Place, Billy the Kid Scenic Byways Visitors Center
3 min drive
Ruidoso Downs Racetrack
Place, Ruidoso Downs Racetrack
5 min drive
Grindstone Lake
Place, Grindstone Lake
12 min drive
Ruidoso, NM (RUI-Sierra Blanca Regional)
Airport, Ruidoso, NM (RUI-Sierra Blanca Regional)
36 min drive
Rooms & beds
3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)
Common Space
1 Double Sofa Bed
Guest bedroom
1 Queen Bed
Main (Casita)
1 Queen Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed
Master bedroom off living room
1 King Bed
2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom
1/2 bath off kitchen
Toilet
Bathroom in Casita
Toilet · Shower only
Guest bathroom
Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only
Spaces
Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining area
About this property
Tiger by the Tail Pets OK | Retro Cinema-Inspired Retreat w/ Heated Pool, Casita & Courtyard Oasis
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 heated 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 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.
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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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock
About the area
Ruidoso Downs
Located in Ruidoso Downs, this holiday home is near theme parks and in the mountains. Cree Medows Public Golf Course and The Links at Sierra Blanca are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit Free Spirits at Noisy Water and Pillow's Funtrackers. Travelling with kids? Consider Ruidoso Winter Park and Spencer Theater for the Performing Arts. Discover the area's water adventures with power boating and swimming nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with ecotours and mountain biking.
Billy the Kid Scenic Byways Visitors Center - 3 min drive - 1.9 km
Ruidoso Downs Racetrack - 5 min drive - 3.4 km
Wingfield Park - 10 min drive - 10.2 km
Grindstone Lake - 12 min drive - 11.7 km
The Links at Sierra Blanca - 12 min drive - 13.2 km
Getting around
Ruidoso, NM (RUI-Sierra Blanca Regional) - 31 min drive
Restaurants
McDonald's - 5 min drive
Circle K - 15 min walk
Sonic Drive-In - 5 min drive
K-Bob's Steakhouse - 5 min drive
Cattle Baron - 7 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Does Catch a "Tiger by the Tail"! Pet Friendly w/ outdoor summer swimming pool. have a pool?
Yes, this property has a pool. Pool types include exercise/lap and heated pools.
How much does it cost to stay at Tiger by the Tail Pets OK | Retro Cinema-Inspired Retreat w/ Heated Pool, Casita & Courtyard Oasis?
As of 10 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Tiger by the Tail Pets OK | Retro Cinema-Inspired Retreat w/ Heated Pool, Casita & Courtyard Oasis on 13 May 2026 start from NZ$1,085, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
Is Catch a "Tiger by the Tail"! Pet Friendly w/ outdoor summer swimming pool. pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property.
How much is parking at Catch a "Tiger by the Tail"! Pet Friendly w/ outdoor summer swimming pool.?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Catch a "Tiger by the Tail"! Pet Friendly w/ outdoor summer swimming pool.?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Catch a "Tiger by the Tail"! Pet Friendly w/ outdoor summer swimming pool.?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Catch a "Tiger by the Tail"! Pet Friendly w/ outdoor summer swimming pool. located?
This family-friendly Ruidoso Downs holiday home is located in the mountains, within 3 mi (5 km) of Billy the Kid Scenic Byways Visitors Center, Free Spirits at Noisy Water and Lotza Stuff. Ruidoso Downs Racetrack and Museum of the Horse are also within 3 miles (5 km).
Reviews
7.6
Good
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
This is an amazing and pet friendly place! It needs a few little repairs, landscaping, and could be cleaner… but utterly worth overlooking these things. Priced appropriately.
Landscape was not very maintained, ovwrgrown, outdoor furniture covered with spiders and webs, hot tub out of order, pool covered and noted not to be used in December, water pressure too low, water temp fluctuated while bathing or showering, window seals with dust and dead insects, light bulbs burned out, wifi kept going out, casita sliding door didn’t lock, front gate not automatic, had to open manually, power went out once, unable to figure out temp control, hot during day, cold at night, sofa stained
Beautiful views. Lots of room for the family. Kids had a blast in the pool. Fenced in well for the dog. All the important things were clean like the bathrooms and kitchen, but some areas could use a touch up. Pool was great, hot tub was not working. Overall a wonderful stay.
