|
|
Welcome to
the Sulphur Springs Valley which is
located in Cochise County, Arizona.
Nestled in a broad valley basin
surrounded by mountains the high desert
grasslands average an elevation of 4500'
which provide a year-round temperate
climate. Rich in scenic, historic and
cultural attractions this portion of
Arizona is full of geological wonders.
Cochise County, Arizona
Cochise County is named
after the Chiricahua Apache Chief
"Cochise". This was the homeland of the
Chiricahua Apache until they were
relocated in the late 1800's to St.
Augustine, Florida and then eventually
to Oklahoma and New Mexico. Cochise is
buried somewhere within the area we call
"Cochise Stronghold" which is a natural
rock fortress, located in the Dragoon
Mountains. The only ones who know of the
final resting place of the great Apache
chief kept their secret well and the
location of his grave is still unknown.
Cochise Stronghold is part of the
Coronado National Forest with several
hiking and horseback riding trails
throughout the Stronghold and the
surrounding Dragoon Mountain Range. The
rugged stronghold shows why the Apache
Indians were so adept at alluding the
soldiers stationed at Fort Bowie, the
Butterfield Stage stop, and Fort
Huachuca, established to protect
settlers in the new frontier. Cochise
County was truly wild and lawless in the
days of the old west, the town of
Tombstone is a perfect example. A visit
to the cemetery at Tombstone, attests to
the national fame of Cochise County as a
place remote from law
and order and a haven for
outlaws in the late 1800's.
Home to many
unique geographical features such as
"Sky Islands"*, natural wonders,
historic and ghost towns, Cochise County
offers a great variety of things to see
and do. Below you will find more
information, please contact us if you
don't find what you need!
*Southeast
Arizona is at an ecological crossroads,
where habitats and species from the
Sierra Madre of Mexico, the Rocky
Mountains, and the Sonoran and
Chihuahuan deserts all can be found. The
abrupt rise of mountains like the
Chiricahua's from the surrounding and
grasslands creates 11 sky "islands"
harboring rare species and communities
of plants and animals. The southeastern
part of Arizona is rich in history,
natural wonders, birds and native
vegetation.
Towns
& Attractions
Benson -
is the western gateway to
the scenic and historic attractions of
Cochise County and is the "Home of
Kartchner Caverns". The City of Benson
was founded in 1880, when the Southern
Pacific Railroad came through southern
Arizona. Until 1910, Benson was the
railroad hub of southern Arizona. It was
named for judge William B. Benson, a
friend of Charles Crocker,
then-president of the railroad.
Bisbee -
Nestled in the mile high Mule Mountains
of southern Arizona, Bisbee has
maintained an Old World charm seldom
found anywhere in the United States.
The fine collection of well preserved
turn of the century Victorian structures
are full of old west history and copper
mining lore. Former saloons are now
quaint shops, antique stores or art
galleries, cafes and restaurants. A
popular activity is Bisbee's excellent
self guided fully illustrated Walking
Tour, which details each historic
structure and guides the visitor with a
map. Other activities include the Queen
Mine Tour, a trip down into the now
inactive copper mine, a visit at the
Bisbee Mining an Historical Museum, a
must for history buffs, the historic
Muheim House, an outstanding example of
19th century architecture and elegance,
and the Lavender Pit Open Mine.
-
Arizona
Cactus & Succulent Research, Inc.
-
Bisbee
Restoration & Historical Museum
-
Historic
Copper Queen Hotel
-
Lavender
Open-pit Mine
-
Muheium
Heritage House
-
Queen
Mine Tours
Douglas -
Located on the border of
the U.S. and Mexico, it's Mexico sister
border town is Agua Prieta. Here you
will find the historic Gadsten Hotel,
infamous for Pancho Villa riding his
horse up its majestic marble stairs and
many other historic buildings and sites.
Restaurants, shopping, movie theatre and
a hospital are all available here along
with the Mexico border crossing into
Agua Prieta.
-
America's First International
Airport
-
Border
town to Agua Prieta, Mexico
-
Cochise
County Historical Museum
-
Historic
Gadsten Hotel
-
San
Bernardino Ranch
-
Slaughter Ranch
Sierra Vista-Fort Huachuca -
Ft Huachuca was
established in 1877. As a camp, and
later as a fort, the post was the home
base of the famed "Buffalo Soldiers" of
the 9th and 10th Cavalry. The missions
of the post at that time were to secure
the southern borders of the expanding
United States and to protect settlers
from Indian attack. Several major
commands now operate on Fort Huachuca,
including the U.S. Army Information
Systems Command, the Army intelligence
Center and School, and the Electronic
Proving Grounds. Now the largest city in
Cochise County, Sierra Vista came into
being as a tent camp providing
provisions, saloons and entertainment to
the soldiers. Nicknamed the "Hummingbird
Capital of the United States," bird
watchers from all over the world flock
to the nearby Ramsey Canyon Preserve and
other local canyons to observe and
photograph hundreds of different
species. There are museums on Ft.
