|
Latest Forest Restrictions SUBMITTED BY: Gary on 07/24/08 - 6:38 PM SUBJECT: The Strawberry WeatherCam Love the new webcam... my wife and I will be there on Saturday, July 26... do you serve breakfast or do we have to go down to The Lodge? Gary & Liz REPLY: That's pretty funny, Gary... we had a guy eMail us just the other day asking if we were The Lodge... seems like everybody's a comedian these days! Hope the weather stays nice for you... drive carefully, and enjoy your weekend. Michael @ RimCountry.Com REPLY TO REPLY: Thanks Michael, We will be in the area the entire week on vacation... we have a place in Pine and just can't wait until retirement to be up there full-time! I go to your webcam often to just unwind a little while I'am at work. Enjoyed watching the rain yesterday... thanks again! Gary & Liz - - - SUBMITTED BY: Danny on 05/19/08 - 2:25 PM SUBJECT: Young / Pleasant Valley Jenn and Michael, You guys seem to be the know-it-alls of the Payson / Rim Country area! I have gleaned a lot of info from you and thank you for the good service you provide. I also got a good laugh out of some of them! My question is about Young. Two years ago I was up in Pleasant Valley and talked to a young man [no pun intended] who was just starting an RV park and I became highly interested in relocating my motor home there. I fell in love with the place. Unfortunately, since then I had some serious medical problems and somehow lost his phone number. I'm an Arizona resident in Black Canyon City and the heat is now too much for me to bear. I was wondering if you guys would have a number for this gentleman so that I could contact him and inquire about full-time use? I would appreciate any and all information you could render. Thanks, Desert Rat Dan REPLY: Hi Danny, My Young woman (pun intended) tells me that the RV park has recently changed hands... you'll want to talk to a Ms. Brenda Waite at (928) 462-3000. She (the Young woman), further tells me that when Ms. Waite took over the RV park, she changed some of the rules, and those changes may or may not affect you, so you should definitely call before pulling up stakes and driving the motor home up the long and dusty road to Pleasant Valley... although, even on a bad day, it is worth he trip. On the off chance that you decide you'd rather purchase your own personal plot of land where you could park your RV in compliance with your own rules, my Young woman suggested that I also give you her name and number... she's a REALTOR®, and a resident native of the area: Renée Zeising ERA Young Realty (928) 462-3530 or 462-3712. Best of luck! Michael @ RimCountry.Com - - - SUBMITTED BY: Jack on 05/17/08 - 7:07 AM SUBJECT: Real Estate Magazine We have family in Phoenix and are looking at moving to the area soon (both retired). We want to be close to Phoenix, but up where you are, away from the crowds and intense heat. Is there any way we could get on the distribution list for a Rim Country real estate publication? If so, please advise as to what we need to do. Thank you. Jack REPLY: Good morning, Jack... Just send a mailing address and we'll forward it to one of the participating Realtor advertisers in our "hard copy" sister publication, Rim Country REVIEW... or you could contact any one of them directly... they'll gladly add you to their mailing list. If you have a specific area in mind... like right in town or further out in the "suburbs", either to the north, east or south... you might want to choose someone who specializes in that area. Just let us know when you send your mailing address, and we'll make sure it gets sent to someone knowledgable in your preferred area. Thank you for your interest. Michael @ RimCountry.Com - - - SUBMITTED BY: Jeanne on 01/21/08 - 6:20 PM SUBJECT: Relocating My husband and I are in the beginning stages of finding someplace to retire when our youngest graduates from college in 3 years. We want to see what Arizona has to offer and what it does for my husband's arthritis. We have both lived in the Chicago area all our lives, and from what I have found on the Internet, winter shouldn't be a problem for us. Summer on the other hand might be for me. We are planning to visit the Rim Country in July and would appreciate information on the area - the housing market, 'water issues', hospitals, and the job market. Anything you can do to help prepare us for this visit would be appreciated. We won't be ready to buy for a few years yet, but I'm an early planner and want to know our options. When we visit in July, we would like to look at some properties to get an idea of what's available in our price range... $200,000 at the top end. Any help you can provide would be appreciated. The links on this page definitely peaked my interest in the Rim Country! Thank you, Jeanne REPLY: Hi Jeanne, To be honest, the best thing I