Echoes of the Southwest

What a difference two years make.  The trailer park used to have at least three distinct trailers, and outdoor bathroom, and a swing set with a slide. It now looks like a tornado went through the area and destroyed everything leaving one shell of a trailer left, the swing set is all but gone, and it looks like garbage has been thrown all over the place. East side in 2010. Same spot in 2012. Main trailer in 2010. Same trailer in 2012. This is the only trailer standing. The swing set in 2010. The swing set is now gone in 2012. All that is there is the slide still lying on the ground. Hobo camp nearby in 2010. The Hobo camp now. The burnt out house was still standing along with the barn/stables, but less of both were there.  It looked like the walls of the stable were hit with either a huge wind and lying on the ground.  The house was still a burnt mess and the odor was still there.  I think someday all that will remain of t...

Sharon and I took a day trip to Gila Bend, a small town in Arizona.  The last time we visited this town was in 2010.  Four of our stories in our  "Abandoned Places: Abandoned Memories"  book were from that 2010 visit.  Those places have changed in the two years.  I took many pictures of these places and will split them up in a few posts.  Meanwhile, here are pictures of some of the abandoned and interesting stuff we seen around town. Ak-Chin Cultural Center 3 A boat at dry dock. The Trailer Park The Burnt House The Stables The Motel Old Market Abandoned Resturant Old Wooden Water Tower Hum? We were not sure what this was. Sharon thought it looked like Charlie's Chocolate Factory. A road memorial. We saw lots of dust devils on this trip.

Abandoned Trailer Park in Mobile, AZ (2010) (along the way to Gila Bend) Sharon and I are finally go to hit the road for a day trip.  We can only take off for a day so we decided to hit a small town near Sharon's house, Gila Bend.  We had been there a couple of times in 2010 so we are curious to see how things look two years later.  We know that the weather is hot and the desert critters are out so we always take precautions. Most of our pictures are taken from the car, but on occasions we get out to get a closer look. We will post our findings. Abandoned Hotel - Gila Bend (2010) Space Age Restaurant - Gila Bend (2010) Has the best cheeseburger I ever ate! Old Water Tower in Gila Bend.

The oldest settlement in the United States was thought to be Jamestown but is really Acoma Pueblo, west of Albuquerque, New Mexico.  This Native American community was established since the 12 th century where about 4,800 people can be found.  The “Sky City” settlement sits atop a 365-foot high mesa where hunters and traders used to come and sell their goods.  Today the Acoma people earn revenue from a cultural center and casino complex.

They say that the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral didn't happen at the corral at all.  It is definitely one of the most famous gunfights in history but some people are not impressed.  The shootout was between the Earp brothers, Doc Holliday, Billy Claireborne, two of the Clanton brothers, and two of the McLaury brothers.  The gun battle lasted around 30 seconds, leaving three dead.  The biggest mystery is did it really take place at the O.K. Corral or behind it on the intersection of Third Street and Fremont Street in Tombstone, Arizona?  Many say it happen behind the corral.

Jerome, Arizona Verde Valley, Jerome, 1912 Verde Valley, Jerome, 2012 2012 Downtown, 1912 Downtown, 2012 Downtown, 1912 Downtown, 2012