Echoes of the Southwest

That's right, we can rent the Domes.  The first place we headed to when we got to Casa Grande was the Domes.  We have not visited there in over two years and was curious to see if the back structure was still standing. As we were driving up to the Domes, we noticed a group of people standing by their cars.  We waited in the car to see what they were going to do.  We decided to get our cameras, hats and water ready to sneak walk over to the Domes.  Another car arrived and parked in front of us.  We found out it was the owners and that group rented the Domes for the day.  Sharon got his information because we were interested in having the place to ourselves with permission .  Meanwhile, I took some pictures of the outside and was glad to see the back structure still standing.  Sadly, we could not get inside to get more pictures. We are planning on renting the place out for a day and into the night possibly in January.  We will be ...

We have trekked around Casa Grande, AZ several times, but his is the first time we hit the historic downtown.  We found it charming.

Picacho, AZ, July 2011 In July of 2011, Sharon and I took a road trip to Tucson, AZ to visit our friend and attend a seminar.  We had noticed some old motel signs and what appeared to be abandoned buildings while traveling north and south along Interstate 10. The signs and motels were on the northbound side of the highway but since we were taking another route south towards home, we flipped a U-turn and check out the town of Picacho.  The town is located north of the famous mountain, Picacho Peak.  It seemed like everywhere we turned was an abandoned place where we could take lots of pictures.  This town was an urban explorer's dream place to visit.  We were so glad we took the detour and checked out Picacho. This little settlement was a place we definitely wanted to revisit again. Picacho, July 2011 Take note of this sign. This was across the street from the water tower. This picture was taken from the parking lot of the ...

Quartzsite, Arizona can boast fabulous weather in the winter which brings lots of visitors and the largest gem and rock show.  There is one other place to add on your list of must sees while in Quartzsite and that is Barrett Village.  Sitting on a small band of dirt behind the parking lot of the Quartzsite Historical Museum which is located near the Tyson Well Old Stage Station at 161 W. Main Street is a mini village of stone buildings.  In 1970, Walter Barrett and his wife moved to Quartzsite, AZ from Ferndale, Washington.  He became fascinated with all the interesting rocks located in the area and started a rock collection as well as made jewelry.  He built their home out of stones and used his collection to make several projects around their property.  The first thing he made was a birdbath out of stone to accommodate all the birds hanging out on their land.  After that, he built the mini village.  He poured over eight years of love i...

Abandoned mine near Quartzsite. Located in western Arizona in La Paz County sits the small town of Quartzsite.  Like many of the towns in Arizona, mines were a prominent resource in their heydays.  These days, Quartzsite has a few thousand residence but can get over two million visitors a year which keeps the economy going.  The area has a large RV park and is usually full to capacity in January and February when the weather is amazing.  Quartzsite is also known for having the largest rock and gem show.  People come from all over to attend this event. Quartzsite does have some interesting places and things to see while in town.  One is the grave marker of Hadji Ali or better known as Hi Jolly.  He was "an Ottoman citizen of Greek-Syrian parentage, who took part in the experimental U.S. Camel Corps as a camel driver" .  Stories such as Ghost Camel s and the Red Camel with its Headless Rider came to life after the Camel C...

Chandler, Arizona

In 1970 an unusual experimental town was constructed and named “Arcosanti”.  Arcosanti is located about 70 miles north of Phoenix and was built using a concept called, arcology.  This principal combined architecture and ecology and developed to show how a town can “demonstrate how urban conditions could be improved while minimizing the destructive impact of the earth.  The town aims to combine principles such as minimal resource use and access to the natural environment.” Arcrosanti was constructed as a tentative town and located on 25 acres of land preserve.  With the most current structure completed in 1989, this site housed around 50 to 150 inhabitants who were either students or volunteers living on this location.  There are 13 buildings which are quite a few stories high and include a visitors’ center, café, gift shop, a bronze-casting apse, a ceramics apse, two large barrel vaults, a ring of apartment residences, and various stores.  All the...