could do for you would be to refer you to a Realtor... they are, after all, professionals in your area of interest, something I most certainly am not. In order to make the referral a good one, I would ask you if you could elaborate a bit on what type of property you'd eventually prefer... the region has everything from small rustic cabins tucked away in the woods, to citified subdivisions close to shopping, from convenient condominium communities to custom hilltop chalets, from sprawling horse ranches to homes on golf courses. The area itself is comprised of the Town of Payson and its several outlying "suburbs"... East Verde Estates, Pine, Strawberry and Happy Jack to the north; Star Valley, Christopher Creek, Forest Lakes and Heber-Overgaard to the east; and Gibson Ranch, Round Valley, Gisela, Tonto Basin and Lake Roosevelt to the south. If you can pin down one or two priorities in each of these areas - type of property and community - that would help me greatly in narrowing down a list of folks who would be well qualified and more than happy to help you work toward your future here in Central Arizona's Rim Country. Michael @ RimCountry.Com - - - SUBMITTED BY: Kristi on 01/18/08 - 2:21 PM SUBJECT: Horses Do you know of anywhere to rent horses for the day up in Pine or Strawberry or even Payson? Thanks! REPLY: Not this time of year, Kristi... and I'm hearing that even in the warmer months, insurance costs have driven many away from renting out their stables. Most will board if you own a horse, but that's they way it seems to be going. Sorry, Michael @ RimCountry.Com - - - SUBMITTED BY: Billy on 04/19/07 - 8:59 PM SUBJECT: Off Roading near Payson I am planning an off road / camping trip in the Payson / Verde River area next month. I see a trail on my topo map that runs from the end of FS 194 and ends where the Verde and East Verde rivers come together. Any info on trail condition, fire restrictions and back country camping would be appreciated. Thank you. Billy REPLY: Billy Finally got a call back from Forestry on your inquiry. FS 194 out of Strawberry is a pretty good road. The lower half of it that forks off Fossil Creek Road is graded, but once you're up on Hardscrabble Mesa it gets a bit rutted and there are some pretty good-sized rocks... nothing you can't drive around, though. The last time I was up there, the condition of the roads were such that I wouldn't take anything but a compact, high-clearance 4x4 or quads beyond the mesa. There are good camping, even RV spots up top, but I've never been down to the river from there, so it would pay to scout it out from about Twin Buttes, past the westerly end of the Randall ranch up on the mesa. Should be just above the 2-F coordinates on your Tonto National Forestry map. As for fire restrictions, although we've had good rains lately, Forestry is still issuing cautionary statements, suggesting that vehicles stay on existing roads, that campers use existing fire rings, that sort of thing, but there are no official restrictions as of this morning. It does get dry quickly up here, though, so you may want to check with the Ranger for the most current conditions a day or so before you leave. (928) 474-7900 Enjoy! Michael @ RimCountry.Com - - - SUBMITTED BY: Joe on 03/08/07 - 2:36 PM SUBJECT: East Verde River Water Temperature I am trying to figure what the maximum water temp would be at the Flowing Springs section of the East Verde river would be? And, at what time of the month does it occur. ? thanks Joe REPLY: Joe It's not often we draw a complete blank here, but we've utterly failed at finding anyone willing to put a number on the water temperature of the East Verde River. I'm afraid that the best we're going to be able to do is to share with you the opinion of American Whitewater, an organization of whitewater kayaking enthusiasts: "The water temperature is very cold, so wearing wetsuits or drysuits with a base layer is recommended to prevent hypothermia." Source: http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/116/ Sorry, Michael @ RimCountry.Com REPLY TO REPLY: SUBMITTED BY: Joe on 03/09/07 - 12:56 AM That quote is in reference to snow melt in the spring when kayakers would be present and they are referring to the Verde River. So it would be cold. I guess I'll just wait till the dead of summer and stick a thermometer in the water. But thanks anyway for trying. Joe - - - SUBMITTED BY: Kim on 12/11/06 - 5:22 PM SUBJECT: East Verde Estates Is there an isp with dsl or cable available in East Verde Estates or East Verde Park. That area is about 4.5 miles north of Payson on State Route 87. Thank you Kim REPLY: Kim I am told that our local phone company, Qwest, does not yet offer DSL in the East Verde Park subdivision, nor is Canyon Broadband, a local wireless ISP, available in that area yet. For current service