Huachuca about the rich history of the
military in the area.
Pearce -
Sunsites
- Located on the
western side of the Sulphur Springs
Valley close to the Dragoon Mountains is
Sunsites, a small but growing community
with an emphasis on retirement living.
An 18-hole golf course located here
along with numerous small businesses
including a library, bank, hotel,
community center and health clinic.
Cochise Stronghold is 10 miles west of
Sunsites. Due to the high desert
elevation of 4200' the climate here is
temperate year round. High desert
grasses, native mesquite and yuccas
cover the area and closer to the
mountains there are oak and junipers.
Just minutes up into the mountains you
can enjoy tall pines, gently gurgling
streams and the absolute sounds of
nature. Sunsites has much to offer
whether your relocating or retiring.
It's an easy commute to the main job
centers of Sierra Vista and Tucson via
I-5.
Tombstone
- is
located in the San Pedro Valley in
Cochise County and is a worldwide
tourist destination, next only to the
Grand Canyon in Arizona. One of the most
famous mining town in America it was
named by a prospector who was told he
would only find his tombstone in the San
Pedro Valley. He named his first silver
claim Tombstone, and it later became the
name of the town. Located on a mesa
between the Dragoon and Huachuca
Mountains the area became infamous for
the shootout at the OK Corral, saloons
and gambling. Underground water flooded
the mines however and the boom ended in
1904 with the fall of silver prices.
The town became known as "The Town Too
Tough To Die" in the 1930's after
surviving the Great Depression and the
relocation of the county seat to Bisbee.
Willcox
-
Located at an
elevation of 4,167 this old west
town is locate at the beginning of
the "Magic Circle of Cochise".
Local attractions include the Rex
Allen Cowboy Museum and the annual
"Wings over Willcox" a Sandhill
Crane festival. There are many
original old buildings on Railroad
Avenue. Within easy driving
distance of some of the best birding
areas in the state, including the
nearby Playa which is home to the
Sandhill Cranes in the winter.
Portal, Ft. Bowie, Chiricahua
National Monument, Wonderland of
Rocks, and the Muleshoe Ranch Nature
Conservancy are among some of the
nearby attractions.
-
Chiricahua National Monument
-
Cowboy
Hall of Fame
-
Fort
Bowie
-
Muleshoe
Ranch (Nature Conservancy)
-
Museum
of the Southwest
-
Rex
Allen Arizona Cowboy Museum
-
Willcox
Playa (Sandhill Crane & Various
Waterfowl)
-
Cultural Attractions/Museums
Amerind
Foundation Museum -
Internationally known Southwest
Archeological Research Facility and
Museum. Tours are available. Located
on Dragoon Road of off I-10 and
Exit 318 in Texas Canyon.
Foundation Office:
(520) 586-3666
Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum
- This museum
explains how mining was done in the
Bisbee area with unique exhibits. Great
pictures, artifacts and some minerals
from the mine are located here and
chronicle the colorful history of
Bisbee's past.
(520)
432-7071
Douglas -Williams House Museum and
Genealogical Library -
Beautiful house with furnishings from
the period in which it was built.
Hours: Sunday and Thursday
1:00pm - 4:00pm Wednesday
9:00am to 4:00pm
(520)
364-7370
Fort Huachuca Museum -
Collections and displays of the
history of the military and the
Southwest. Fort Huachuca is an Army
outpost that was established in 1877 and
the history is shown from then to now.
Home of the famous Buffalo Soldiers so
named by the Apache because of their
hair. Located by Brown's Parade Field,
you can also drive around the parade
field and see some of the original
officer's homes which are still in use
today. Fort Huachuca is an operating
military base, located outside of Sierra
Vista. National Historic Landmark.
(520)
533-5736
Museum of the
Southwest -
Housed in the Willcox Chamber of
Commerce Visitor Center, the museum is
about the history of the local area,
once known as the "Cattle Capitol" of
the nation. Displays contain Indian and
Calvary artifacts from the 1880's which
depict Indian wars, the movement of the
Apache in Arizona, and the Butterfield
Stage Line. Information on
turn-of-the-century thru present day
ranches of Cochise County.
Chamber office:
(520) 384-2272
The Rex Allen Arizona Cowboy Museum and
the Cowboy Hall of Fame
- Located in historic
downtown Willcox on Railroad Avenue.
