good-times-rollin: Wrapping up Willcox

Willcox/Cochise KOA

Willcox, AZ

October 12, 2024

The high desert climate of Cochise County is a good place to produce pistachios. We see lots of these orchards as we drive the roads around the area. We stopped for a photo because I have never seen a pistachio on the tree.

We first visited The Cattle Capital of the West...best known as Willcox, AZ in March 2023. We returned for another stay this fall to continue exploring the area around Willcox which we really did enjoy. There isn't much hustle and bustle in Willcox and on some corners it appears to be a bit rundown, but we did enjoy some history, a few stores, and lunch.

Willcox was founded in 1880 as a whistlestop for the Southern Pacific Railroad. Some would say its very existence is due to the fact that this area is about half way between El Paso and Phoenix and seemed like a good spot to add the train depot.

Sights along our walk...

We enjoyed lunch at The Dining Car...a decent pulled pork bar-b-q sandwiche, slaw, and onion rings.

On one of our drives, we stopped at Rattlesnake Ranch in Dragoon, AZ.

I did read that Dragoon has officially become a ghost town.

Rattlesnake Ranch had its beginnings as John and Sandy's Rattlesnake Crafts and Rock shop...a souvenir shop that attracted motorists with its life size metal statues of Indians, snakes, and dinosaurs. John made wallets, belts, and other useful items out of rattlesnake skins and sold them out of an old trailer. He was also a collector of junk...tons of Old West artifacts he lovingly hoarded and had on display...signs, boots, tools, etc. In later years when John and Sandy retired, the store was unattended and payment for anything that had a price was on the honor system. We parked very close to the road so we have no idea if the artifacts are still there and sold on the honor system, but we did walk the path to take in the dinosaurs that we saw.

Apple Annie's was also on our list this year. We made three different stops. First stop was at the Country Store just down the street from the KOA.

Yummy Apple Bread toasted with butter for breakfast...

Our next stop was the Fruit Orchard. We had planned on picking apples, but the apple trees that were close by were all picked and we didn't make the trek to the end of the long rows of trees. The Fruit Orchard has more that 15,000 trees which includes a variety of apples along with peaches, cherries, pears and apricots. Granny, Snap, and Pink Lady apples are the "you-pick" selection for October.

We did a short walk down the row and not one apple did we see...8 different varieties of apples are picked in September.

There is a bakery on site and we did not leave empty handed.

The fruit stand had lots of choices for fruit...

Our last stop for the day was my favorite ! Apple Annie's Produce and Pumpkins. The farm is open for "you-pick" mid September thru October. There is no fee to enter the fruit orchard or the produce farm, you only pay for what you pick or choose to buy at the store.

The farm provides wheelbarrows, snippers, bags and a map. This place is huge!

Produce good for picking included squash, zucchini, okra, black-eye peas, green beans, eggplant, a large variety of peppers, chillies, and tomatoes.

It's way cool to walk the rows, but we...ummm I...was mainly there to pick pumpkins and a bouquet of sunflowers.

I love sunflowers, and was I ever surprised to learn the farm sells 11 different varieties.

On the way home, we drove by a cotton field.

Back at the KOA, Sally discovers a new obstacle she can master, a very pleasant day has come to an end, and it's off to bed early for an early start home on Sunday.