Step Inside the “Big House” in Your Thrifty Car Rental

The city of Casa Grande was founded in 1879 during Arizona’s mining boom. Located about halfway between Phoenix and Tuscon, it’s a perfect place to visit in your Thrifty rental car.

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
The most spectacular attraction to see from your Thrifty rental car are the ruins of the “Big House,” one of largest and most mysterious prehistoric structures ever built in North America. For over a thousand years, prehistoric farmers lived in much of the present-day state of Arizona. Located in Coolidge, the monument features a group of Ancient Pueblo Peoples Hohokam structures of the Pueblo III and Pueblo IV Eras. Stop by the Visitor Center, open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 363 days per year, for a short orientation film before hitting the desert to see the ruins. For children, there is a Junior Ranger program, featuring activities such as coloring pages and games.

Promenade at Casa Grande
Take a break from your Thrifty rental car to enjoy the fresh air at this open-air outdoor mall, built on a 100-acre patch of desert. Catch a movie at the multiplex theater, dine in at various restaurants or shop until you drop at the new shopping mall in Casa Grande. Located at 1005 N Promenade Pkwy, the Promenade is a regional lifestyle center with a dynamic mix of department stores, specialty shops and entertainment options for the whole family.

Francisco Grande Hotel & Golf Resort
Rest your weary head at the former spring training location for the San Francisco Giants. Drive just 46 miles southeast of Phoenix in your Thrifty rental car to 26000 W Gila Bend Hwy, where you’ll find this hotel — offering guests the chance to stay in the same suites patronized by the likes of John Wayne and Pat Boone. Relax at the hotel’s Arizona Spa Resort with treatments including deep tissue massage, prenatal massage, reflexology and herbal body wraps. Satisfy your appetite at one of two restaurants, Duke’s (a casual-dining restaurant named after John Wayne) and Legends (an upscale restaurant specializing in Southwestern cuisine).