Last Stop in Arizona As We Head East
- ahschneid
- 14 minutes ago
- 11 min read
We arrived in Benson Arizona on 4 March 2026 for one week. We arrived with aspirations to see quite a bit, so we made a list and planned to see sites on certain days while in Benson. Anita got the Yuma blog posting done in the morning of the 5th, and then we went out to Tombstone and Bisbee in the afternoon. We saw that Tombstone offers trolley tours, so we decided to go there later in our week and focus on an underground mine tour in Bisbee that day. We got in to the 2pm mine tour and donned our neon green vests, hard hats and lights before boarding the train. It was interesting (much more to Steve than Anita), and we enjoyed the ride. On our way to Tombstone we had noticed Holy Trinity Monastery in a little town called St. David. Anita looked it up and it was a Benedictine Monastery from 1974-2017. It currently serves as a retreat center. We learned at the Tombstone Visitor Center later in the week that if the gates are open, it is open for driving through.
SKP Saguaro Co-OP RV Park - Benson Arizona - 4 March 2026
Dragoon Mountains East at Sunset
SKP Saguaro Co-OP RV Park - Benson Arizona - 4 March 2026
Dragoon Mountains
SKP Saguaro Co-OP RV Park - Benson Arizona - 4 March 2026
Mountains west
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
Underground Copper Mine Tour
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
Underground Copper Mine Tour
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
Underground Copper Mine Tour
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
Underground Copper Mine Tour
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
Underground Copper Mine Tour
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
Underground Copper Mine Tour
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
Underground Copper Mine Tour
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
Underground Copper Mine Tour
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
Underground Copper Mine Tour
They also used Morse Code to communicate...
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
Underground Copper Mine Tour
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
Underground Copper Mine Tour
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
Underground Copper Mine Tour
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
Underground Copper Mine Tour
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
Underground Copper Mine Tour
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
Castle Rock
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
The Lavender Pit
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
The Lavender Pit
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
The Lavender Pit
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
The Lavender Pit
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
The Lavender Pit
Bisbee Arizona - 5 March 2026
On 6 March we drove out to Chiricahua National Monument which is spectacularly beautiful! We did a couple of short hikes in the morning and then the 3.3 mile loop through Echo Canyon after lunch. We were pooped by the end of the afternoon hike, but it was a good tired. We enjoyed our day at Chiricahua National Monument, but really felt like all the pictures just didn’t do it justice.
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Alligator Juniper
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Gray breasted Jay
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Organ Pipe Formation
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Cochise Head
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Harris Mountain
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Mushroom Rock
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
We saw lots of slot canyons...
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Echo Canyon Grottoes
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Echo Canyon Grottoes
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
We were impressed with the horses' handling of the steep rocky trail...
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
Chiricahua National Monument - Willcox Arizona - 6 March 2026
On Saturday morning (7th), we took a tour of the Escapee Co-Op park we’re staying in. When we checked in, among the paperwork we received was a form to sign up for an informational golf cart tour of about 2 hours. Our tour guide was Betty and she was a wealth of information. She took us inside a couple of the “casitas” which are no larger than 288 square feet. Some residents use them as sheds for storage, but many use them as an extra room or guest quarter. With the park being a Co-Op, it is maintained by volunteers who live in the park and they have a very nice system that allows anyone living or visiting in the park to use tools or anything they may need. We enjoyed the tour then Anita did laundry. Prices to do laundry are always better at Escapee parks. It also happens that for our stays at Escapee parks it’s been our first time, so we get crazy good deals for a week’s stay, like this one for $80 for the week. Benson is our 4th Escapee Co-Op park that we’ve stayed in. We also stayed in Congress, AZ, Chimacum WA, and Pahrump, NV. We plan to stay at another one in New Mexico on our trip eastward.
We attended mass at 5pm at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Benson. After mass we ate dinner in town at a restaurant recommended by Betty that morning. We stopped at the live music in the activity center on our way home. The live music and dancing was from 7pm-9pm and free to residents and guests. We had a good time listening to the music and we even danced to a few songs.
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church - Benson Arizona - 7 March 2026
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church - Benson Arizona - 7 March 2026
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church - Benson Arizona - 7 March 2026
SKP Saguaro RV Park - 7 March 2026
Sunday (8th), we got an early start to drive to Patagonia Arizona for birding at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds. Anita recently got new binoculars and it was the first time using them to see birds up close. It was great to see the detail in the tiny hummingbirds. With many feeders and nice trees and shrubbery, The Paton Center for Hummingbirds is world-renown among birders. With our early start, we had arrived around 8:30am and we got to see many of the hummingbirds along with other species. Our drive there was through Sierra Vista and Fort Huachuca, an old stomping ground for Anita when she was stationed there for 3 months for training in 1994. As expected, it’s been developed quite a bit and looks to be thriving. On our way back to Benson we went to the Ramsey Canyon Preserve. Other birders at the Paton Center had told us about it that morning. We didn’t see many birds at Ramsey, but we got a good hike in. We managed to get home around 5pm and enjoyed being home that evening.
