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- Chandler, Arizona - $100,000 Tumbleweed
I'm biking from LA to El Paso, TX and I was eager to see this extravagant tumbleweed. It took me nearly 2 hours to find the thing. Most people in Chandler never heard of it and the few folks who did, didn't know where it was. One guy knew vaguely where it was, and described it as "the curly fries thing."
After cycling back and forth, I finally found it, and indeed, it was rather unimpressive. If you want to see something much cooler, check out the Christmas tree made out of actual tumbleweeds next to the Chandler Library.
But if you feel compelled to see this questionable use of tax dollars, it is located at the new Park and Ride just west of Tumbleweed Park.
[mark e phillips, 05/27/2009]$100,000 Tumbleweed:- Address:
- 11579 E. Germann Rd, Chandler, AZ
- Directions:
- Near the passenger loading area of a Park-and-Ride lot. I-10 exit 161. Drive east seven miles on Hwy 202 to exit 47. Drive south on Hwy 87/Arizona Ave. for two blocks and turn left (east) onto Germann Rd.(just south of the 202) and go east about 1/4 of a mile then take a right onto Hamilton. Signs say "buses only" so you might have to park your car at the nearby Tumbleweed Park and walk over.
WPA giant metal umbrella protects a four-story, crumbling 800-year-old Indian building. Parking lot photo-op has the Casa Grande sign and the ruins in the background.
Roadsideamerica.com Report...
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
- Address:
- 1100 W. Ruins Drive, Coolidge, AZ
- Directions:
- Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. On Hwy 87, twenty miles north of I-10. Marked by official signs. It's in Coolidge, not the town of Casa Grande.
- Hours:
- May-Sep. daily 9-4; Oct-April daily 9-5 (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
- Phone:
- 520-723-3172
- Admission:
- Donations appreciated.
- RA Rates:
- Major Fun
- Houck, Arizona - F-Troop Ft. Courage - Vague Recollections
Fort Courage was the best place in the '70s. They had all the things you'd expect: Indian head bands, tomahawks, and all the F Troup trinkets. Even had an old Buffalo that used to live right next to the 100 year old hut made of logs and mud (which is still there and is in good shape).
Things have changed so much. The back buildings have become apartments, and there were a couple of wrecked vehicles parked in front of them. Really sad to see it this way. The tower is still there and you can still go up and look around. But for those of us who remember it, it will never be as it was.
[miss the old stuff, 05/27/2009]Fort Courage, Home of F Troop:- Address:
- N. Frontage Rd, Houck, AZ
- Directions:
- Exit 348 from I-40. Look for a fort.
- Hours:
- Closed, still standing. Local health policies may affect hours and access.
- Lupton, Arizona - Chief Yellowhorse - Vague Recollections
I remember this on our 1969 trip along Route 66 in Arizona like it was yesterday. I also know the signs are long gone, because I looked for them in 1975. Anyway, about a mile after the usual sign telling about souvenirs at Chief Yellowhorse, there was a sign warning "Chief Yellowhorse is a big rip-off!" Then came a sign telling about "Authentic Indian art work at Chief Yellowhorse," followed by a sign saying "Chief Yellowhorse's Indian art work is made in Japan!" This antiphon (look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls) of signs advertising and blasting Chief Yellowhorse went on for miles, and, and as we drove, we couldn't wait to see what the anti-Yellowhorse signs would say.
[Paul Rabe, 09/06/1998]Tipster Jim Ward reported in 1998: "Chief Yellowhorse's Roadside stand is still going strong. I stopped there last April on an Arizona roadtrip. The souvenir I bought was a glass paperweight containing a lump of cow dung and the inscription "Arizona Bullshit". The guy behind the counter said it was the only thing he sold actually made in Arizona."
Giant Tee Pee:RoadsideAmerica.com Team Field Report
- Address:
- Grant Rd, Lupton, AZ
- Directions:
- Tee Pee Trading Post. West of Lupton on the Arizona side of the AZ-NM border. I-40 exit 359 (Grant Rd).
- Picacho Peak, Arizona - Modern Ruins - Vague Recollections
This was the site of the "Der Fuhrer" restaurant. The large empty pole held the sign. At one time there were hundreds of military vehicles there, including a truck whose sides opened to reveal a shooting gallery complete with clay pipes etc. (A little odd for a war zone).
We used to stop and look around, but as far as I know it never opened. I do not know what the dome was for. The last time I was there was in 1980 and the owner came out of the house above the now defunct restaurant. He looked sickly and I guess this is why the place failed. At one time there were numerous restaurants at the park, they are mostly gone, although the best pistachios in Arizona (Arizona Nut House) are across the freeway at the park entrance. I still miss Nickersons restaurant, with a working beehive in the wall.
[Barry Patterson, 11/29/2008]Modern Ruins: Furrer's Museum and Restaurant:- Hours:
- Gone in the early 1980s.
- Status:
- Gone
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The Tumbleweed Tree is built and lit in December each year. It's spray-painted white and decorated with lights.