Tour planned of Rustic Border Region of Arizona and New Mexico

Bob Stuart

Arizona Pathfinders, a nonprofit volunteer group of the Arizona Historical Society, is conducting a five day tour on October 26 through 29, 2015, to the Rustic Border Region of Arizona and New Mexico. Join us for a memorable tour to the remote parts of this region of the Colorado Plateau and Chihuahaun Desert. This region is seldom traveled by the public and has changed little since early settlement days.

Highlights:

Day one: Travel to Safford, Arizona, where we meet a step-on-guide who will give us a coach tour to the Samaniego Fright Train Massacre and Wham Robbery sites, the Mormon farming towns, the Pima Museum, view the Mills Pottery Collection at the Eastern Arizona College and tour the Historic Downtown area.

Day two: Travel via the Salt River Canyon and continue to Show Low, Arizona, where we have lunch at Licano’s Mexican Restaurant. Continue to Springerville, Arizona, along the Colorado Plateau through tall pines and autumn colored trees. We will have a guided tour of the four museums at the Chamber of Commerce where we will also view a video on the history of Round Valley. We will visit a Dinosaur Museum that features Zuniceratops, a recently discovered dinosaur and visit the famous Western Drug and General Store for shopping and view the Madonna of the Trail statue. We will finish the day with a visit to the Rattlesnake Ruin at Lyman Lake.

Day three: Travel to New Mexico and have a guided tour of the National Astronomy Observatory (VLA), New Mexico on the Plains of San Augustine. A step-on guide will board our coach and present the history of this area as we travel to Reserve, New Mexico. We will hear about the history between the ranchers, timber industry, the USFS and Elfuego Baca – a historic lawman. Then we travel to Silver City, New Mexico, and have supper at the renowned Buckhorn Saloon and Restaurant in Pinos Alto, New Mexico.

Day four: Guided tour of Ft. Bayard with docents in costume, Chino Mine overlook, then back to Silver City for shopping in the Historic Downtown area and the Silver City Museum. Dinner will be at the remote Bear Mountain Lodge.

Day five: Guided tour of the City of Rocks State Park, travel to Columbus, New Mexico, to tour Pancho Villa State Park and the Depot. Tour the Deming Historical Museum and return to Tucson.

Cost is $984 per Pathfinder member double occupancy. Cost for non-Pathfinder member is $999 double occupancy which includes membership; $185 single supplement. Full cancellations accepted until October 9; thereafter, only if we fill your seat. Please contact Bob Stuart at 520-825-4239 or Mary Flynn at 520-579-7508.