Wild Southeast Arizona

Check out this link to see one of the wild animals found near Willcox.  

     Jaguar caught on camera on Dos Cabesas

This reminds me again of the wild beauty of Cochise County.    Dos Cabesas is the mountain that turns pink in the evening, making the view out the front windows of the Willcox Commercial Company building so magnificent.

Willcox Commercial realty link

https://www.arizonahighways.com/blog/willcox-receives-federal-designation-unique-wine-region 

Willcox Receives Federal Designation as Unique Wine Region

October 10, 2016 at 5:31 am

Brent Hall | Willcox

The Southeastern Arizona town of Willcox has become only the second place in the state to receive a federal designation for growing wine grapes.
The designation, which makes Willcox an American Viticultural Area, puts the area in the same class as California's Napa Valley and Oregon's Willamette Valley, The Arizona Republic reported last month. Sonoita was the first region in Arizona to receive the designation, in 1985.
John McLoughlin, the owner of Willcox's Cellar 433, led a three-year effort to acquire the designation, which was made official when it was published in the Federal Register in September.
The designation means the Willcox area was recognized as a unique region for growing wine grapes. In fact, according to federal documents, more than two-thirds of the state's grapes are grown in the Willcox basin. There are 21 vineyards in the area; McLoughlin's vineyard, the largest in the state, provides grapes for several wineries.
Among other things, the designation means no winery can use Willcox as part of its name unless the wine it makes comes largely from grapes grown in that region.

A rail ride by video!

A new experience for me was riding the Amtrak train through Willcox. One can see the charm of Railroad Avenue as it speeds by. Here is a video taken as the train passed through town.  Notice the lovely historic block on Railroad Avenue.

Natural, historical and signifigant points of interest around Willcox

The Willcox Commerical Company building offers a ripe opportunity to serve visitors to the area’s wonders.    What will its next incarnation be?   Retail space?   Winery?   Headquarters?   Restaurant?    Bring your dreams and watch them grow in the rich history -of the Willcox Commercial Company building and grounds.     

Watermelon Day 1909

The building with its massive commercial space, living quarters, cottage and yard are for sale for $190,000.   Contact John Seidel at 575 682 6362 for more information.  

   

This post acknowledges   the amazing area surrounding Willcox.   We are expanding out in a widening circle around Willcox.   We will see more beauty, more adventure, more nature  and more history.     Willcox is the gateway to a National Monument  and a National Historic Park as well as Wildlife preserves, Nature Conservancy holdings, state camping areas and two stops on the old Butterfield stage line, a relic of  old west. 

    
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An old ruin of the Butterfield Stage line is also on the west side of the valley.   3707 3711

  

 

On the west side of the Sulfur Springs Valley is the Cochise Stronghold.    Another beautiful area for camping and hiking.   http://cochisestronghold.com/    
 
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On the north east side of the Dos Cabezas Mountains is the Indian Bread Rocks Day use area.    This is a favorite of our family as there are picnic tables under trees immediately adjacent to the rise of a massive stone mountain ready to be climbed.    Beautiful views, rocks and trails to explore and a good meeting place for picnicking.   http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/recreation/camping/dev_camps/indian_bread_rocks.html   

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To the south east of Willcox, past the historic town and mountain named Dos Cabazes is the turn off to Ft Bowie, a National Historic Site.    Turn and drive through the beautiful hills and cross over Apache pass.    You will go by the site of a Wagon Train Massacre before you get to the path to the Fort ruins.  The Butterfield Stage had another stop here.    Visiting the ruins and visitor center is a look back to an important time in Arizona’s development. http://www.nps.gov/fobo/index.htm    

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To get to the  Chiricahua National Monument don’t turn towards Fort Bowie but continue south east towards the Chiricahua Mountains.   It’s 35 miles all together (and is a fantastic bike ride).     The Monument has miles of hiking trails through amazing rock formations.  http://www.nps.gov/chir/index.htm    

 Organ Pipes in the Monument

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Massai Point 

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Cochise Head 

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 The Range on the road between Willcox and the Monument.   

To the west of Willcox is “Texas Canyon” the home of the Amerind Foundation Museum.   Texas Canyon is an area of big boulders, mountains and desert.    http://www.amerind.org/    

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Tombstone and Bisbee are good day visits from Willcox too.    Bisbee is an old mining down with an enormous open pit mine as well as shaft mines.    Historic Bisbee, The Copper Queen Hotel and the gem museum are favorites.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisbee,_Arizona   

Relief Map of the County in the Court House in Bisbee.  

The Lavender Pit, an open pit Copper Mine in Bisbee.  

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Tombstone,   The town too tough to die.   

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Benson, the town to the west of Willcox (and half way to Tucson) is home to one of Arizona’s newly discovered natural wonders…  Kartchner Caverns!    Tours through this enormous living cave is unforgettable.    http://azstateparks.com/Parks/KACA/index.html

To the north of Willcox one can see Mount Graham with its observatory perched on the top, sometimes shining in the setting sun.   