expansion forecasts, you should contact them directly: Qwest - http://www.qwest.com/index.html Canyon Broadband - http://www.cbiwireless.com/ Thank you for your interest, Jenn @ RimCountry.Com - - - SUBMITTED BY: Janice on 09/21/06 - 4:17 PM SUBJECT: Tax Rate for Sedona Good Morning, We recently spent a weekend in Sedona in an RV Park and were charged at the rate of 12.5% which I thought was very high. Is this normal for Arizona RV Parks? Thank you for your help. Jan REPLY: Hi Jan, That does seem a bit high, but that's Sedona / Coconino-Yavapai County. We're in northern Gila Country here. I just checked with the Payson Chamber of Commerce and they are quoting the following retail tax rates: Town of Payson - 2.12%, Gila County - 1%, State of Arizona - 5.6%, for a grand total of 8.72%. If the RV park is not within the town limits, you should expect it to be less than that amount, of course. Happy camping, Michael @ RimCountry.Com - - - SUBMITTED BY: Jim & Sue on 07/20/06 - 12:05 PM SUBJECT: DSL We will be moving to Payson next year. I was wondering if there is DSL service, or any other internet service beside dial-up there. Thanks, Jim REPLY: Yes, Jim... Payson now has it all! You can have your broadband either as DSL through Qwest, through CableVision the local cable TV provider, or via our new wireless ISP, Canyon Broadband. Jenn @ RimCountry.Com - - - SUBMITTED BY: Martin on 07/14/06 - 6:19 AM SUBJECT: Fire restrictions We would like to go camping at Woods Canyon Lake this weekend. Are there any fire restrictions? REPLY: Hi Martin, As of right now, there are no open fires, not even in fire rings. Camp stoves only. You should always call the Forest Ranger first, though, in case they change. (928) 535-4481 Thank you for caring enough to check, Jenn @ RimCountry.Com - - - SUBMITTED BY: Diana on 07/07/06 - 8:35 AM SUBJECT: Telephone and internet service What phone, internet, and cable services are available in Christopher Creek, more specifically, Colcord Estates - we purchased a home there and I notice that several residents have a "satellite dish", but we get no reception on our cellular phones after leaving Payson. Diana REPLY: Diana, Those satellite dishes you see are most probably for TV and/or internet. TV service, as well as internet connectivity, is provided by both Dish Network and DirecTV. Signals are received from satellites positioned high above the earth, and as long as your cabin has reasonable exposure to the southern sky, these services should work fine. Cellular phone service, however, is a different matter. These antennas are earth-bound, positioned on towers located atop mountain ridges throughout the Rim Country. Many canyons are in the "shadows" of these towers where cell signals can be non-existent or spotty at best. As to my knowledge, only in Europe do cell phones communicate by satellite. An alternative to consider might be Vonage or some other VoIP (internet-based) phone service. There is also a local wireless internet service provider, Canyon Broadband, that uses a similar, roof-mounted, dish-shaped parabolic antenna, but as yet offers no TV or VoIP phone service. Michael @ RimCountry.Com - - - SUBMITTED BY: Steve on 06/27/06 - 7:15 AM SUBJECT: Tell me about Payson Thanks for the great info. We will be taking a trip out there towards the end of summer to see it for ourselves. It sounds like a good combination of factors. One question: Can you characterize Pine and Strawberry compared to Payson proper? Especially with regard to home costs, city services, and any other pluses or minuses. Thanks! Steve REPLY: Glad we could help, Steve. As for Pine and Strawberry, most folks consider them to be bedroom communities to the "big city" of Payson, since there are very few jobs in either. The towns are 16 and 20 miles north of and 1000 and 1500 feet higher than Payson, respectively, and the commute is still a rather harrowing gauntlet of mountain and canyon driving on a shoulderless, 2-lane blacktop with but one real passing lane the entire distance. The scenery, though, helps ease the frustration of being the sixth car behind a Minnesota snowbird doing 45. There are no city services in the proper sense because the towns are in unincorporated areas of the county, but we all have water, power and phone service, and police protection is provided by the county SO down in Payson (Arizona is an open carry state, so it's not unusual to see firearms worn in public, helping keep crime rates remarkably low). There are two waste disposal outfits that cruise the neighborhoods, we have cable TV and satellite TV (unless you're in the trees on a north-facing slope), and although cell service is spotty at best due to the rugged terrain, Qwest DSL has finally made it here, so nothing else really matters. Property values have just gone through something similar to