good-times-rollin: Maricopa County Parks

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Cave Creek...Sears-Kay Ruin

Cave Creek Regional Park

Cave Creek, AZ

May 9, 2023

Sometime at the end of April, Sheila posted pictures of Cave Creek Regional Park. In years past we have read blogs from other friends who also visited this wonderful Maricopa County park. We had no appointments this week so Monday morning we headed northeast on I-10 with Cave Creek being our destination.

It's a first time visit for us and another wonderful destination to explore the natural beauty and history of our home state. This amazing 2,922 acre park in the upper Sonora Desert is located just north of Phoenix only 169 miles from home. It was established as part of Maricopa County's Park system in 1963.

Monday night's sunset from our site...

Tuesday morning coffee on the patio

was spent enjoying the noisy antics of a pair of Cactus Wrens.

We also had a project. We didn't have carpet on the outside MH steps. When we visited Willcox last March, Dover and Sally were both having trouble going up and down the steps. We were hoping carpet would help with traction and are pleased to say our plan (so far) is working. Their footing is much better.

Our outing for the day was a hike to Sears-Kay Ruin about 18 miles from the park in the Tonto National Forest. A pass is required for day use in the national forest...its $8 and can be purchased at most service stations in Cave Creek and Carefree.

The ruin site got its name because at the time of discovery, the property was owned by ranchers with the names Sears and Kay.

We had quite the history lesson before venturing up the steep trail maneuvering large boulder steps.

The hike was described as short and easy. Short we agree with, but easy not so much or maybe it's just that we are 76 and 72 years old with diminishing eyesight that makes depth perception a wee bit harder...we are slow and careful. In addition to the info at the big kiosk, the trail is well marked with signage all along the way.

The Sears-Kay ruin site has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The 40-room Hohokam village, perched on a hilltop, was last occupied over 1,000 years ago. The village consists of five separate buildings.

If you squint, you can see the road we took...its just above the rock wall on the left.

The ruin in the photo below is a "mystery room". Unlike any of the other buildings on this site, it had rounded corners. The shape is considered to be an earlier model Hohokam pithouse and its presence may indicate that there was originally a smaller compound here before the one established in 1050.

In addition to the buildings, the massive retaining wall along the ridge was also built by the villagers.

Heading down...

and stopping for photos.

On the way home we made two stops. First to see what is billed as the world's tallest kachina doll. It is located in the residential community of Tonto Hills in Cave Creek or maybe Carefree (I'm not really sure which). The Corn Maiden Dancer Kachina stands 39 feet tall and weighs a whopping 145.5 tons.