A Historic Venue for Today’s Love Stories
Jerry & Vanessa Holland
OWNERS
The Historic Bates Mansion is a wedding venue located in Tucson, Arizona. Situated in the heart of the city, this historic building was formerly the home of the famous Mountain Oyster Club. The Club, which has been a part of Tucson’s vibrant social scene since 1948, has moved on, but the Bates Mansion remains a place renowned for its splendor and quality service. There, you and your guests are invited to experience something truly extraordinary. Step back in time as you step forward into the future, and prepare to make memories you’ll cherish forever.
Owners David and Allie Lazarus celebrated their own marriage at the Bates Mansion. They loved it so much that they leapt at the chance to establish their business there. David and Allie have reimagined and redesigned the space, and today, it boasts a rustic hacienda look and an inviting, cozy atmosphere. It is so homey, in fact, that some claim that Mrs. Bates never really left. If you’re lucky, her ghost might even decide to make an appearance.
The Historic Bates Mansion is proud to host engagement parties, showers, elopements, wedding ceremonies, and receptions. The venue includes indoor and uncovered outdoor event spaces. Wedding package features include event planning assistance and tables, chairs, linens, glassware, and audio equipment. A list of preferred vendors will be provided for your convenience. Catering and bar services are also available. David and Allie can’t wait to meet you and discuss how they can help turn your wedding dreams into reality.
Pricing details
Couples usually spend $7,600
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Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Guest Capacity
Up to 250
Any questions?
Meet the team
Jerry & Vanessa Holland
Owners
“And so together, they built a life they loved” -a random quote off the internet The Historic Bates Mansion is a vintage wedding venue situated in Tucson, Arizona. Owned and operated by husband-and-wife duo Jerry and Vanessa Holland, this enchanting property provides celebrations of all shapes and sizes with a rustic hacienda-inspired backdrop. They redesigned and reimaged the space and brought a rustic hacienda look with an old pueblo feel. The mansion was once occupied by businessman C.T.R Bates and was the meeting place for the prestigious local institution, the Mountain Oyster Club. It has been fully renovated for a feeling of both comfort and convenience and features inviting event spaces, invaluable amenities, an in-house caterer, and more. The Historic Bates is available for Weddings, Quinceañera’s, Bar & Bat Mitzvah, anniversaries, holiday & business parties, receptions & so much more. Yes, we feel its haunted. No you cannot stay overnight and “ghost hunt”. Yes you CAN schedule a tour and let us host your next event! Who knows, maybe if you’re lucky, Mrs. Bates might visit you and your guest at your event, or shut a couple lights off.
Availability
Reviews
4.9
out of 5.014 reviews
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Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
The Historic Bates Mansion is highly praised for its exceptional owner, David, who goes above and beyond to ensure a perfect wedding experience. Reviewers commend the amazing service, beautiful setting, and unique features like the bridal and groom suites. The staff, including the bartenders, DJ, and caterers, receive accolades for their professionalism and attention to detail, making it a popular choice with couples. The venue's ability to create a dream wedding, accommodating requests, and providing a seamless event, earns it high recommendations from guests.- Top reviews
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5.0
4/05/2025
The owners, Jerry and Vanessa, are truly amazing. They pay attention to every detail and are fully committed to making sure your event turns out exactly how you envision it. Their passion for what they do shines through in every interaction, and it’s clear they genuinely care about creating unforgettable experiences.
The venue itself offers a timeless beauty that can only be found in this historic area of Tucson. The bridal and groom suites were perfect—stylish, comfortable, and full of great energy.
The entire team was exceptional. The bartenders were fantastic, the DJ kept the dance floor packed all night (even Grandma was out there dancing!), and the food was absolutely delicious. The caterers were incredibly accommodating, working closely with our daughter and son-in-law to create a special menu that exceeded expectations.
We truly have zero complaints. Our experience at The Bates was everything we dreamed of and more. If they have your date available—book it before it’s too late! You won’t regret it.
