Hobo Joe

Roadside Oddities, p. 140-141
Players: Beth and King, July 9, 2010
Directions: East Monroe Ave and North Apache Rd. in Buckeye, AZ
Entrance Fee: $0



When driving to Buckeye I had a sheer stroke of genius! On my blog I am going to create a game! It is similar to 'Where is Waldo?' but it will be 'Where is King?' Starting with the 'Hobo Joe' challenge, King will appear in all challenge photos posted on my blog. I challenge you to find my two inch friend in all future blog posts!

I am not familiar with Buckeye at all and since I didn't prepare directions ahead of time to find this famous hobo, I had to ask for directions. I knew the cross streets so I asked the local teenagers hanging outside the shell station to point me in the correct direction. I thought it was a good idea. Of course both of them had no idea where North Apache Rd. was...they even asked their friend that they were talking to on the phone! No luck... Then I showed them the picture from 'Weird Arizona' of Hobo Joe and suddenly the juices in their 17 year old brains started flowing! They didn't realize I was looking for "the man." They gave me some landmark directions and I was off! It was less than a quarter mile from that shell station.

Currently Hobo Joe stands proudly in front of a fifty-year old meat packing plant. However, in Joe's hay day he stood in front of a diner that bore his name. There were several Hobo Joe restaurants in the 1960, each with a 5 foot tall statue of the Hobo Joe. However 3 lucky locations were blessed with 25 foot tall Hobo Joe statues. Supposedly Hobo Joe's restaurants provided a fun family dining experience, where you could choose from delicious menu items like the Hoboburger.

Hobo Joe's life is not with out scandal.According to "Weird Arizona" the chain's owners bought an investment firm business into the Hobo Joe's business, making them a firm partner in the company in exchange for a $3 million bank loan. The loan was supposed to be repaid with restaurant profits but at least one partner embezzled the money. This left the firm in debt while the crook built a Phoenix home and "a posh duplex in Mesa intended for Mafia sex parties."

With the financial troubles going in the restaurants one large Hobo Joe was not paid for and consequently not installed. Marvin Ransdell, the Hobo Joe creator, kept the Hobo for himself and installed him above his pool business. When he ran into his own financial problems his friends Ramon and Helen Gillum stored the Hobo for him. After Marvin died he willed it to them. As a tribute to Marvin, Ramon installed the Hobo on his property in Buckeye where he stands to this day, guarding the meat packing plant.

Goodyear Giants

Roadside Oddities, p 137-139
Players: Beth and King, July 9, 2010
Directions:
Baby: See it from the freeway! I-10 just before Cotton Lane. Want a closer look? If traveling west on the I-10 exit on Cotton Ln. and take a right. Take the first right. Large baby on farm to the right.
Two giants carrying sunflowers and pumpkins: Cotton Lane and the 303.
Duncan Family Farm: 17203 West Indian School Road
Goodyear, AZ 85395-9209
Entrance Fee: $0

This was my fifth week teaching music at the Goodyear Parks and Recreation Center and I thought it was due time to complete the 'Goodyear Giant Challenge' since I was already in town for the day! I was so excited to complete the mission ( soaring me well past Mallery in completed challenges...) I packed my car after every class so I wouldn't waste any time after work loading (usually takes about a half an hour, groooooaaaannnn!) I even asked one of my students parents to give me directions to the large baby! Though he probably thought I was crazy, he gave me the directions and his phone number just in case I got lost!

To my surprise I didn't have to give him a call...mostly because the baby is humongous and if I missed him I seriously think I would need to seek help... I found the farm easily off the freeway but I couldn't tell if I was allowed on property... It was gated off with red and white striped gates...but since I didn't see a glaring 'No Trespassing' sign I decided it was a good decision to go in(I wanted King to get some good photo opportunities!). Though the sun was blazing hot and sunny at the farm I noticed the rain pouring in the mountains. I included a picture of it here because I thought it was beautiful...