Hello Robert,
Thank you for staying with Hummingbird Cabins! We are pleased to hear you enjoyed your stay at the property, in our beautiful mountain town! We hope to see you again in the future! :)
The Hummingbird Cabins Team
Property was dirty, landscaping and courtyard dirty.Hot water did not work.showers barely had any pressure and did not workhad to share shower in casita and it was terribleworst vrbo we ever rented
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.
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.
Marisa T.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 3 April 2024
Hello Marisa! We are happy to hear you loved Tiger by the Tail. Our hot tubs are independently serviced by a 3rd party vendor and the office would have dispatched someone had you contacted us directly. We will speak to the member of maintenance who was on call during your visit.
Verified
2/10 Terrible
Shirem O.
18 March 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in
Disliked: Location, listing accuracy
False Advertisement
Our military family chose this property with hopes that we could enjoy a hot tub, which is advertised as a popular amenity. Among the tub inside the home not working and no water pressure, our main attraction was also non functional. With various complaints to this company we were only deducted 50 of our entire stay. With that being said I will make sure to spread the word to never utilize these services ever again.
The house was so pretty, but have some issues; no hot water on master room bathroom we reported and send us a mainance guy but he didn't repair the water heater, a lot spider's inside of house, dishes was dirty, low pressure water on bathroom.
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.
The views are amazing but the house was not clean inside and outside. Some blinds are broken in the main house. Many spider webs. The Casita had many problems. Many spider webs, one of the lamps was missing the knob and could not turn on, a window would not close. The sliding door did not lock from the inside or outside. Our guests had to sleep in the main house in the living room. The fireplace had ashes and was not clean. The hot tub was dirty but still got in two times because the pool was not heated. The reason we wanted to stay in this house was for the hot tub and heated pool.
Well if you are into not showering and living in the pool this place is for you!There is no hot water in master bathroom sinks, the tub does not work, shower drain did not drain and you are assessed daily pool fees? They will fee you to death!Hopefully the owners will invest that money to clean up all the brush and wild over growth that is on the property and go ahead and haul off the canopy frame that is literally strapped down to the railing!Also go ahead and dispose of the worn/torn cushions on the outdoor furniture! Oh but wait there is not a dumpster or trash at the property so you will need to go around the neighborhood to find one to use!Would 100% not recommend this property! Very disappointed!
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!
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
Vicky C.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 31 August 2023
Hello Vicky,
Thank you for the feedback. We've had the AC looked at and it's not made and unusual sounds other than it running. The home is not advertised as having AC in the 2nd bedroom and the toilet hasn't been leaking but it has been running. We would have gladly sent over an on call plumber had we been given the chance. We want our guests to be happy with their experience.
Hummingbird Cabins Team
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.
Maria M.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 10 February 2023
Hello Maria! We are sorry to hear you did not have the best time at Tiger by the Tail. Our maintenance team did all they could to help you out during your stay. This is one of our newer homes and is very well taken care of but you'd already made up your mind that you did not like it due to the disposal issue. Luckily the "flood" was just under the sink and was addressed. It states quite clearly in the description that the Casita is detached from the rest of the home, you also asked about the pool which is only available during certain months, again, clearly noted in the description. You also sent in an email stating: "The garbage disposal fell out and water flooded the floor. The garbage disposal was fixed.". These are a few reason why no refund was issued. We addressed all of your concerns, got the disposal fixed, received and responded to several harrassing and demanding emails from you from the moment you arrived at the property. You didn't inform us until the day before you departed that you wanted a large refund. By that time you'd stayed your full stay, used the home, and had issues addressed and taken care of. This was us being responsible hosts. We did all we could for you on a very busy holiday.
About the host
Hosted by Hummingbird Cabins
Hummingbird Cabins offers quality vacation rental cabins, homes, and property management services in Ruidoso and throughout Lincoln County, New Mexico.
Ruidoso is a beautiful mountain village in Southeastern New Mexico. Although the activities may seem endless year around, our visitors report their favorite activity to be relaxing while enjoying our cool pines and beautiful mountain views. Ruidoso is famous the world over for being the home of the richest quarter horse race; The All American Futurity. Live racing occurs each summer between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Wintertime activities includes Ski Apache which is the Southernmost ski resort providing the warmest weather skiing and snowboarding to be found. Hummingbird Cabins is committed to providing our customers with the highest level of personal care and service. We are at your service and welcome you to our mountain paradise.
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 as well as our inhouse policies and procedures may differ from VRBO. All guests will receive our Guest License Agreement that outline 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).
Languages:
English, Spanish
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests