There’s Gold in them Hills

A very Happy Monday morning to you and Hello from Phoenix, AZ.

I am back in Arizona, less than a month from my last visit, to shoot a wedding and taking a few extra days to spend time with my family and friends. The highlight of the trip will most likely be getting to see my great great nephew Greyson who is now a whopping 11 lbs. and almost 8 weeks old. The little guy is doing rather well and I would like to send a thank you to Laura Olsen / Laura Liz photography for taking the time to do a very special baby portrait session with Greyson!!!!!

On one of my free days we decided to take a drive north to one of my favorite hideaways, Jerome, AZ. Jerome was once a very thriving mining community that during its 77-year life (1876-1953) produced over 33 million tons of copper, gold, silver, lead and zinc ore that was said to have been valued at more than $1 billion dollars. As the ore deposits became exhausted the mines began to close and in the mid-1950’s the town had dwindled to less than 100 people, down from a population of over 10,000 in the 20’s. In the early1900’s the town played host to a thriving business community of banks, hotels and stores where many were associated with alcohol, gambling and prostitution mainly due to the fact that the population was almost 78% male. In 1903 the N.Y. Sun proclaimed the town to be one of the “wickedest towns in the West.”

So fast forward to 1953 with the mining boom busted and the town looking to other means of support. In an effort to save the town from oblivion,the town leaders sought and were granted status as a National Historic Landmark in 1967 which encouraged tourism. The current state of the community boasts a wide selection of galleries, restaurants, craft stores, wineries, coffee houses and a myriad of historical artifacts and buildings including a museum. When you stand on main street you look to the north and see what is left of the mines and the Douglas Mansion which is now a State Park.

The town is a hidden gem that sits between Prescott and Sedona. It is a town that truly embraces the past but is firmly fixed on its future. You will find travlers weaving in and out of the many retail stores or refreshing themselves in the one of the saloons or restaurants. The town boasts a lot of lore including many haunted tales emanating from the hotels. If you are looking for the best burger in town stop in at the Haunted Burger café. If shopping is your thing stop by the Nellie Bly and look at their exceptional collection of Kaleidoscopes. It is a day trip well worth the drive, Enjoy!