08/03/2023
Parker Anderson and I have a new book coming out Sept 2023 called "Haunted Mining Towns of Arizona". It covers so many of the mines in the state of Arizona and their ghost stories. Here is an excerpt from the book about Patagonia, Arizona.
Patagonia, Arizona
At an altitude of 4,050 feet, Patagonia is tucked away among the Sky Islands and home to about 900 people. The Coronado National Forest encircles the area, giving it a feeling of remoteness.
Sky Island refers to mountain ranges in the Arizona area that are floating habitat islands due to their height above the clouds.
It is said that the Welsh miners who had migrated from Patagonia, South America, are thought to have given Patagonia's region its name. They started referring to the area as the Patagonia Mountains.
Native Americans were the first people to live in the area. They discovered that the lush terrain around the Sonoita and Harshaw Creeks was ideal for a way of life full of hunting and fishing opportunities. Spanish explorers arrived in the region close to the Mexican border in 1539.
Father Kino arrived in the region in 1692 as a missionary to convert the locals to Catholicism. They found Sonoita Creek in 1698 and went there to meet the native inhabitants of the Arizona region.
It became challenging to mine or raise livestock in the area as the Apache started conducting raids in the late 1700s. Many miners and homesteaders gave up and fled as a result of the constant attacks.
When the Gadsden Purchase was signed in 1853, mining activity picked back up. Order was restored when American troops were dispatched to the region in 1856. But because of the start of the Civil War, the troops were pulled out, which allowed the Apache to resume their rampage.
In 1867, when the war was over, the army was ordered back, setting up a camp, and mining and ranching resumed.
Rollin Rice Richardson, a rancher and Civil War veteran, invested in the Patagonia Mountains region in the 1890s, which included mines and a ranch. He paid a Tucson surveyor to draw up the settlement's boundaries. In 1899, he requested the opening of a post office and named the community Rollin in his honor. The locals opposed this notion and wanted it named after the Patagonia mountains. In 1900, it was acknowledged as the town's administrative name.
Patagonia featured three hotels, an opera theater, a schoolhouse, a two-story train depot, two parks, numerous shops and saloons, and running water in 1900. As the stock market crashed in 1929, the region experienced uncertainty. Also, the summer rains contributed to floods and the destruction of most bridges. By November of that year, the railroad had submitted a request for approval to cut its Patagonia–Mexico route.
Although Patagonia's economy has had ups and downs, it is steadfast in its commitment to and love for its people. The town's citizens requested incorporation in 1947; on February 10 of that year, it became official.
As financial difficulties returned to Patagonia in 1957, the mill and power plant closed. The railroad abandoned the depot and began removing the tracks in a month. The town's primary source of income was gone.
When the last ore was shipped in 1960 and the last of the railroad line was removed in 1962, a Patagonia resident bought the depot in 1964 to keep it from being demolished. A year later he sold it to the local Rotary Club who began restoring it. The station grounds were donated to the town and made into a Town Park in 1966. The restored depot is now the municipal offices of Patagonia.
A resident of Patagonia purchased the depot in 1964 to prevent it from being demolished after the final shipment of ore was made in 1960 and the final removal of the railroad line in 1962. He sold it to a local club, which wanted to renovate and save the structure. They started renovating it a year later. In 1966, the town received a donation of the station grounds, which became the Town Park. The Patagonia municipal offices are now in what was once the old depot.
The Town Park today is a favorite place for the locals to enjoy quiet walks, family picnics, and annual festivals. The oak and willow trees lined the park, providing shade in the summer and stunning autumn colors in the fall. Walking along the park, you will notice the shops, galleries, and restaurants you can explore.
Patagonia Lake was established in 1968 due to a dam erected south of the town, and it became a state park in 1974. It is a man-made reservoir just southwest of the town of Patagonia. It is now a popular area for boating and sport fishing. There are camping areas, picnic areas, table and grill areas, and cabins you can rent. Visit the Arizona State Park website for more information about this park.
Today, hikers, international bird watchers, and cyclists congregate in or stay the night in Patagonia. A gravel cyclist’s paradise, the Arizona Trail is bike-friendly. An outdoor restaurant, The Cyclist's Menu, has a bike shop and space heaters for winter, where the riders congregate. A board outside the restaurant lists the Cycling Regulations. On a Saturday morning when Wilson and her friends were in Patagonia, the cyclists gathered, sipping coffee, chatting with friends, and getting ready for their adventure.
Wilson and her friends fell in love with the town, the people, and the region's stunning beauty on our trip to Patagonia in November 2022. When we arrived in town, late at night we passed a building called Velvet Elvis La Mision. The next morning, of cours,e we had to check it out. We had the privilege of meeting the owner, Cecilia San Miguel. A beautiful woman with an incredible imagination and a strong belief in following your heart and vision. "The universe will support you," Cecilia said. And it is.
Walking through the doors, you are transported to another world — a world of color, history, and mystical beauty like no other in Arizona. You come to an abrupt stop, mouth wide open, stunned into silence at the impressive grandness of this 5,000-square-foot restaurant.
You are greeted by the most stunning wood carving of Archangel Michael — the spiritual warrior in the battle of good versus evil. The enormous room has different sitting areas, a comfortable sofa, table and chairs, and brilliant, colorful murals and art. In the back of the sitting area is the most impressive bar. “Insert pic. 069”
The menu runs from salads and freshly baked breads to calzones and Stromboli, designer pizzas, and mouth-watering desserts. Check the website for more information about the Velvet Elvis at La Mision. https://www.velvetelvislamision.com/
One story Cecilia shared with us was that while the construction was going on, she had a small apartment built inside the restaurant where she lived. At night, when it was very, very cold, she would put on her long white fur coat to keep herself warm. She'd walk around the restaurant, inspecting everything and making plans for what she wanted to be done. We joked that people walking through the park late at night saw the "Lady in White" ghost wandering around the restaurant and that renovations really do agitate the spirits.
Haunted? With this much history? Most definitely. The paranormal activity I heard about was from people who are visiting the area. They report strange activity such as shadows hanging around the old train depot.
Although there is no evidence to suggest that Patagonia is haunted, the surrounding abandoned mining camps, towns and cemeteries do have activity.
The old B/W pictures courtesy of Nancy Burgess of Prescott, AZ
Velvet Elvis pictures courtesy of Darlene Wilson of Prescott, AZ