The museum houses memorabilia of Rex
Allen, the famous cowboy, movie star and
entertainer. The Cowboy Hall of Fame is
a portrait gallery of local cattlemen
and women.
Museum Office:
(520) 384-4583
San Pedro Valley Arts & Historical
Museum - Antique
displays and collectibles from
throughout Cochise County.
(520)
586-3070
Slaughter Ranch/San
Bernadino Land Grant -
This National Historic Landmark is a
tribute to turn-of-the-century ranch
life. Named for John Slaughter, a
former Texas Ranger and County Sheriff.
The 300 acre site provides pristine bird
watching and natural springs. Located
17 miles east of Douglas.
(520)
558-2472
Tombstone Courthouse
State Historic Park
- The 1882 Cochise County
Courthouse is one of the oldest
territorial courthouses in Arizona.
Today it is a state park and museum with
exhibits and artifacts that tell of
Tombstone's colorful past.
Park Office:
(520) 457-3311
Queen Mine Tours -
Located in Old Bisbee on Highway
80, visitors ride in mine cars into the
mines. Tours are narrated by miners
themselves. Temperatures inside the
mines are 47º F year-round. Open
everyday except Christmas, Thanksgiving
and the Friday before Mother's Day.
Call for tour times and reservations.
(520)
432-2071
Natural Wonders ~ Man Made Endeavors
Arizona Cactus and Succulent Research,
Inc. - A scientific and
educational research center for the
study of native cacti of the Americas.
Extensive library, presentations and
samples of desert plant life. Located in
Bisbee.
Research Center:
(520) 432-7040
Chiricahua National Monument
- The monument covers a small
section of the Chiricahua Mountains in
the extreme southeast of Arizona, and
contains large expanses of volcanic
rocks eroded into dramatic pinnacles and
spires, an interesting variety of
vegetation and some unusual wildlife
species. Due to the relatively high
elevation, the climate in the Chiricahua
Mountains is quite different to that of
the surrounding deserts. This means that
unusual species of plants and animals
are present, many of them native to
Mexico and not found elsewhere in the
USA. In particular, rare species of
birds such as the elegant trogon and
Mexican chickadee may be seen (will most
likely be seen on the east side of the
mountain range) also there but rarely
seen are mountain lions and ocelots.
Javelinas are commonly seen in the
streambed northeast of the visitors
center and if you keep your eyes open
you will see some coatimundi's also.
This is a National Park and has camping
and hiking. The Chiricahua Mountains
are one of the "sky-islands".
Cochise Stronghold -
Cochise Stronghold is located to
the west of Sunsites, Arizona in the
Dragoon Mountains at an elevation of
5,000 ft. (About a ten minute drive from
Golden Rule Ranch). This beautiful
woodland area lies in a protective
rampart of granite domes and sheer
cliffs which were once the refuge of the
great Apache Chief, Cochise, and his
people. This rugged natural fortress
was, for some 15 years, the home and
base of operations for the famed
Chiricahua Apache Chief, Cochise.
Cochise and about 1,000 of his
followers, of whom some 250 were
warriors, located here. Sentinels,
constantly on watch from the towering
pinnacles of rock, could spot their
enemies in the valley below and sweep
down without warning in destructive
raids. Upon his death, he was secretly
buried somewhere in or near his
impregnable fortress. The exact
location has never been revealed or
determined. Part of the Coronado
National Forest and has camping
facilities and hiking trails.
Coronado National Memorial
- Wonderful birdwatching
opportunities (140 species recorded
here) and outstanding views of the
valleys through which Coronado led his
band of explorers centuries ago. A
picnic area near the visitor center is
open from dawn to dusk. There is camping
in the adjacent Coronado National Forest
and at Parker Canyon Lake, 18 miles
west.
Kartchner Caverns -
This is a unique "living" cave and
is part of the Arizona State Parks.
Still alive and developing stalagmites
and stalactites this truly wondrous
living ecosystem is a must see when
visiting southeastern Arizona. To
guarantee that you will get in please
call ahead for reservations. A limited
number of people are allowed in daily,
this is what will keep this wonderful
cave system alive and healthy. Half of
the rooms are open at present, the rest
of the cave system will be open on a
seasonal basis in a couple of years.
The Cave Tours are guided by a Park
Interpreter through the Throne and
Rotunda Rooms. The complete tour lasts
about 60 minutes and the tour length is
1/3 of a mile. Cave conditions are a
comfortable 68º F year round. The
Discovery Center explains many aspects
of the cave, including geology, bat
population and paleontology.
Interactive exhibits help explain the
discovery of the cave and how formations
developed. Picnic ramadas and outdoor
dining areas are available. There is an
additional fee to enter the park.
