Arizona – Travel Cures https://travelcures.org Beating Depression Via Travel Thu, 06 May 2021 04:53:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 https://i0.wp.com/travelcures.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cropped-android-chrome-512x512-1.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Arizona – Travel Cures https://travelcures.org 32 32 194876689 Abandoned Seneca Lake Resort https://travelcures.org/2021/05/05/seneca-lake-resort/ Wed, 05 May 2021 01:28:17 +0000 https://travelcures.org/?p=223

The abandoned Seneca Lake Resort is located about halfway between Globe and Show Low Arizona just off highway 60. The San Carlos Apache Tribe began construction in 1970 and it opened in 1971 as Cinema Park. The Tribe borrowed $524,000 to build the existing buildings that you can see the remains of currently. 

 

They were planning to expand the park to include an 80-unit motel, golf course, and riding stables were also planned in the near future. However, for unknown reasons shortly after the park opened, the tribe defaulted on their loan and abandoned the resort. The buildings have since seen considerable vandalism as shown below.

  • Seneca Lake Vandalism
  • Seneca Lake Vandalism
  • Seneca Lake Vandalism
  • Seneca Lake Vandalism
  • Seneca Lake Vandalism

Despite the vandalism, the buildings are currently still largely intact as of May 2021. Some of them are starting to see considerable decay though, so you might want to try and make it out before it's too late if you're into abandoned buildings and ghost town type stuff. If you simply cannot, enjoy my YouTube video tour of the main building below.

My video tour of the buildings was during the height of the pandemic and the road to the lake itself was blocked with a sign "Closed due to COVID 19." However, when I returned  on April 29, 2021 the road had been opened back up and I was able to shoot some footage of the lake and campground area shown below.

If you follow the paved road all the way back, it eventually dead-ends (you can take a dirt forest road just before that, although I'm not sure where that road will take you). The paved road is heavily eroded, so take it slow, especially if you're in a standard sedan with little ground clearance. 

 

This area further back kind of gave me the creeps, but this may simply be due to the fact that I happened upon an ornery looking character that stared me down until I turned back around. This might actually make for a nice peaceful area for a picnic if you're in a group and happen by when no one else is there. Below are a few more pictures of some of the structures.

  • Seneca Lake Abandoned BuildingSeneca Lake Abandoned Building
  • Seneca Lake Abandoned Building
  • Seneca Lake Abandoned Building
  • Seneca Lake Abandoned Building
  • Seneca Lake Abandoned Building
  • Seneca Lake Abandoned Building

As you can see, while the buildings are still standing, all the windows have been broken out, the doors kicked down and the elements are starting to take a foot hold. Below is the location on Google Maps if you would like to visit before it's too late.

]]> 223 Old Safford Bridge https://travelcures.org/2021/03/11/old-safford-bridge/ https://travelcures.org/2021/03/11/old-safford-bridge/#respond Thu, 11 Mar 2021 23:18:55 +0000 https://travelcures.org/?p=117
On Top of The Old Safford Bridge
Old Safford Bridge

Walking on top of the Old Safford Bridge built in 1918.

The Old Safford Bridge is probably a lesser known area. I don't recall recall ever reading about it in any Arizona Tourism books and I have perused quite a few.

 

The area around the bridge has been turned into a nice picnic area (there are picnic spots on both sides of the bridge) and also serves as a river put in for the Gila River for those of you who may want to float down the river.

Gila River Put In Sign
Sign Detailing the Rules & Fees

Day use fee for the river put in is $3 per person with a maximum group size of 15. For additional information call BLM Safford Field Office at 928-348-4400 or visit at 711 14th Avenue Safford, AZ 85546. Photo taken August of 2020. Rates and contact info may have changed since.

The Old Safford Bridge Put In is a day use only area. However, the Owl Creek Campground is located only 1 mile East of the put in and offers some scenic views at a reasonable rate. I believe it was $5/night when I visited, definitely not more than $10. You can call the BLM Office at 928-348-4400 to verify the current rate. The campground has 7 camping unit spaces, picnic tables, grills, ramadas, and pit toilets (non-flushing chemical outhouses). Bring your own water.

Owl Creek Campground View
Owl Creek Campground

Looking down on the Old Safford Bridge from Owl Creek Campground

Turn Off For Owl Creek Campground
Turn off for Owl Creek Campground

Look for this sign to know when to turn for the Campground

If you search for Old Safford Bridge on Google Maps it will provide correct navigation to reach the area. However, it will bring you in from Clifton, AZ skipping most of the Black Hills Scenic Byway.

 

If you have some time to spare, I recommended taking the scenic route via Black Hills Scenic Byway. If you are heading North on the US-191 from Safford, AZ look for the turn around milepost 139 on the left. When I drove the road back in August of 2020 just about any car would make it but something with a little clearance would be best. I doubt you would need 4WD in good weather. 

Horses on Black Hills Scenic ByWay
Horse Trifecta

I spotted these horses on the side of the road as I was driving along the Black Hills Scenic Byway on my way to Clifton, AZ.

Once you get to the Old Safford Bridge Put In, it is a short walk (maybe 20-50 feet) to the Gila River and the area offers the shade of many trees.

  • Gila River
  • Gila River
  • Old Safford Bridge

Now that you know what to expect when you get there, here's a little history for those who are curious. 

 

Back in 1917, part of the Black Hills Scenic Byway was known as Clifton-Solomonville Road. Most of it was designed to follow the mountain ridges avoiding the need for costly bridges. However, one was necessary to cross the Gila River.

 

It was originally going to be a steel deck arch bridge designed by State Engineer Thomas Maddock. Thomas estimated the bridge to cost $60,000 but actual construction bids exceeded the budget so that bridge design was scrapped.

 

The state changed the design to a single 270 foot open-spandrel arch with concrete girder approaches. But that was also scrapped.

 

In March 2018, the design was again changed by the new State Engineer B.M. Atwood to two equal-span Luten arches. This brought construction costs to within $200 of the original budget and the bridge was built.

 

Below are some quick facts about the bridge:

  • Built 1918 by the Topeka Bridge & Iron Co.; rehabilitated 1997

  • Total length: 287.7 ft.

  • Length of largest span: 122.7 ft.

  • Deck width: 16.7 ft.

  • Average Daily Traffic (As of 2015): 50
Sources:
B& W Photo From Arizona Historic Bridge Inventory
BH Photo #195080

 

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