| Tour: Ranches |
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AF APACHE FIRE at Red Rock State Park. This was originally the Huckaby place in the late 1800s. Later, Jack and Helen Fry designed the home here (built by a Purdymun). Interesting architectural details that you can still walk and examine. The state park also has a number of nice nature trails. Access is off of hwy 89A on the LOWER loop road (UPPER goes to Red Rock Crossing, with a dirt road between). AP SEDONA AIRPORT up on Airport Mesa (back then, Tabletop Mesa), accessed from Airport Rd in west Sedona. Absolutely great view at sunset; also very interesting restaurant near the terminal. The airport first appeared as a dozed strip of dirt on forest service land in 1955 with its official designation in 1956 and operated by Joe Moser. For pilots, it's a truly unique experience, and for residents ... well, you can imagine! A special Easter Service is held on the north side where the large cross is. A nice place to meditate. BP BENNETT-PURTYMUN CABIN. This is located on the grounds of Sedona Charter School, behind the Sedona Library (great school!). It originally stood where Harmony Hills subdivision is now, facing west with the addon toward the east. It was built by Charles Bennett and Elmer Purtymun in about 1924, with the logs hauled in by wagon and team. It was moved piece by piece in 1963 (2nd oldest building in Sedona). CA COFFEE AREA. South of Coffeepot Rock, the older sub-division street names from the old western coffees: Sanborn, Arbuckle, Coffeepot, Coffee Cup, Maxwell House, Farmer Bros, Nescafe, Bordon (cream!), Hills, Lipton (tea?), and Sanka. Going further east are the movies ... Stations West, Gun Fury, Flaming Arrow, Last Wagon, Johnny Guitar, Broken Arrow, Copper Canyon, Shotgun, Fabulous Texan, Pony Soldier, and of course, Zane Gray the writer. Over off of hwy 179 at Broken Arrow are the movie companies ... Paramount Dr, Universal Dr, and Columbia Dr. Guess they ran out of streets! CH  ELMER COOK HOMESTEAD Airport Rd at 89A going west. In this area, you can see the old Sunset Court (1185 W hwy 89A) with 3 units and cooks cabin built in 1945, Cook Grocery at 1165 hwy 89A, and the old Cook Cemetery (95 Airport Rd) where many of Sedona's settlers were buried (including Sedona Schnebly and family). Additional barn, cistern, house and tack room at 86 Saddlerock Cir. Elmer Cook dry farmed here, since at the time, water was not accessible.CHC CHAPEL OF THE HOLY CROSS.  End of Chapel Rd off of hwy 179. A vision of Marguerite Straud, whose family vacationed at their Doodlebug ranch in the 1940-60s (see Doodlebug below). Built in honor of her parents as a living spiritual trust, the Chapel was built on government land in 1954, with the help of Barry Goldwater. Today it continues to truly inspire thousands of visitors each year.CM CRESCENT MOON RANCH (forest service day-use just east of Red Rock crossing, down the Upper-Loop Red Rock Rd next to Sedona High School). Originally this was the 'OK Ranch' in the 1890s and traded to Mrs James after Abraham died in 1895. In 1905 (or 1902), it was sold to the Dumas' and Scheurmans, who raised peaches, apples, apricots, and plums. 'Dad' Dumas (an old member of the Texas Partisan Rangers) was known to drive to town once a year, buying all the supplies for the family. The ranch eventually was sold to the Baldwins in 1936 (thus Baldwin Crossing). Most interesting quote for Dad Dumas' son 'Doc' (they seemed 'D' prone) ... said he was worried if newcomers would understand that it was 'legal' to steal in those days, providing you did not get caught.' Each cattleman branded whatever 'showed up'! Today, this is a truly beautiful area, both in the morning light and evening shadows. CR CHAVEZ RANCH just east of Red Rock crossing on Chavez Ranch Rd (private). Chavez came in 1895. The Chavez place was homesteaded in 1909, with the ranch house still there. The name gave rise to 'Chavez Pass' and the Chavez Pass group campground off of hwy 179. DR DOODLEBUG RANCH at Poco Diablo Resort on hwy 179. 60 acres homesteaded in 1898 by Irene and Jose Abran and purchased in 1908 by Bill James. George Black purchased it in the 1920s, selling it to Ralph and Doodie Thomas who named it 'Doodlebug'. Today you can still see the ranchhouse and bunkhouse at 10 Ranchhouse Circle. Charlie Smiths log house and old fireplace can still be seen at the resort. Come in the early fall for Jazz on the Rocks at Poco Diablo! Keep in mind the low-water crossing nearby is private. ER EARLY ROADS. To really understand Sedona's development sequence, you need to know the early roads. Northern Arizona was late in getting its railroad in the 1880s; prior to that the stage ran from Santa Fe to Sunset Crossing on the Little Colorado River, and on to Prescott, the territorial capital (the 3rd largest AZ city at the time). Locally the stage came down off the Mogollon Rim in the same area as today's I-17, then dropped below Beaver Head (northeast side of hwy 179 at I-17) and then dropped again into the Verde Valley. The old stage station was just south of where hwy 179 crosses Dry Beaver Creek with a marker there at one time. Later after the rails reached Flagstaff, a replacement stage line ran southwest from Flagstaff north of Sycamore canyon and into Chino Valley; the Kaibab NF has a marked trail. The red rock area was primarily accessed from the old stage road, until roads were later built to the new mining area at Jerome and up the canyon walls to Flagstaff. At the time, in Big Park, you either chose the west dirt road to Red Rock or the north dirt road to Camp Garden (later Sedona). In the early 1880s, the first road to the Cottonwood area was built. Here's a summary from an Albert James account of county/state road building: 1914 first bridge over Oak Creek at Oak Creek Falls (Slide Rock). Bridge washed out in 1918. Early 1920s, Yavapai County built the bridge at Bridgeport and a 2-lane road to the county line west of Sedona. 