Mireya R
5.0
1/11/2025
This was a dream place to get married in. Vanessa and Jerry are some of the most welcoming and wholesome people to help ensure your special day is smooth and beautiful. They took the time to hear our vision and help bring it to life. They also helped us coordinate with their DJ on-site and get in contact with a fantastic catering team. We never felt pushed to do anything differently and never felt rushed on our wedding day. If we could relive this day over and over again, there isn't a single thing we would change. We would recommend this venue as THE best place to get married in!
Any questions?
Erik M
3.0
12/23/2024
Ok, so first off, the venue is beautiful! It's large and has great space for the reception and getting ready. Cannot overstate how beautiful it is. That said, our experience was not that great. The cost of the venue did not equal the service we received. In part, I think the change of management affected this. There was a significant drop in communication as our wedding approached, and several mistakes/ miscommunications occurred.
response 12/23/2024
We appreciate you taking time out of your day to offer honest criticism. Thank you for the...
compliment on the venue itself! We are truly sorry about the lack of communication and realize it is not the level of service we strive for. We've reviewed the way we communicate and are actively taking steps to ensure this does not happen going forward. We promise to do better for our future guests.
Nick A
5.0
11/20/2024
David and the entire team at the Historic Bates Mansion made me and my wife's wedding dreams come true! I cannot recommend them highly enough. David is so kind and accommodating and went out of his way to take care of us the entire way through. We're so grateful to have had our wedding here!
Denise A
5.0
5/01/2024
We had our wedding at Bates this past weekend and we both cannot stop thinking about how perfect our experience was!! From the very start, David was always so responsive and helpful until the very last minute of our wedding. The event space is amazing on its own but the staff really makes the place shine. I felt so comfortable asking for anything we needed/wanted throughout the process and on wedding day. They really made us feel like royalty! We had always envisioned a giant party for our wedding and Bates is by far the best place to do that! We were pleasantly surprised with the lights, sound, fog machine, and cold sparklers. It really made our wedding feel like a grand event. It was a huge party including David and the DJ hyping our guests up with props and dancing. So fun! We wouldn’t change a thing. Everyone should consider Bates for their events/weddings. It really is such an amazing place with amazing people!!
Brianna C
5.0
12/09/2023
My wife and I had the pleasure of having our wedding at the Bates Mansion. I HIGHLY recommend having your wedding at this venue. The building itself was beautiful, from the bridal party room to the courtyard, we were able to fit 100+ people comfortably. The host of the venue, David and his employees were great. Every request was accommodated, with David going the extra mile to ensure our special day was perfect. We couldn't have planned or thrown such an awesome wedding without the help of David and his crew. 100/10 for this venue!!!
Side note: If you want a real party for your wedding the Bates Mansion is THE place.
Maria Q
5.0
11/08/2023
I recently had the pleasure of hosting my wedding at the Historic Bates Mansion, and I cannot express how thrilled I am with the entire experience. From the moment we first set foot on the stunning property, it was clear that this venue was something truly special. And that's all thanks to the amazing owner, David!
The elegant architecture, lush gardens, and timeless charm made for a fairytale setting that left our guests in awe. It was the ideal blend of classic and romantic, and we couldn't have asked for a more picturesque venue.
What truly set the Historic Bates Mansion apart was David, the owner. His dedication, passion, and attention to detail were evident in our wedding planning and execution. From our very first meeting, David made us feel like family, and he went above and beyond to accommodate our every request. He took the time to understand our vision and worked tirelessly to make it a reality.
David's expertise and professionalism were invaluable in helping us navigate the intricacies of wedding planning. He provided excellent recommendations for vendors, coordinated seamlessly with our chosen team, and ensured that every aspect of the day ran smoothly. His calm and reassuring presence on the day of the wedding put our minds at ease, allowing us to fully enjoy the celebration.
Our guests raved about the beauty of the venue and the warmth of the staff. The service was impeccable, and the whole day was truly magical, thanks in large part to David and the Historic Bates Mansion team.
If you're looking for a venue that combines history, beauty, and a dedicated owner who genuinely cares about making your special day perfect, I wholeheartedly recommend the Historic Bates Mansion. Our wedding there was a dream come true, and we are incredibly grateful to David for making it all possible. Thank you for creating memories that will last a lifetime!
