Day 15 - Sedona & Jerome, AZ

Taking a drive today, so we were up early. Breakfast was the usual cold cereal, followed by a stop at Starbucks. By 8:05 we were headed north on Interstate 17 toward Flagstaff.

For at least 20 plus years we have seen the signs for Montezuma Castle near Camp Verde. Thinking it was nothing more than a stone building resembling a castle we never gave a thought to stopping. Last night at dinner friends said we should stop on our way to Sedona, so we did. It's not a stone building. Rather it's a area of cliff dwellings dating back to around 1150 AD. Deserted in the early 1400's they fell into ruin, with only what is now called Montezuma Castle remaining. Now a National Monument further deterioration has been put on hold and restoration has stabilized the dwelling. The photo below does not due justice to what was once a five story dwelling housing several hundred people. While not anywhere near the quality or size of Mesa Verde in Colorado, it was still worth a visit.

Next up we continued north on Interstate 17 and then took highway 179 to Sedona. What a disappointment. A number of years ago, probably 20 or more, we spent a day in Sedona when it was a quiet, quaint little town. No more. Businesses line the roads for miles. People are everywhere, including the pink Jeeps offering tours of the red rocks. Throughly disgusted we set the GPS for Prescott and headed out of town, never to return.

There were two ways to get to Prescott. The easy way and my way. The easy way was back down the freeway and then a fairly nice highway into Prescott. My way was State Route 89A. Barb is sure the A stands for awful, when it really means alternate. 89A is a twisty, turning, narrow, side of the mountain road with you better not look views that runs through Jerome, Arizona and tops out at 7,023 feet. Most curves are marked for 15 or 20 MPH, which means you can make it through at 18 or 23 MPH. Needless to say I enjoyed the drive and actually got to use the paddle shifters. Barb not so much.

Although we didn't stop, Jerome looks like it would be a fun town to explore. Beginning around 1883, the town started down the path that would one day have it labeled as having some the richest copper deposits on Earth. Between 1876 and 1953, the United Verde Mine produced nearly 33 million tons of copper, gold, silver, lead and zinc ore. Called up by the Kansas City Royals in 1969, Jerome native Fred Rico played in a total of 12 Major League games, before spending the rest of his career in the Minors.

Once in the neighborhood of Prescott we spent an unusual amount of time trying to find the center of town. After sorting out that little problem and finding a choice parking spot, we split the Pub Burger at the Prescott Brewing Company. Very good burger, as was the Petrified Porter that accompanied my half.

The drive back to Surprise was uneventful, except for a dust storm kicked up by high winds and a lot of dry dirt.

Montezuma Castle

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