what has happened just about everywhere else in the country -- we've probably seen the equivalent of a 25% annual increase over the last two years. It's really tough for young families trying to move up, but it's been pretty good for folks who bought five to ten years ago and were looking to cash out. As a rule of thumb, for the same dollar amount you will typically get more livable square footage on a larger lot in Strawberry than in Pine, and in Pine than in Payson.... IF you can find what you want. Right now is a good time, however, as inventory in the outlying communities as well as in town seems to be increasing. By the end of summer, who knows... things may be even better. Although the rapid run-up in prices has startled many of the locals, my work takes me out to the coast at least four times a year and from what I see, we are still quite a bargain by comparison. Have a safe trip! Michael @ RimCountry.Com - - - SUBMITTED BY: Ashlee on 06/12/06 - 5:54 AM SUBJECT: Camping and Quads? I would like to know where, if any, is a place to camp and ride quads. Any information is appreciated. We normally go to Woods Canyon but I don't think you can ride there. Also what are the fire conditions currently? Thank you so much, Ashlee REPLY: Fire conditions are currently at the EXTREME level, Ashlee, in and around Payson, Pine, Strawberry and Christopher Creek. Basically, that means you can't take your quad off-road anywhere in the Rim Country. Even some of the forest service roads north of Highway 260 on top of the Rim are off limits until the rains come, hopefully in July. The entire Tonto National Forest is completely closed to campfires, not even in fire rings, and it's unlikely any of this will change before the monsoons. I think one of the few good rides left would be the Control Road (FR 64) that runs just below the Rim. You could start at either end and there is "at large" camping at both locations, from the trailhead on Highway 87 just south of Pine, or at the throwdown 25 miles to the east on Highway 260. Just remember -- the Rangers are serious about no fires. Michael @ RimCountry.Com - - - SUBMITTED BY: Scott on 06/06/06 - 5:54 AM SUBJECT: Thank you I just wanted to thank you for doing your part in keeping the memory and lessons of 9/11 alive. Too quickly did we as a nation forget what happened that day. I still get tears in my eyes when I see these images. God bless the USA! Scott REPLY: Thank you for noticing, Scott, and for taking the time to comment. Michael @ RimCountry.Com - - - SUBMITTED BY: Pete on 05/19/06 - 10:12 AM SUBJECT: Trailer space? I'd like to find a place to put my Travel Trailer for the summer. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Sure would like to find something semi-remote with services. Pete & Anita REPLY: Pete, Please check with these locations: Ox Bow Estates RV Park (928) 474-2042 Payson RV Park (928) 472-2267 Cy’s Shady Rest RV Park (928) 474-8222 Houston Creek RV Park (928) 474-2636 Lamplighter RV Park (928) 474-5048 Lazy “D” Ranch RV Park (928) 474-2442 - - - SUBMITTED BY: Don on 03/04/06 - 3:29 PM SUBJECT: Control Road I will be visiting your area about April 16, 2006 and would like to know about Control Road. I am planning on traveling this road from Tonto Village all the way to Highway 87. Is is feasible in April and what condition is the road? I will be driving a car without 4 wheel drive. I understand that this road goes along the Mogollon Rim and is very scenic. Since I live in Michigan I am not familiar with this part of Arizona, I would appreciate any information you can provide. We are planning on driving from Pinetop to Payson and thought this might be a slow, but different route. Don REPLY: Don, As long as there is no heavy rain or snow, you should have a great time driving Control Road west from Tonto Village to where it intersects with Highway 87, just south of Pine. It's fairly well maintained (graded) by the county, and all you'll need to worry about is a little washboard here and there. Again, as long as it hasn't been rutted by rain or made impassable by snow, a two-wheel drive vehicle should do fine. You can check for current conditions with the proprietor of the little market / bar on the right-hand side of the road just as you enter Tonto Village. The views from atop the Rim are spectacular, indeed, and there may be elk, so keep the camera close by! Michael @ RimCountry.Com - - - SUBMITTED BY: Hilde on 02/22/06 - 9:18 PM SUBJECT: Hikes in Pine We are a family with two children (age 6 and 3) and we want to go hiking in Pine. We’ve heard it’s great. Can you recommend any nice hikes for us? Are there any places where we can rent canoes for paddling? Thank you and Best regards, Hilde REPLY: Hi Hilde, Well, there's lots of hiking right now, but no canoes this time of year, unless you know someone