Arizona Oddities

Find a Famous Writer and Explorer’s Historic Mountain Retreat in Greer

Taylor Haynes — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 23:50:12 +0000

James Willard Schultz led a fascinating life. He was born in New York in 1859 and found an early appreciation for the great outdoors, often going hiking, camping and hunting. Shultz earned a reputation as a fearless explorer and Glacier National Park guide, as well as a noted historian of the Blackfeet people, a nomadic Indigenous tribe who roamed the northern Great Plains. Schultz operated a fur trading post in Montana and wrote 37 books throughout his career, mostly about his life alongside Indigenous people. He was eventually given the name Apikuni (Spotted Robe in English) by a Blackfoot chief. […]

The post Find a Famous Writer and Explorer’s Historic Mountain Retreat in Greer appeared first on Arizona Oddities.

Thousands of Mexican Free-Tail Bats Make Phoenix Tunnel Their Summer Home

Taylor Haynes — Fri, 17 Jul 2020 19:45:49 +0000

Between May and October, dusk in Arizona brings relief as the relentless sun dips behind the mountains. Near the corner of 40th Street and Camelback Road, it also brings bats – more specifically, 10,000 to 20,000 Mexican free-tail bats. With a chorus of chirping and squeaking, they flap their leathery wings, making frenzied loops and zig-zags in the desert air. It’s brunchtime for these winged mammals and while there aren’t any mimosas, there is an abundance of scrumptious flying insects to devour. Who knew an unassuming storm drain could become the Valley’s best and batty hotspot? While it’s not the […]

The post Thousands of Mexican Free-Tail Bats Make Phoenix Tunnel Their Summer Home appeared first on Arizona Oddities.

Discover an Ancient Solar Calendar and Kiva at Casa MalpaÍs in Springerville

Taylor Haynes — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 18:49:15 +0000

Casa Malpaís is one of the best places in the White Mountains to learn about the region’s ancient history. The Ancestral Puebloan people constructed the site around 1260 A.D. and lived there until 1400 A.D. The rough, dark volcanic rock from the Springerville volcanic field provided the materials for many of the Casa Malpaís structures. The Ancestral Puebloan people lived across the Four Corners area of the United States, building expansive pueblos and cliffside dwellings, including kivas (congregational spaces used for ceremonies and different gatherings). Additionally, these communities had a strong connection to astronomy, designing complex structures to track celestial […]

The post Discover an Ancient Solar Calendar and Kiva at Casa MalpaÍs in Springerville appeared first on Arizona Oddities.

Ostrich Festival Celebrates Chandler’s Unique History

Taylor Haynes — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 22:40:53 +0000

Ostriches in Chandler, Ariz. It sounds absurd, but the truth is sometimes stranger than fiction. And, turns out, these large, flightless birds are inseparable from this Arizona city’s history. Chandler’s founder was none other than Dr. A.J. Chandler, an engineer, veterinarian and – apparently – ostrich rancher. The doctor thought he could cash in on the early-20th Century ostrich feather craze (people were obsessed with ostrich feather hats) and brought a herd of ostriches to his ranch in the Arizona desert. His success encouraged other local entrepreneurs to follow suit. However, fashion is fickle, styles changed and ostrich feathers were […]

The post Ostrich Festival Celebrates Chandler’s Unique History appeared first on Arizona Oddities.

Scottsdale is Home to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Desert-Inspired Winter Haven

Taylor Haynes — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 21:51:22 +0000

Turns out, famous architects adore Arizona’s plentiful sunshine and expansive desert views. Frank Lloyd Wright loved it so much that he built his winter home, Taliesin West, just east of Scottsdale in 1937. It’s a sprawling, stunning estate at the base of the McDowell Mountains. Like many transplants, Wright saw Arizona as the perfect location to live, do business and settle down. He had a strong connection to the Sonoran Desert, inspired by the “low, long, sweeping lines” and “uptilting planes.” He recognized an artistry in the patterns repeated in the region’s flora and fauna: cholla, saguaro, Gila monsters, rattlesnakes, […]

The post Scottsdale is Home to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Desert-Inspired Winter Haven appeared first on Arizona Oddities.

