What’s New in Tucson
September 2006
Thunder rolls at Tucson rodeo grounds – One of the nation’s top professional rodeos rolls into town, October 14-15 for a weekend of death-defying competitions by ranch and rodeo cowboys, cowgirls, and cowkids. The PRCA/WPRA-sanctioned Desert Thunder Pro Rodeo features bull riding, bareback and saddle-bronc riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing, and team roping. There will be plenty of excitement at the large-scale Tucson Rodeo Grounds, which seats nearly 10,000 spectators. Tickets are $10/advance and $15/at the gate, and $15-$25/reserved seating. For more information: (520) 721-1621.
Cool weather, hot air balloons – Cool weather means hot-air balloons in Southern Arizona skies. Dozens of balloons will be at the “Festival of Color” rally, November 3-5 at Sierra Vista’s Veteran’s Memorial Park. For details about the rally’s hot-air balloon race, nighttime “balloon glow”, and early-morning mass ascension, call (520) 417-6960. Balloon trips combining spectacular Sonoran Desert landscapes and panoramic mountain views are available from Fleur de Tucson Balloon Tours, one of Tucson’s oldest and most-experienced professional balloon companies. Flights usually take place at sunrise, lasting about 60 minutes, and include a post-flight champagne brunch and digital pictures. Rates are $230 per adult and $185 per child under 12, with website discount. For more information, phone (520) 529-1025 or visit http://www.fleurdetucson.net/.
Thirty shots in thirty seconds – On October 26, 1881, Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday and the Clanton gang gunned it out in front of the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona. Some thirty shots were fired in thirty seconds. The rest is history. On October 26-28, 2006, history will be reenacted during the 125th anniversary commemoration of this legendary event. Public and private events include a public funeral procession; street reenactments; photo opportunities with life-size replicas of the nine gunfighters; and appearances by Western movie stars. A “VIP” package includes guided tours of O.K. Corral, Tombstone Courthouse State Park, and Bird Cage Theatre (“the most-haunted building in the United States”), and 1880s costume-ball/gaming parlor. For more information, contact Tombstone Office of Tourism, 1-800-457-3423, or visit www.tombstone.org.
Artists at work in historic village – Artists working with a variety of media will create original art right before your eyes during “Tubac: An Art Experience” in Tubac, November 11-12, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Visitors will get to meet many of these artists, watch them demonstrate their techniques in open-air studios, and purchase artworks, while local musicians entertain. This annual event attracts art-lovers and shoppers looking for one-of-a-kind or handmade items. The historic village of Tubac is 45 miles south of Tucson on I-19. It’s home to more than 80 shops and art galleries and several unique restaurants. For more information, phone (520) 398-2704, or visit http://www.tubacaz.com/.
Vacation on the open range – Fit and experienced horseback riders can take part in authentic Old West cattle drives, round-ups, and calf-brandings at Southern Arizona ranches. In a secluded valley on Tucson’s east side, the Bellota Ranch (pronounced Bay-oh-tah) offers special cattle round-up programs throughout the year. The historic Bellota accommodates 24 guests in eight large and comfortably rustic guest rooms, and runs 700 cattle on 60,000 acres. Details are at (520) 296-6275, or www.bellotaranch.com. Tucked away on nearly 15,000 pristine acres near Douglas in the Chiricahua Mountains, the 120-year-old Price Canyon Guest Ranch offers as much history and beauty as one can take. This exclusive, working cattle and guest ranch offers round-ups, trail rides, and luxurious private cabins. For more information, phone (520) 558-2383, or visit http://www.pricecanyon.com/.
Forgotten history on Mt. Lemmon – An American civil rights story awaits visitors to the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site at Mt. Lemmon. Isolated among the pines, an old stonewall and a staircase are the only remains of a federal prison camp originally constructed for the prisoners who built the road to Mt. Lemmon, the Catalina Highway. The recreation site is named in honor of its most-famous inmate, Dr. Gordon Hirabayashi, who was imprisoned there for objecting to the internment of Japanese-American citizens during World War II. At the site are interpretive signs telling the old camp’s story, a picnic area, corrals, and trailhead for the Arizona Trail. Details are available through the Coronado National Forest website, or by phoning (520) 749-8700.
Steeped in Southern Arizona heritage – Less than an hour’s drive south of Tucson, the Esplendor Resort at Rio Rico offers Old-Southwest-style charms and traditions, blended with modern conveniences and AAA Four-Diamond service. Guests can saddle up for a horseback ride along the Anza Trail, once used by Spanish explorers who founded San Francisco; play world-class golf or tennis; or daytrip to historic missions, vineyards, birding sanctuaries, ghost towns, or Tubac artist-colony shops. The resort, with 180 newly renovated rooms overlooking the Santa Cruz River Valley, is quickly accessible to Tucson International Airport via I-19. More information is at www.esplendor-resort.com or 1-800-288-4746.
Malaysian food, like Mama used to make – Tucson foodies are talking about Neo of Melaka – a new Malaysian restaurant, with a menu based on generations-old family recipes. Neo of Melaka offers a fusion of the ancient flavors of Southeast Asia and the Far East, featuring aromatic sauces prepared from exotic herbs and spices found in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, India, and China. It’s the sister restaurant of Seri Melaka, serving Tucson since 1991. Both eateries are owned and operated by Tucson’s Yap family. Reservations are recommended. For more information, phone (520) 299-7815 or visit http://www.serimelaka.com/.
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