Paton Center for Hummingbirds - Patagonia Arizona - 8 March 2026
Violet crowned hummingbird
Paton Center for Hummingbirds - Patagonia Arizona - 8 March 2026
Gambel's Quail
Paton Center for Hummingbirds - Patagonia Arizona - 8 March 2026
Hepatic Tanager first one ever seen by Steve
Paton Center for Hummingbirds - Patagonia Arizona - 8 March 2026
Paton Center for Hummingbirds - Patagonia Arizona - 8 March 2026
Broad-billed hummingbird male
Paton Center for Hummingbirds - Patagonia Arizona - 8 March 2026
Violet crowned hummingbird
Paton Center for Hummingbirds - Patagonia Arizona - 8 March 2026
Arizona White Tail Deer
Paton Center for Hummingbirds - Patagonia Arizona - 8 March 2026
Paton Center for Hummingbirds - Patagonia Arizona - 8 March 2026
Paton Center for Hummingbirds - Patagonia Arizona - 8 March 2026
Ramsey Canyon Preserve - Hereford Arizona - 8 March 2026
Near Sierra Vista Arizona
Ramsey Canyon Preserve - Hereford Arizona - 8 March 2026
Ramsey Canyon Preserve - Hereford Arizona - 8 March 2026
Ramsey Canyon Preserve - Hereford Arizona - 8 March 2026
Ramsey Canyon Preserve - Hereford Arizona - 8 March 2026
Ramsey Canyon Preserve - Hereford Arizona - 8 March 2026
Ramsey Canyon Preserve - Hereford Arizona - 8 March 2026
On Monday the 9th, we went back to Tombstone to do a trolley tour of the town. The town itself is registered as a National Historic Landmark District. We ended up getting a combo ticket which included a gunfight and the tour. During the trolly tour we learned that Tombstone, Arizona, was named after a warning given to prospector Ed Schieffelin in 1877. While searching for silver in Apache territory near modern-day Tombstone, a soldier at Fort Huachuca told him, "The only stone you will find out there will be your tombstone". Schieffelin ignored this, discovered silver, and named his first mine "Tombstone". Tombstone is really a tourist trap with so many things to do that nickel and dime you at every turn. We paid again to see world’s largest rose bush (tree). The Internet describes it as: The world's largest rose tree (or bush) is a White Lady Banksia located at the Rose Tree Museum in Tombstone, Arizona. Planted in 1885, it covers over 9,000 square feet, features a 12-foot circumference trunk, and blooms with thousands of white roses every spring.
During our trolley tour we also learned that back in the mining days, Tombstone had 20,000 residents making it the second largest city west of the Mississippi River. At that time, Tombstone had 110 bars, and even more brothels! There were many Chinese immigrants who came to Tombstone for a better life. Hoptown was the Chinese section of Tombstone. One of the immigrants was China Mary, a prominent, respected Chinese businesswoman who ruled Hoptown in 1880s-1900s. She owned a general store, restaurants, boarding houses, and opium dens, while also acting as a, sometimes charitable, community leader. She is buried in Boothill Cemetery.
After the trolley tour we drove to see the Birdcage Theater, the Tombstone’s Boothill Graveyard, the Sacred Heart Catholic Church which was established in 1881 and the oldest municipal swimming pool in Arizona, also built in 1881. The Tombstone City Pool is one of the last remaining cement pools of its kind in the United States. We didn’t pay to see inside the Birdcage Theater nor the Boothill Graveyard and the church was locked, so it sufficed for us to see the outsides. On our way home to Benson, we saw that gate open at the Holy Trinity Monastery. We drove through and saw that it has a bird sanctuary, a nice chapel and even an RV Park. The gift shop was closed, so we didn’t talk to anyone there, but it was nice to see. The grounds are well maintained and it looks like a nice location for retreats.
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Rose Tree Museum
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Rose Tree Museum
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Rose Tree Museum
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Rose Tree Museum
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Rose Tree Museum
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Rose Tree Museum
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Rose Tree Museum
We had heard during the trolley tour about a woman in the mining days with a "big nose". Turned out that it was NOT her nose that was big, but that she stuck her nose in others' business.
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Rose Tree Museum
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Rose Tree Museum - World's Largest Rose Bush
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Rose Tree Museum - World's Largest Rose Bush
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Rose Tree Museum - World's Largest Rose Bush
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Roads are much like they were in 1880's
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Bird Cage Theater
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Bird Cage Theater
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Bird Cage Theater
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Bird Cage Theater
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Lobby of Bird Cage Theater
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Lobby of Bird Cage Theater
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Lobby of Bird Cage Theater
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Lobby of Bird Cage Theater
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Lobby of Bird Cage Theater
Reenactor who spoke about Bird Cage Theater and offered tours beyond the lobby for $19ea. We didn't see anyone take him up on it as we all exited the building...
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Lobby of Bird Cage Theater
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Lobby of Bird Cage Theater
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Lobby of Bird Cage Theater
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Lobby of Bird Cage Theater
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Sacred Heart Church
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Sacred Heart Church
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Sacred Heart Church - Church middle 1881
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Sacred Heart Church
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Sacred Heart Church
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Sacred Heart Church
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Behind Sacred Heart Church
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Behind Sacred Heart Church
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Tombstone City Pool - Circa 1881
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Tombstone City Pool
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Someone's home near the Tombstone City Pool...
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Boothill Graveyard
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Boothill Graveyard
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Boothill Graveyard
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Boothill Graveyard
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Boothill Graveyard
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Boothill Graveyard
Tombstone Arizona - 9 March 2026
Boothill Graveyard
Holy Trinity Monastery - St. David Arizona - 9 March 2026
Holy Trinity Monastery - St. David Arizona - 9 March 2026
Today (10 March) we spent getting things put away and doing some cleaning before we leave Benson tomorrow to head to City of Rocks State Park in New Mexico. We'll be there for just a couple of nights, then on to another SKP park near Carlsbad New Mexico, where we'll stay for a week as we get closer to our final destination of Livingston Texas by 24 March for our annual doctor and dentist appointments. We're taking our time and driving only between 200-225 miles each time we move.
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