The second giant viewing stop was a bit more challenging than the baby. The two large giants carrying pumpkins and sunflowers were located at a major speeding trap/ intersection. King got lost in my car for several minutes and by the time I had located him a cop had pulled over to observe my activities on the side of the road. Apparently 'Weird Arizona' photography is harmless and he eventually left, allowing me to jay walk across the road for a closer peek at the giants. I got some good pictures but by the time I got back to my car a man had pulled over concerned that my car was broken down. I told him about the challenge and not only did he give me directions to Buckeye for my next challenge but he told me about the Duncan Family Farm were even more giant figures lived! Though my car was already on empty he assured me the farm was only a few miles down the road...and I was really excited about it so I went for it.

And I am so glad I did! The Duncan Family Farm had giant people, and animals! It was amazing! While I was photographing the large chicken a lady driving by noticed and stopped to offer to take my picture next to the chicken! She said she drives by the farm everyday and thought it would make a cute picture! Since I was out on this challenge alone, I was more than ecstatic to have a photo opportunity!

The Duncan Family Farm opened in 1992 to family and school tours. They had wagon rides, a petting zoo and even showed children how to grow their own vegetables. They provided guided tours and also had a farmers market to sell their organic, home-grown vegetables. After the Duncans saw John Cerney's roadside art in California they thought his creations would be perfect for their farm. The gargantuan toddler was a promotion for their educational farm. Though, according to 'Weird Arizona' the Duncan's had the whimsical creations put up more for amusement than advertisement.

Unfortunately a state law passed in 2001 forced the Duncan Family Farm to close their doors. The law restricts development within 30,000 feet of Luke AFB runway claiming that it is an "accident potential zone."

Though the fate of the Duncan's charming farm is uncertain, the giants continue to provide smiles to weary travelers and roadside oddity enthusiasts.

Bird Cage Theatre

Ghosts of Arizona, p. 190-192
Players: Sarah, Charity, and Beth - Fall 2008
Directions: Tombstone, AZ



When Sarah, Charity, and I went to Tombstone, Charity could not wait to go ghost hunting in the Birdcage Theatre! It truly is a creepy place and when I took pictures I caught a lot of "orbs" in the shots. We actually toured the building and then sat on the stage and waited to witness ghosts first hand. Though I didn't hear any, I did see a weird light anomaly on one of the paintings on the wall. It made me a believer...

Tombstone is the Town Too Tough to Die and the Birdcage Theatre is no exception! It has survived two devastating fires, the flooding of its mines, and ghost town abandonment and now over 120 years later continues to thrive! Built in 1881 it was one of Tombstone's hottest attractions - the one stop saloon, opera house, gambling hall, and brothel! Everyone came here including the famous cowboys Wyatt Earp, Johny Ringo and Doc Holliday! The opera house was supposed to be neutral ground for the cowboys and hang out and relax...however, the establishment does adorn 140 bullet holes throughout and 26 have lost their lives under the roof.

It's no wonder this place is regarded as one of the most haunted in the country...

Montezuma Castle: Living the High Life

Ancient Arizona, p. 30-31
Players: Josh, Osvaldo, Beth - Spring 2009
Directions: Take exit 289 off of I-17 North. Drive east for .5 miles to a blinking red light. Turn left on Montezuma Castle Rd.
Entrance Fee: $5

Osvaldo, Josh, and I took a day trip to Montezuma Castle shortly after Josh and I started dating. The park is actually quite small inside, with a self guided tour, and a lovely river that runs through the property.

The National Park Service calls this site Montezuma Castle though Montezuma never lived their. Some say it isn't even a castle, just a five story welling atop a sky-high embankment. Whether you consider it a castle or not, the amazing architecture was hand crafted by the Sinagua Indians. According the experts the indians built the dwelling in the 12th century completing it in stages until the 20 rooms stacked into 5 layers stood about 40 feet high. The building site was only accessible by ladders, making this feat incredible.