down at Roosevelt Lake. None of the Rim Lakes' boat rental concessions are open yet, despite the mild "winter" weather, so you'll have to bring 'em up with you. One of the best hiking trails around Pine starts about a half mile south of town off the east side of Hwy 87 at the Pine Trailhead. It's easy enough for kids, and there's good signage. Best of luck! Jenn @ RimCountry.Com - - - SUBMITTED BY: Matthew on 01/06/06 - 4:33 PM SUBJECT: Moving to Payson... I hope So I too would love to relocate to Payson with my wife and four children and have a few questions and this seems to be a great place to get the info. Most of my weather questions are covered after reading this. So all that is left is about schools and employment. Flagstaff has a nice relocation packet I just purchased online as I am also considering that area. So does the Payson Chamber have such a thing? Also I am 36 years old and love the sales businesss and currently sell cars in Minnesota, so what is the car market and job market in sales like there? Any people you would suggest in contacting to inquire about employment? And the housing... man that may be the stopper. As I am the only working member of our family outside the home we have the need for a good home to buy, or rent, for the 6 of us and what I have seen on-line my budget won't do me much there. So any suggestions would be great. P.S.: is there any shotgun bird hunting around the area. That is one thing I would miss coming from rural Minnestoa and hunting quail and pheasent. Thanks and Have a Great Day! Matthew REPLY: Matthew, Your inquiry has been forwarded to the Rim Country Regional Chamber of Commerce so that they may contact you for an address for mailing out their relocation package - it's a good one, too, and it's free. In my opinion, the toughest thing to find here is a good job. When my wife and I moved here we brought our own jobs with us, and that's what I usually recommend. The town is growing up, though, so there are more jobs every year than there were the year before, but they still don't pay nearly well enough to support a growing family. As you've noticed, the real estate market is really hot here, so if you or your wife have any skills in that area or in any of the support services (lending, insurance, inspections, appraisals, repairs, etc), there's always that. Seems to me, though, that if you can sell cars, which has GOT to be one of the toughest businesses there is, you can probably sell real estate. Either way, we have two big dealers in town - Phil White Ford and Chapman Chevrolet / Dodge - plus a couple independent used car lots. Tourism is also a good industry here, although it's still fairly seasonal, despite our year-round mild climate. Lots of people come here in the summer to escape the heat down in the desert, but the winter is so nice down in Phoenix and Tucson that most folks just stay down there. If and when we get the rare snowfall, people will come up just for the change of scenery, but it's usually pretty quiet from Christmas until late Spring. As for the bird hunting, you shouldn't miss a shot! This was the best quail season on record in the Tonto Basin, just an hour south of town. Plus, there's 23-mile long Lake Roosevelt there, too, in case you're an angler. And huge wild turkeys are bagged around here on the Rim all the time. I'm thinking you'll be able to do just about every outdoor activity here that you do up in Minnesota, except you'll do it all year round... and you'll definitely be a lot drier! Watch for that eMail inquiry from the Chamber of Commerce, or you can contact them from their web site at http://www.rimcountrychamber.com. Best of luck, Michael @ RimCountry.Com - - - SUBMITTED BY: Debbie on 12/09/05 - 8:49 AM SUBJECT: Christmas Tree We are looking to come up to the rim & cut down our own Christmas tree...tomorrow 12/10/05. We need suggestions of where to go, how we go about getting a permit & how much it costs. We were thinking of the rim, or Christopher Creek. Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated. My kids have never had a real tree let alone cut down their own. Thank you, Debbie REPLY: Debbie, Unfortunately, all the permits in our area (Clint's Well Ranger District) have already been sold for this year. They only had 500 this year, and they went on sale to the public in mid-November at $10 each and went very fast. You might want to try either of two neighboring Ranger Districts, however, to see if they still have any available. Alpine east of Show Low - (928) 339-4384 Red Rock near Sedona - (928) 282-4119 Merry Christmas, Jenn @ RimCountry.Com - - - SUBMITTED BY: Bethany on 10/05/05 - 11:20 AM SUBJECT: Camping in Payson in tents My family and I will be driving to Payson this weekend to camp out in tents. I am a little nervous about the wildlife there, particularly