Anna M
5.0
10/28/2023
Where to begin? We are so happy we scouted out this venue when we did and we gate-kept it for as long as we could but nothing can stop an incredible place like this from getting popular. This is seriously THE spot to get married in Tucson. It has the authentic feel with a modern and classy edge that goes with any aesthetic. Did I mention the bridal and groom suites for getting ready? Unbelievably gorgeous and comfortable. Guests were obsessed with the vibe and the many photo ops throughout the space. David and his team, Rashid the DJ, Vince the bartender, Michelle with Atlas Catering, are absolutely unmatched. We were able to customize where we wanted and ask any questions we needed with a quick response time. Sadly, our wedding had a medical emergency occur (everyone ended up being ok!) and everyone on staff was compassionate and professional. They even followed up with us after our wedding to make sure our guest was doing ok. I cannot say enough positive things about Bates, it truly is something special and we feel lucky to have been married there. We'll never forget it <3
Brad T
5.0
3/26/2023
This is an amazing place to get married. We got married at the end of February and David and the whole crew were incredible. David was always responsive leading up to the wedding with any questions that we had and was always willing to give tours when we had family, etc. that wanted to see the venue. All of our vendors said the Bates was easy to work with. On the day of, everyone was super supportive and took care of every detail. The food and DJ were both great as well. Would HIGHLY recommend the Bates for any wedding or event.
Rayahn P
5.0
11/28/2022
I just had my wedding here last week and I couldn't be happier with how everything turned out. David was amazing throughout the whole process. he was quick to respond to all my questions and really made the day go so smoothly.
The whole team did such an amazing job. the DJ played awesome music, the food was amazing and bartender was great!
if you are looking for the perfect venue this is it !!!
Elyse M
5.0
5/14/2022
You will not find a better venue in Tucson!! The night was magical and everything we could have asked for! I wish we could post photos! David, the owner was at our side all night! He made sure things ran smoothly and that we got our dinner before any guest. The venue and night were breathtaking and we can’t recommend this place enough!
Jordanna P
5.0
4/10/2022
Allie and David made our wedding beyond amazing. Every time I started to have a mini panic attack, they talked me off the ledge and put me at ease.
I just got my wedding album back and wanted to shout out the amazing team that made our wedding so special.
We had some specific limiting factors: we needed something handicap accessible, VERY kid friendly (a third of our guest list was under 18), and open to a small, casual wedding.
I cannot say enough about David and Allie at the Bates Mansion. They rolled with every punch and made the whole evening seamless, effortless, and zero-stress. 10/10 would get married there again (lol jk). They are accessible and easy to talk to, they listen, and they care about their couples. They set up giant connect four and we brought games and the kids were totally included.
I had really really hoped to have an out-in-the-desert wedding, but family health issues made that impossible. However, Bates is across the street from this gorgeous little garden, so I was still able to get all the cactus and desert plant pics the my little desert rat heart could hope for. I flew my photographer in, so she wasn't super familiar with Tucson or the venue. David knew where to get the best shots - in fact, there was one spot, he kept insisting that we needed to try and I was just kinda meh about it, but we went ahead and took the pic. When we got the album back, the pic that he insisted on was hands-down my favorite (in front of the brick wall). Getting married at Bates was the best thing I did for our wedding. I wish I could share pics on here to help support what a gorgeous and conducive wedding venue it is.
Cathy R
5.0
11/28/2021
I couldn’t be happier with my wedding day! Everything went so smoothly. The crew at Bates Mansion are amazing! They are so helpful and made our wedding day so special and perfect! Thank you David and Allie and the whole crew! DJ and Bartender were also the best!!
Silvia C
5.0
10/27/2021
Bates was AMAZING!! Allie and David are the BEST! I wish i could give them 10 starts! They were so amazing to work with! They both are so sweet! Our wedding day was beautiful and went so smooth. Venue is beautiful.
All of our guests were so happy and loved the venue. Allie and David are the absolute best!
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$6,500 starting price
Historic Bates Mansion
Jerry & Vanessa Holland
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Owners
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