Why the Sinagua Indians chose to dwell so high in the mountains has mystified archeologists. After the Singua lived on the side of the cliff for 300 years they up and left, their destination a mystery. By 1450 the castle was completely abandoned, until its rediscovery 4 centuries later.

Red Rock Vortexes

Unexplained Arizona, p. 72-74
Players: Charity, Josh, Michelle, and Beth
Directions: Sedona, AZ
Entrance Fee: $0



I have been to Sedona to enjoy its beauty four times since I have moved to Arizona thus far, twice with Charity (first time was an accident though trying to find a gas station on the way back from the Grand Canyon!), once with Josh, and once with my sister Michelle. With her cliffs, mesas, and spires adorned with warm red rock, Sedona is one of Arizona's scenic gems that I know I will continue to visit for many years to come.

In addition to being some of the most visually powerful sedimentary rocks in the country, they are also considered to be spiritually charged. Thousands of years ago the Native Americans (the Yavapai creation story takes place at the Boynton Canyon, which is often considered the most powerful site) were drawn to the rocks and people continue to be drawn to their mystifying "vortexes" to this day. The energy in the vortex is similar to the energy in a human being and anyone who comes within a quarter mile of the vortexes will be affected. When one comes in contact with one, visitors have described a sudden whoosh or faint vibration then are overcome with tranquility or rejuvenation like their batteries have just been recharged. Other visitors have seen strange lights or muted thunder from the rocks. The vortexes have influenced nature as well, causing plants to grow with a twisting, spiral formation.

So far scientists have not proven the effects of the "vortexes." Some locals call them electrical or electromagnetic, but concrete evidence of this has yet to be found.

Some other interesting theories to ponder!

Some believe that Bell Rock is hiding a giant crystal and will someday open up to reveal a spacecraft!

Many believe that you can use the vortexes to travel to alternate dimensions!

The vortexes effects are simply caused by equipment left over from visiting aliens in the 1960s!

Unfortunately, I have yet to feel the power from the vortexes. But I have enjoyed their beauty...

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral

Fabled People and Places, p. 59-60
Players: Sarah, Charity and Beth - Fall 2008
Directions: Tombstone, AZ

At 3PM on Wednesday, October, 26, 1881 the infamous gunfight at the O.K. Corral took place in Tombstone, AZ. In reality the gunfight took place 6 doors down from the entrance of the O.K. Corral, however the site has been immortalized in books, television, movies, and magazine as the spot for the most famous gunfight in Old West.

On one side of the gunfight was Doc Holliday and brothers Virgil, Wyatt, and Morgan Earp. The other side of the gunfight consisted of Billy Claibornce, brothers Ike and Billy Clanton, and brothers Frank and Tom McLaury. During the gunfight words were quickly exchanged and within thirty seconds Holliday, and Virgil and Morgan Earp were injured. Billy Clanton, Frank and Tom McLaury lay dead.

When visiting the O.K. Corral you can see two reenactments of the gunfight-one a staged show, the other with electronic mannequins!

My favorite part about the O.K. Corral was learning about the prostitution business at the time. In the 1880 prostitution was legal in Arizona and thriving in the Tombstone. Dozens of women made a living here working the world's oldest profession.

This was another blast from the past mission completed in the Fall of 2008. Because of Charity's love for the haunted, this was the first trip I took after moving to Arizona.

Flinstones Bedrock City

Roadside Oddities, p. 158
Players: Beth, Michelle, and Josh - April 2009
Directions: On the way to the Grand Canyon, where Highway 180 meets 64 in Valle.
Entrance Fee: $0

This is a blast from the past mission that was completed during Michelle's spring break trip to sunny Arizona in April 2009! On our way to the Grand Canyon, I remember seeing the oddity on the side of the road and telling Josh that Bedrock City was in the "Weird Arizona" book so we had to stop and get a picture! It was a "Yabba-dabba-doo!" good ol' time!

Bedrock City has been around since Francis Speckels built this place in 1972 with his family. The characters had prerecorded voices that unfortunately no longer work. Though the place is starting to show its age, I still thought the park was fantastically weird!