bears and mountain lions. Are there many incidents between campers and these animals? Bethany REPLY: Bethany, These are the toughest questions we have to answer around here, because the temptation is to tell it like it is -- these things just don't happen -- but as soon as I do, sure enough someone will be attacked by a Polar Bear or a Bengal Tiger and make a liar out of me! So, let me tell you what is required: To my knowledge, there have been no reports of any incidents between animals and humans that have resulted in anything more memorable than great pictures. These last couple of seasons have been very good, as far as rain goes, so the critters have pretty much stayed close to their usual hunting grounds, higher up on the Rim. Of course, you don't want to leave food lying around any campsite. And, depending on where you go, you may see something other than the typical deer, elk, javelina or coyote, but if you stick to the established campgrounds around town, you should be fine. As always, it's advisable to check with the Forest Rangers at (928) 474-7900 or wthole@fs.fed.us if you want the most current, up-to-date information. Have a great trip, and thank you for your inquiry! Michael @ RimCountry.Com - - - SUBMITTED BY: Troy on 07/22/05 - 6:26 AM SUBJECT: Is Pinedale out of your area? I just found your web sight and I am very impressed with the knowledge that you all have!! With that in mind, I'm trying to buy 5 acres in Pinedale (Pinedale Estates) 3.5 miles from the top edge of the rim. This land backs to the Indian Reservation and my question is: How strict are they on 4 wheeling and other off road vehicles (I see they have designated roads on the forest service maps) As well, any good advice about The Pinedale (Pinedale Estates) Area? Thank You, and keep up the good work! Troy REPLY: Thank you, Troy, for your kind remarks! Yes, Pinedale is out of our area. While we represent the Rim Country, Pinedale is a bit further east in the White Mountain region. You should be able to get the information you need from their regional website, http://www.wmonline.com Good luck, JJ @ RimCountry.Com - - - SUBMITTED BY: Evan on 07/21/05 - 8:18 PM SUBJECT: your website We've done a lot of internet house hunting in the AZ area and your website is the nicest, easiest, best photos we've found for area photos. Thanks! ~ Evan & Suzy REPLY: Thank you very much! We are constantly getting suggestions for improvement from our many visitors, and many of the photos are sent in to us by local contributors. I'm sure they'll all be glad to read that you've enjoyed their work. Best of luck with your house hunting! JJ @ RimCountry.Com - - - SUBMITTED BY: Chris on 07/04/05 - 1:01 PM SUBJECT: blueprints?? I have been trying to locate the blueprints for my property. I've searched for the mls#, the lot#, even the original builder. LOL! No web site! Is there another way you know and if so what are the rates for this information?? REPLY: Chris, Have you tried contacting the Realtor who sold you the home? Maybe you could locate the builder that way. Another source might be the original owner (seller) who may have kept a copy of the plans. Your Realtor should be able to help you out there, too. JJ @ RimCountry.Com - - - SUBMITTED BY: Danielle on 07/01/05 - 1:59 PM SUBJECT: The fires Hello, I was wondering if the fires up North will affect the rim area. We are wanting to visit in a few days and wanted to know if it will be closed off. Thank you for your time. Danielle REPLY: Danielle, So far, so good! The fire is still west of the Verde River, which means the entire Mogollon Rim and it's communities are in good shape. It's always best to check with the officials, though, for the most current information. Visit http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/fire/cavecreekcomplex.html before coming up. JJ @ RimCountry.Com - - - SUBMITTED BY: Gerald on 07/01/05 - 10:55 AM SUBJECT: Water in Pine I understand there is some sort of water "crisis" in the Pine area. Can you give me any historical background and current status on this. Thanks, B2 REPLY: Gerald, I am not aware of any such "crisis" in Pine or in any other community near Payson. Like most Arizona towns, we conserve during the warmer months, but in all the years I've lived here, there has always been water at the other end of the faucet. Maybe you got that impression from the same source which tries to convince everyone in the Valley that every time there's a wildfire in the mountains, it's a "crisis" and Payson has only minutes before it burns to the ground? JJ @ RimCountry.Com - - - SUBMITTED BY: Francie on 06/27/05 - 7:14 PM SUBJECT: Retiring in AZ My husband and I are looking to move to AZ within the next year. We are 62 & 47 and retired. We currently live in Northern California's Sierras and love the country but get a bit too