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Also to the north is Roper Lake State Park which has camping and a natural hot springs. http://azstateparks.com/parks/ROLA/index.html     

Past Safford is the Gila Box wilderness area where we have camped and floated inflated kayaks down the river. http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/blm_special_areas/ncarea/gbox.html     

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On the west side of the valley is the Cochise Stronghold, a camping and hiking area in the Coronado National Forest.   http://cochisestronghold.com/.  

The Nature Conservancy has several holdings in the area including the Muleshoe Ranch,   Aravipa Canyon, and Ramsey Canyon….    These are areas of vital habitats that are being protected to preserve biodiversity.   They are also incredibly beautiful!  http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/arizona/placesweprotect/aravaipa-canyon-preserve.xml   ; http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/arizona/placesweprotect/ramsey-canyon-preserve.xml    ;   http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/arizona/placesweprotect/muleshoe-ranch-cma.xml 

Southeast Arizona is a gem.    It has 4 seasons, easy access to Tucson for large city amenities and international airport.   Sunshine most days of the year and delightful weather during the summer monsoon season.

This beautiful area can be yours with your base at the Historic Willcox Commercial Company on Railroad Avenue in Willcox Arizona.

The Building with its vast commercial space and delightful living areas has amazing potential.    Look into your heart and see if you would like to take this opportunity to own a piece of history and live in this amazing area.

For more information call John Seidel at 575 682 6362.

 

Location, Location, Location! Southeast Arizona!

     The Historic Willcox Commercial building is for sale.    

        The oldest store in Arizona is for sale.  Asking price is $190,000.   For information email John Seidel at willcoxcom@yahoo.com or call 575 682 6362.

The Willcox Commercial opened in this location in 1880.

Railroad Avenue

          

     This building has been the cornerstone of this town for more than a century.    It has been an integral part of the area.   

1912 Railroad Avenue

      The Norton-Morgan Company sold everything needed by the settlers and ranchers.   It was the center of commerce and transportation. 

The balcony in back has blankets displayed on the railing. 

      The gold mine in Dos Cabezas was supplied through the store.    A livery was here too for folks’ travel needs around the area.     

      Groceries, dry goods, feed, etc. was all here.    The story has it that Geronimo shopped here, buying his sugar in one pound bags as he felt he could trust that measurement.   

This 1936 picture shows the drawers to the right that are in an earlier post of the current day store.    Also notice the deep set windows and the balcony. 

      There are unique and interesting places in this area both of historical and natural significance.  On this post I will focus on the ones that are in or really close to Willcox (Ten miles or less).   

    Across the street  is Railroad Park with the Rex Allen Statue, play structure, picnic pavilion and giant cottonwood trees.  .       

 

War Memorial in Railroad Park

Historic Site Plaque in Railroad Park

     Our side of Railroad Avenue is home to the Rex Allen Museum, the Marty Robbins Museum, the Willcox theater, an old west mercantile and two winery tasting rooms.   A walk around the block will take you past the Chiriachua Regional Museum, several restaurants, a coffee shop, several second hand/antique shops, the “Friendly Book Store’ run by the friends of the library and several other businesses.   

     

 Just a scenic walk from the Willcox Commercial is the Pioneer Cemetery. 

  It has many old tombstones.

 

     The cemetery is the final resting place of Warren Earp, brother of Wyatt Earp.   Warren was killed in a bar one block from the Commercial.    

      Also on the edge of town is the Twin Lakes Golf Course and the Bird Viewing area.    It is an excellent place to golf, catch the sunset, go for a short bike ride or enjoy the mountains reflecting on smooth water.  

     Sand hill cranes winter in this area and can be observed flying overhead. 

They can be seen on the ground at the Bird Viewing area at Twin Lakesand at a bird viewing area maintained by the SSVEC Power plant on the west side of the Willcox Playa.

Twin Lakes

SSVEC Viewing Area

SSVEC Viewing Area

     The Willcox Cattle Auction is on the edge of town.   Many times I have seen the cowboys as they ride their horses to move the animals into the auction ring.

   

      I have seen long horn cattle and Brahma cattle as well as other colorful beef cows in the pens.  

     It’s a favorite place for my young nephew and I to bike ride past.  

     The Willcox Playa is an ancient dry lake.    It has been used as a bombing range by the military and artifacts such as bullet casings can be found there.    It’s a fun place to ride a 4-wheeler.     

The Willcox Playa, commonly called the "dry lake".

Dry Lake

    A short way north of town is the Circle I Mountains.   This area is excellent for hiking.    There are Indian drawings and grinding pits in the rocks.   The boulders are dramatic and the views are panoramic.    I personally have seen javalina in this area.  

Circle I Mountains are north of town.   

Back of the smooth hills are amazing boulders.

Spring bloom of poppies! 

Pronghorns running away from us south of the Circle I mountains.

     Willcox is the center of the Sulfur Springs Valley.   The nearest towns with commerce are 35 and 40 miles away.    Tucson is 80 miles away.   Willcox is the gateway to some pretty amazing places.     Next post I will travel a few miles out of town to show you the wonders of this region.   To whet your appetite for more explorations of the area here are links to a couple of overnight bike rides in this area ….   http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/Eyespring2013   a trip through the valley to Cochise Stronghold and http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/oldwesteye2012  a trip to the Chiricahua National Monument.    Please check them out.