Echoes of the Southwest

When my family just recently took a weeks vacation in Greer, AZ, we needed to find a cabin with room enough for all of us.  There were about 13 of us; my hubby, me, his sister, our daughter and granddaughter, our son and his family of four, and our nephew and his family of four.  My sister-in-law found the Greer Glen Lodge which sleeps about 22 people.  The lodge was perfect for us and was within walking distance from the small downtown, hiking paths, and Little Colorado River.  It was also a short drive to fishing locations, museums, antique shops, stores, and Sunrise Ski Resort.  The place had just about everything we needed and was the perfect place for our family to stay and enjoy the town of Greer. For more information on renting this house, check out this site: Renting information:   https://www.vrbo.com/199219

One of the places to stay while in Greer, AZ, is the Molly Butler Lodge and Cabins.  It is located in the heart of the picturesque White Mountains and offers many activities for each of its guests.  In the summer you can go on hikes, bike riding, fishing in the nearby lakes or rivers, boating, and skiing in the winter.  It is the perfect place to be in the summer and winter.  Along with the lodge and cabins, there is also a restaurant and bar.  For more information, check out their website: Website:   http://mollybutlerlodge.com/

The minuscule town of Greer, AZ is an unincorporated community and lies in the gorgeous White Mountains.  Around 40 people call Greer home which was founded in 1879 by Mormon settlers.  The weather and surrounding activities makes it the perfect vacation spot. Greer, along with nearby Springerville and Eagar, are located near the New Mexico border, the Little Colorado River, many lakes, and Sunrise Park Resort where many love to ski.  It is about a four-hour drive from Phoenix, but is usually 20-30 degrees cooler and is the perfect place to go to get out of the valley's summer heat. On June 8, 2011, Greer was devastated by the Wallow Fire which consumed some of its structures and homes in the area.  Many of the historic buildings survived the fire, are still standing, and open for business. Website:   http://greerarizona.com/

It was in 1897 when Henry and Sarah Bell Haught joined their relatives in the Rim Country near Payson, AZ.  The couple had their children and widowed mother, Mary Ann, with them.  They lived in one of the many cabins built by Fred Haught to start a new life.  They started ranching near Ellison Creek after Fred acquired the land from another pioneer.  Later, Henry and is family relocated to a ranch at Tonto Creek where they built a log cabin with dirt floors and no windows.  Things got bad for the family causing Henry to get a job as a blacksmith at the Child’s power plant. People around the community referred to Henry and Sarah as “Pappy” and “Mammy” Haught.  They later moved to a larger home and by 1919 their 22-year-old son, Sam, stayed at the Tonto Creek property and took care of it.  He used the tiny 10x18 foot cabin as a place for storage and where he hung meat to dry. The cabin was still upright and in decent condition in 1999 when t...

He was born Pearl Zane Grey on January 31, 1872 and was a well-known author of many western escapade books.   This western type literary novelist was also an American dentist.  His best-selling book was “Riders of the Purple Sage” which was written in 1912.  He fancied the American frontier and it was apparent in the accounts in his books and short stories.  About 112 movies, two television episodes, and one television series have been custom-made from his written tales. At one point of his life, Zane lived in a small cabin built in the forests near Payson.  In the late 1920’s, he left the cabin and Arizona leaving the place deserted.  The cabin was a one-room building which had declined and suffered with time, then eventually devastated by fire.  Zane died in 1937 from a massive heart attack while living in California. In 1962, businessman William Goettl bought the cabin and hired Richard Haught to rebuild it.  Richard’s desc...

For information and hours for the museum, check out this website: Payson Rim Country Museum