(520)
586-CAVE (2283)
Muleshoe Ranch (Nature Conservancy)
- The Muleshoe Ranch is a truly
proof that an environmental group and
the government can work together. The
Muleshoe Ranch Cooperative Management
Area (CMA) is 49,120 acres of rugged
beauty, lush riparian areas and an array
of recreational opportunities for
outdoor enthusiasts. This area is
jointly owned and managed by The Nature
Conservancy, the U.S. Forest Service,
and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
These diverse groups are working
together to conserve and enhance the
unique ecosystems found here and to
protect endangered species, as well as
the areas they depend upon. The
watershed area for seven permanently
flowing streams are in this preserve and
are some the best remaining water
habitat's in Arizona. About 80% of the
area wildlife depends on these water
sources and habitat at some time within
their lives. The importance of the area
to early settlers is to found in the
many ranches and homesteads that have
been in the area over the last 150
years. Water is the key for survival in
any habitat.....especially the desert.
The Muleshoe provides many activities
for the outdoor enthusiast and there is
great birdwatching in the area.
Old Fort Bowie - National
Historic Park can be reached after a
medium hike. Here you will find the
remains of the Fort which was an
important outpost during the Apache
conflicts. Interesting hike with great
views, you'll get a feel of what Arizona
was then.
Ramsey Canyon Preserve (Nature
Conservancy) - Located in
southeastern Arizona, this preserve is
renowned not only for it's hummingbirds
(14 species) but the variety and beauty
of the plant and animal life that can be
found here. A year round spring-fed
stream flows here providing the canyon a
moist, stable environment with high
canyon walls. You'll find sycamores,
maples, and columbines along the creek
bank and yet a few feet away are
different types of cactus, yucca and
agaves. Located in the Huachuca
mountains this preserve has about every
type of "community" habitat, from
semi-desert grassland to pine-fir forest
within it's boundaries. The Huachuca
Mountains are one of the "sky-islands".
San Pedro Riparian Area National
Conservation -
The 47,000 acre Conservation area
was acquired in 1986, in order to
protect and maintain the lush riparian
ecosystem along 40 miles of the San
Pedro River. The wildlife populations
include 400 species of birds, 82 species
of mammals, and 45 species of reptiles
and amphibians. Public use of the lands
includes regulated fishing and hunting,
permitted camping, birdwatching,
horseback riding, picnicking and hiking.
A visitor center is located at the
recently renovated San Pedro House, a
1930's era ranch house, which is
operated by the Friends of the San Pedro
River.
BLM Area Headquarters:
(520)
458-3559
Willcox Playa
- The Playa is
located outside of Willcox and provides
premier birdwatching of all types of
waterfowl and other birds including in
the winter including the Sandhill
Cranes.
Birding
Southeastern
Arizona is considered to have some of
the premier birding spots in the world.
Ramsey Canyon Preserve (Nature
Conservancy) outside of Sierra Vista is
world famous for it's Hummingbirds,
Willcox has a Playa where a large flock
of Sandhill Crane winter and the
Chiricahua Mountains have the Portal
area where if you're watchful you can
see Elegant Trogans. Within the Cochise
Stronghold area some of the following
birds have been commonly sited. Turkey
Vulture, Northern Harrier, Cooper's Hawk
and several other hawks, Golden and Bald
Eagles, several varieties of Quail,
Dove, Owls, Swallows, Hummingbirds,
Woodpecker, Kingbird, Flycatcher,
Titmouse, Nuthatch, Kingbirds, Wren,
Robin, Gnatcatcher, Mockingbird,
Thrasher, Shrike, Cardinal, Warblers,
Grosbeak, Bunting, Tanagers, Towhees,
Cowbird, Oriole, Sparrow, Meadowlark and
Finch.
The birding
areas and the area birds are too
numerous to list here. Contact the
local Audubon Society or Chambers for
birding lists or
click here
for a Southeastern Arizona birding site.
|
| Homepage
| Floorplans |
Valley Properties |
Area Information |
|
Cochise Valley Homes |
|
Southeastern Arizona
Information, History & Attractions
BIRDING
SUNSITES
COCHISE COUNTY
TOWNS & ATTRACTIONS
CULTURAL
ATTRACTIONS
& MUSEUMS
NATURE'S NATURAL WONDERS
|
Cochise
Valley Homes LLC
916 E. Saguaro Dr
PO Box 301
Sunsites, AZ 85625
Phone: 502-826-1000
Fax:
502-826-3896
cvh@vtc.net
Information sources deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Subject to price change, correction, error, omission, or
prior sale.
Copyright 2000-2009 Cochise Valley Homes LLC. All rights reserved.
|
|
|