1929 was the section from Sedona to Indian Gardens. 1931 the switchbacks were built. 1932 from the switchbacks to Cave Springs and Indian Garden to Cave Springs (two contracts). Schnebly Hill Road was re-built in 1931, having been built in the early 1900s. Not on this map, but if you're looking for the old Beaverhead Stage Station, drive 1m south of the Dry Beaver Creek bridge (south of VOC; 301.6 MM), turn right, drive past fence turning right. Marker is 1/4m further inside the fence. The stage ran on Old Stoneman Road built in 1867, breaking off from Beale wagon road at Sunset Crossing on the Little Colorado. You can still find the dugway up towards Beaverhead and I-17. GC GEORGE COOK HOUSE 2545 W Hwy 89A. George's old house. The other Cook house (Elmer's) further east toward Uptown. GB GREY BACK. This was the old name for what is now called 'Thunder Mountain'. Walt Disney used to vacation in Sedona and story has it, the name 'Thunder Mountain' was later used at Disneyland. Story also has it, Disney, early in his career enjoyed 'Seven Pools' up Soldier's Pass Rd. GW GROUNDWATER (Grasshopper Flats area). It wasn't until 1947 that Fanny Gulick and Carl Williams successfully located an aquifer under the Flats. By 1951 subdivisions were in the making, with Oak Creek Water Co formed in 1953 for support. Driving up from Cottonwood in the mid-50s across dusty Grasshopper Flats, you would have seen a sign for 'Inspiration View' sub-division with lots $950 and up. Also Kachina Heights, 'Rainbow Valley' and Broken Arrow on hwy 179. Surprisingly the rate of lot sales was quite impressive, though pictures from 20 years later still show only limited housing at Harmony Villiage (1963) and Sunset Mobile Park. JP TH BR AJ UPPER-CREEK HOMESTEADS. Each of these is described in more detail on the Old Sedona Tour. MH MADOLE HOUSE 50 Tranquil Ave. Walter Madole was a prolific architect in the Sedona area creating much of the early styles that remain today. The Sedona Historic Commission has done much to begin marking and remembering these older houses. SD SADDLEROCK RANCH 255 Rockridge. This was built later in 1950 and leased by Joanne Goldwater in the early 70s. RE RAINBOWS END DANCE HALL  3255 W hwy 89A. Well known place for 'relaxation' on the west end of Grasshopper Flats in the 50s and 60s. In those days on a spring morning, you were alone out on the dirt road, with everything green and quiet. These days Relics is a nice restaurant and gallery. Stop and take a look at the old walls.RH ROBERTS HOUSE 200 El Camino Grande and PUMPHOUSE 15 El Camino Grande. Old Roberts place near the dance hall. RR RED ROCK COMMUNITY (just north of Red Rock Crossing). Red Rock was probably the earliest settlement in the area, having easy access to water and generally flat. You got there from the old stage road near I-17. Only later were wagon roads built down to the Jerome area. One of the earliest settlers were the Carrolls for which Carroll Canyon was named. The first school in the area was here in 1891. SH SCHEURMAN HOMESTEAD / RANCH. Just south of Red Rock Crossing. Actually the Scheurman's had much of this area also going south on the creek. Bought a portion from the Carrolls above in 1885. The original ranchhouse burned in 1900 and was replaced with rock ... which was then undermined in a creek flood in 1920. Scheurman Mountain along hwy 89A is named for the Scheurmans. While on the subject of mountains (!), 'House Mountain' is further south of Scheurman mountain and is actually a 'shield' volcano. Two stories concern the name: the little 'block' on top viewable from miles looks like a house, and the House Ranch on the opposite side. Who knows! SJ TREASURE ART GALLERY 2855 Hwy 179 First art gallery by Steven Juharos in 1961. Still operated by his wife and still great art. SK SKY MOUNTAIN RANCH high-hill near Cathedral Rock across from Chapel area. The first of several forest service land exchanges in Sedona in 1940 by Dr Slipher: 80 acres. By 1968, the present roads were in place but still dirt and few homes. SP SOLDIERS PASS. Also Soldier's Wash running down toward Oak Creek. Both related to Cp Verde (now a state park) which was established to protect the farmers in Verde Valley who provided food to Prescott, the old territorial capital. The red rock area was both a place for native americans to escape notice and a recreational area for soldiers later on. The 'pass' itself used to have a road/trail for access into the Dry Creek area for ranging cattle. TP TRADING POST  Corner of hwy 89A and Airport Rd. Today a tourist shop, originally the Zacharek Gallery from 1963. The circular shape allowed for an inside revolving cyclorama that was a little ahead of its time! Stop and take a look!VV VERDE VALLEY SCHOOL near paved-end of Verde Valley School Rd near Village of Oak Creek. Built in 1948, one of the early private schools offering a specialized education. Continues today! |
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