Week 233 - Green Valley / Sahuarita Arizona - 01-30-2011

Green Valley and Sahuarita, Arizona

Pete's sister Donnalee lives in Green Valley, Arizona during the winter. The theory is that it is warmer than Northern California. Great theory and maybe that will be true if we could only get some of the global warming that they keep promising us. The last two winters have been unusually cold in Arizona and Southern California. But we're here, so we visit.

Green Valley and it's next door neighbor Sahuarita are located 20 miles south of Tucson, AZ and just 40 miles north of Nogales, Mexico. The area has huge open pit copper mines that cannot be missed as you come south into town. The mining company builds up these huge berms that keep the mining pits from view.

1) On previous trips to this area, we stayed at the Green Valley RV Resort. It is a 3.5 rated park with nice facilities. But when we visit Donnalee we usually do not spend time at the resort. So this trip we dry camped in front of Donnalee's house and parked at the local casino. 2) These two cars are not typical for Green Valley except during the annual Tupac Golf Resort Car Show. The car on the right is a Nash Metropolitan, which by today's terminology is a sub-compact, built in the 1950's. The car on the left is a customized golf cart.

The Green Valley/Sahuarita area has 59 homeowner associations and Green Valley Recreation (GVR). Homeowners might have their own facilities (pool, spa, clubhouse, etc) and might also belong to GVR. A number of these associations have ~~pickleball courts (shhh!, we're not supposed to mention pickleball anymore)~~.

Sahuarita is home to the Titan Missile Museum. The Titan missiles were used from 1959 until 2005. They were used to launch the Project Gemini manned space of the 1960's, for the ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) defense system and a variety of other uses. In accordance with START (STrategic Arms Reduction Treaty) in 1991, all the underground Titan silos were destroyed. At each silo the missiles were removed and the silos blown apart. They were left in disrepair long enough for the Soviet Union to verify by satellite photo that each silo was dismantled. The silos were then filled with dirt and concrete.

The only remaining silo is at the museum. The warhead and fuel have been removed and the silo ground level doors welded shut. The display area below is free and the one hour silo tour is $9.50 (01-2011). Beware, there are aliens in the lobby!

As we ventured to the Pima Community College we passed by the west side of the copper mines. Donnalee takes some classes at the college.

In Sahuarita you can enjoy the Safari Trail. All of the wild animals are metal sculptures.

This is a quiz. Try to pick out the real monkey!

Heading north on Hwy 19 to the southwest corner of Tucson, you get to an area the locals call "The Hill". And you should try the cuisine at Tiny's Family Restaurant. The decor is early American wagon wheel in the parking lot, on the door and inside.

The Steer Burger is a favorite, the prices reasonable and the service was very good. Recommended.

Just a few miles further north is Old Tucson. No, not Old Town Tucson, but Old Tucson Studios. Built in 1939, over 300 movies and television projects have been filmed here, with all the great stars: John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, Shelly Winters and a list of hundreds of others. It's 71+ year history continues to this day as a filming location. Again, the shop is free but the grounds tours are $16.95 (01-2011).

These sets were photographed by a tall lanky guy who held the camera over the fence. $16.95? Are you kidding. You can watch the movie for less and get popcorn.

Heading back toward Green Valley from Tucson, you can visit the Mission San Xavier del Bac. This Catholic mission was founded by Father Eusebio Kino in 1692. Construction of this current building began in 1783 and completed in 1797, 16 years. Since then is has been refurbished and as you can see the right side tower is still being worked on.

1) From the ornateness of the interior, you can see why it might take 16 years. 2) The cemetery near the mission is right out of the old west with wooden crosses and mounds of dirt covering the residents.

And at the end of the day, we settled in at Desert Diamond Casino.

Nicely landscaped, your level asphalt pad awaits you.

1) During out stay there were about 20-30 other motorhomes staying the evenings. 2) Good night!

Until next week, Pete and Ellen

Photos from Jan 2011