5 Unmissable Activities at Kartchner Caverns State Park

Taylor Haynes — Mon, 20 Jan 2020 20:39:30 +0000

Miles of winding pathways carved deep into Paleozoic rocks. Dripping stalactites and stalagmites. Hiking trails with panoramic views of the Arizona desert. Fun for the whole family. There’s no reason why Kartchner Caverns State Park shouldn’t be at the top of your must-see list. Here are five activities you must do at this amazingly preserved network of caves: 1. Check Out the “Throne Room” The Throne Room is sure to impress. You’ll get to examine 45,000-year-old bat poop (because why not?) and “Kubla Kahn,” the largest column formation in the state. The Throne Room tour takes approximately 1.5 hours and […]

The post 5 Unmissable Activities at Kartchner Caverns State Park appeared first on Arizona Oddities.

5 Facts About Artist James Turrell and His Arizona Masterpiece, Roden Crater

Taylor Haynes — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 21:59:28 +0000

In the remote Painted Desert region of Northern Arizona, something magical is happening. For the past three decades, world-renowned artist James Turrell has been incrementally converting a volcanic cinder cone known as Roden Crater into a large-scale, immersive artwork, about 40 miles outside of Flagstaff. Described as the “magnum opus” of Turrell’s expansive career, Roden Crater is an awe-inspiring meditation on land, sky and light, with 21 sculptural spaces connected by six tunnels within the walls of the crater. The installation feels simultaneously ancient and from far in the future, even otherworldly. Meant to last for centuries to come, Roden […]

The post 5 Facts About Artist James Turrell and His Arizona Masterpiece, Roden Crater appeared first on Arizona Oddities.

How to Keep Centipedes Away from Your House

Taylor Haynes — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 17:55:43 +0000

There are enough creepy crawlies in Arizona to keep anyone awake at night: tarantulas, scorpions, you name it – scary bugs are abundant in this corner of the country. We’ve covered how to keep scorpions away from your home, so make sure to check out that post too. One critter regularly winning awards for the creepiest and the most legs is the centipede. Banded Desert Centipede and the Giant Desert Centipede Call Arizona Home Two species of centipedes are indigenous to the southern half of Arizona: The Banded Desert Centipede and the Giant Desert Centipede. What do they look like? […]

The post How to Keep Centipedes Away from Your House appeared first on Arizona Oddities.

Who Are the Babbitts, One of Flagstaff’s Most Famous Families?

Taylor Haynes — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 03:05:17 +0000

If you’ve lived in Arizona for a while, or even if you just like reading up on famous Arizona families, chances are you’ve come across the Babbitts. After all, there’s a building on the Northern Arizona University campus christened Babbitt Academic Annex. At one point, there was a Babbitt Opera House where locals could see live orchestras. Right downtown, you’ll find the Babbitt Building, featuring a mural stating: “Babbitt Brothers: Ranchers, Merchants & Indian Traders.” The Babbitt brothers are an integral part of Flagstaff’s history. So, what’s their story – and what makes them so unforgettable? Heading West David and […]

The post Who Are the Babbitts, One of Flagstaff’s Most Famous Families? appeared first on Arizona Oddities.

Goldfield Ghost Town: Wild West History and Fun for the Family

Taylor Haynes — Fri, 07 Jun 2019 22:45:36 +0000

Visiting from out of town and looking for an authentic Wild West experience? Need something to do with the kids this weekend? Bored with Phoenix? Maybe you’re just curious about what else southern Arizona has to offer. Look no further than the Goldfield Ghost Town, at the base of the Superstition Mountains right off the AZ-88 highway. This unique destination transports visitors back to the late 19th century when Arizona was a little more lawless. The walkable Main Street is lined by authentic-looking buildings housing a diversity of merchants to keep the whole family entertained from sunup to sundown. A […]

The post Goldfield Ghost Town: Wild West History and Fun for the Family appeared first on Arizona Oddities.