" "

9.4/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Joseph V.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful stay
Great property and veey easy process!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

AMANDA V., Alamogordo

Liked: Cleanliness
Weekend getaway
House is nice. Beds are comfy. There's enough room to move freely and home is clean. Pool was super cold and the hot tub was mediocre warm and jets gave us some grief. Definitely need a yard man to keep up the property, but overall it was a great stay. We would recommend it and would rent again if need be.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

link l.

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice interesting place with great views and personality
Overall this is a nice interesting place and I won’t hesitate to rent it again. There are some things I suggest for consideration: the light and fan switches are not intuitive, it would be very helpful if they were labeled; the pool evidently isn’t on an autofill system and by the second day the water level had dropped to where it wasn’t filtering; the pool seemed over-chlorinated chemically imbalanced; water pressure in the master bathroom is marginal at best; and the air conditioning unit in the middle bedroom is also marginal. I suppose this may be kind of normal with older houses having lots of personality, and again, I wouldn’t hesitate to rent it again.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Linda G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Very Nice
Very nice home with amazing views.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024

8/10 Good

Marisa T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful views
Our stay was great. The property itself was just beautiful. I agree with some of the other reviews that the house needs a bit more maintenance. We understood the pool was closed for the season but we were excited about the hot tub. Which turned out was broken and the heater didn’t go above 56 degrees. We called maintenance but were told they don’t maintenance the hotub, so we were out of luck.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024

6/10 Okay

Catherine Z.

Liked: Cleanliness
Just ok...
First, there were 3 different types of AC on the property. Central heat/AC, 3 wall units, and pellet fireplaces. I have no idea which combination of these we were supposed to use, so we just went with the central heating. It seemed to work fine. We also had no idea how to use the pellet fireplaces. Second, the breaker in the kitchen flipped any time we used the toaster and microwave at the same time. I messaged them and didn't hear back for a few hours. By then, I had already found the breaker box myself. Finally, the biggest issue was the water. We had to take quick showers or it would get freezing cold and loose pressure. Over the course of the week, the master shower lost pressure faster until we couldn't shower in it and all 4 of us had to use the Casita shower. I messaged them about this and never heard back. Overall, this property is gorgeous and was clearly once very loved by a family who owned it. The management company needs to spend a bit of money on the AC situation, fix the water pressure/heat, clean up landscaping, fix all the visible cords lying around from TVs and thermostats. This place could easily be 5 stars, unfortunately, I'd generously give it 3 stars. The management company posted a picture in the kitchen detailing how many stars should be given based on how well they communicate with renters. Well, they didn't hardly communicate at all once we showed up. Get ready for cold showers and no response to messages!!
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Robert W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice place
We had fun
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Traci W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great house!
What a cool house, we had a great time, we especially enjoyed the pool. Everything was very clean and orderly and the kitchen is well stocked.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lisa M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fun times
We really enjoyed the property and the history of it. Would come back!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

2/10 Terrible

Vicky C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely Home, But
Main bedroom ac made noise, could not sleep. No AC in second bedroom, tolit leak in 3rd bedroom. Left the next day, did not stay thur my full reservation. Did not enjoy.. Home was beautiful except for the issues stated.. Thanks vicky
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tara K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Home for All Ages
Our group ranged from age 4 to 79 and this house had something for everyone. From the pool to the views we had a great stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Scott C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Father’s Day
Great place to stay ! Kids enjoyed it and I did also! Will be coming back to stay at this place again!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Laura G., Bertram

Liked: Cleanliness
Tiger by the Tail Home
This home worked really well for us as we had babies, dogs, and those that snore that all needed separating. The layout of this home made it very easy for us to be together and meet all of those requirements. Additionally, the home is located in a very quiet neighborhood that is close to stores and restaurants. We got a kick out of the fact Charo's first movie, Tiger by the Tail, filmed some scenes at this house. So much so that we rented the movie and left a copy there for others to enjoy. We all got a big kick out of it. The private pool was the icing on the cake, or maybe the views... tough to pick one thing. I am sure we will be back. Thanks for having us!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

2/10 Terrible

Maria M.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Home is in disrepair
The bathroom in the Casita did not work. The garbage disposal came off and flooded the kitchen. Maintenance came out twice and could not fix the bathroom. They came and fixed the garbage disposal. The home is not updated or well taken care of. The owner/manager never responded to my request for partial refund or to explain the misrepresentation of the home on VRBO.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Teri C., Killeen

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice property
Our stay included 4 teenagers and two adults. It was nice for the adults to stay in the casita and have that privacy. The casita is attached to the main house but has it’s own separate entrance. The only disadvantage is that the heat to the casita is controlled by the main house so we were very warm every night, while the main house was comfortable. The shower in the casita is very small - I am 5”6 130lbs and it was barely big enough for me. The main house is great with massive closets, comfortable beds, walk-in shower, and large tub. There were three gray foxes that visited us every night that would watch us from the living room window. We used the fridge, the stove and the microwave and they all worked well. The large pots might need replacing but there were so many pots and pans it didn’t matter. We did not use the pool. We loved the remote lighting. The neighborhood was good. We enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2022

8/10 Good

GUILLERMO R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Renter
Property,was clean, great location,but there were some problems, the oven wasn't working, the kitchen zink was leaking and the water ,
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Relaxing
We had an amazing time. The views are awesome. Super clean and very peaceful. We cant wait to come back.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022