Echoes of the Southwest

Sharon and I went back to the trailer park (featured in our Abandoned Places: Abandoned Memories, Desert Edition book).  I have been to this places at least four, maybe five, times to get photos of the changes.  The lone trailer has finally collapsed from the rotting dry wood and the strong desert winds.  I will show you what that place looked like through the many times I was there. August 2010 The front and side of the main trailer. Notice white trailer in the background. It was gone on our next trip. July 2012 March 2013 September 2013 August 2010 The back of the main trailer. July 2012 March 2013 September 2013

The etchings found on many boulders throughout the southwest are known as Petroglyphs.  These ancient drawings are carved by primordial man and tell stories of life many centuries ago.  Perhaps the engravings on the rocks are some form of communication or maps for the ancient people to follow.  Studying the symbolic pictures might give us a better understanding of how the pre-Columbian civilizations may have once lived and how they mysteriously disappeared.  I will share some of the photos I took of these etchings. South Mountain Park, AZ The Painted Rock Petroglyph Site, AZ

One of the most famous mountain ridges in Arizona is the Superstition Mountains.  If you travel about 35 miles southeast of Phoenix in Apache Junction, you will be at the base of the gorgeous mountain range.  The Superstition Mountains have lots of stories, especially the ones involving ghosts and UFO sightings and a lost mysterious gold mine.  This puzzling vein of minerals is known as the Lost Dutchman Mine and has attracted many gold seekers for generations to try and find it.  For many, the thrill of locating the gold and getting rich has met with a tragic end to their lives.  People have reported seeing ghosts in various places on the mountains especially in locales around where the mine is claimed to be hidden.  Perhaps these are the spirits of those who set out looking for the gold, but never made it out of the mountains . There are many things to keep you busy when you visit the Superstition Mountains.  If you want to get a bit of hi...

When thinking of a town to visit in Arizona, Casa Grande will probably not be the first place you will think of.  I have personally been to this town several times and always found something interesting to see.  Casa Grande has Native American ruins, historic downtown, along with many places to eat, shop and spend the night in.  If you are into urban exploring, this town is loaded with places to photograph. THE DOMES Just on the outskirts of southern Casa Grande you will find an unusual site known as The Domes.  The odd shaped structures resemble either a flying saucer or a giant caterpillar.  You get a feeling that you have just entered an episode of the Twilight Zone.  What are the Domes and why were they built in this desolate location? In July of 1982, Patricia Zebb, owner of InnerConn Technology Inc. was looking to move her operations from California to an out-of-the-way location near Casa Grande.  To survive the Arizona desert, the...

Globe, Arizona, has many places around town for visitors to check out.  The historic district has old buildings with businesses, places to quench your thirst, and to grab a bite to eat.  It has antique and other unusual shops and even abandoned buildings for the urban explorer to photograph.  The Old Globe jail and courthouse are a couple of historic places to take a tour of.  Not far from downtown are the Besh-Ba-Gowah ruins and mines.  Sitting above the town on a hill is the Noftsger Inn.  This Bed & Breakfast is the perfect place to stay while you are passing some time in Globe. The building started out as the Noftsger Hill Elementary school and was built in 1907.  The Old Dominion Mine is nearby with a view of the valley from the front of the inn.  Even while the children were roaming the halls and sitting in the classrooms, claims of paranormal activity was reported.  A mysterious lantern light was seen shining through the w...