much snow where we are now. My husband loves to fish and I love animals / do wildlife rehab so we need a place we can get 2 or more acres. I have been reading a lot online and looking at homes. I think, from homes I see, that Payson, Strawberry, Christopher Creek, Happy Jack etc. are the type of areas / homes we might like. We like rural but also enjoy taking classes at Jr College etc. I also like doing vol work with animal rescue groups. Any thoughts on an area we might prefer? Francie REPLY: Hi Francie, Well, of the areas you mentioned, Payson gets the least amount of snowfall, and when it does snow, it's usually gone within a day or two at the most. Happy Jack is at the highest elevation (7720), while Payson is the lowest (4913), with the other communities somewhere in between. No amount of snow received by any of these communities, however, will ever compare with what you typically get there in Northern California! We have a new community college right in Payson, although if you chose to live in an outlying area, the commute wouldn't be a bad one, except maybe from Happy Jack in the winter. Pine & Strawberry are 30 minutes to the north, and Christopher Creek is about the same distance, only east of town. The roads are newer and wider between Payson & Christopher Creek, but that's because they have a bit more traffic to deal with. Acreage is getting harder and harder to come by as each month brings more folks relocating to Central Arizona from around the country, but particularly from California. Pieces like you describe can be found, some even in town, but they are in high demand and are priced accordingly. Pine & Strawberry are surrounded by National Forest, so undeveloped land is indeed rare, though not unheard of. Every now and then, larger holdings are broken up and placed on the market, but unless you have a close working relationship with a local Realtor, it's hard to find out about it in order to submit an offer in time. Larger lots are more readily available in the Happy Jack and Christopher Creek areas, with Happy Jack probably being more affordable and offering a better and more varied inventory. Land in Christopher Creek usually comes with improvements which, of course, add to the price. Probably the best selection of larger pieces of undeveloped land are to be found about twenty miles south of Payson in the communities of Gibson Ranch / Round Valley, Rye and Gisela. These areas are actually several hundred feet below the plateau upon which Payson sits, so they enjoy an even milder climate that some might describe as "hot", particular during the warmer summer months. Lastly, you might want to include the Heber-Overgaard area as another alternative in your search for acreage. It's about 50 miles east of Payson, and like Happy Jack, it's at about 7000 feet up on top of the Mogollon Rim. You may have heard it mentioned on CNN a couple years back when Arizona was going through its worst wildfire season ever. The Rodeo-Chedeski Fire burned a half-million acres of Ponderosa Pine trees in and around the Heber-Overgaard area, but miraculously left a lot of land untouched. Although the distant views of what used to be tree-covered slopes suffer, "horse property" is very much available and still affordable. Before making any decisions, you really should contact Realtors in each of these areas for the most current information. I'd suggest visiting our REAL ESTATE section and looking through the Directory for offices in your areas of interest. I am not a Realtor (nor am I married to one!), so everything I've said here is nothing more than the non-professional opinion of a resident of the area. Michael @ RimCountry.Com PS: Regardless of where you decide to relocate, you will find several groups and many individuals who share your love for distressed animals. It seems an unfortunate fact of life that where there is more wildlife, there is more need for human intervention to help ease the problems caused by our encroachment into their habitat. Keep up the good work! - - - SUBMITTED BY: Angela on 05/31/05 - 2:41 PM SUBJECT: Potato Lake Not on the map, but I have been there. Can you give me directions? Angie REPLY: Hi Angie, Sorry for the slow response, but we closed up for the long holiday weekend. Of all the Rim Lakes, Potato Lake is probably the hardest to find, probably because it's the smallest. Presuming you know how to get to Payson, just continue north on State Highway 87 for about 20 miles through Pine and Strawberry. Once atop the Rim, you'll see the Zane Gray Highway (SR 260) split from 87 toward Camp Verde. Stay northbound on the 87 for another 4 miles and watch for Forest Road 613 on the right. Follow FR 613 east for about 1½ miles to FR 147B on the right, which takes you straight south to the lake. It's been awhile since I was out there, but hopefully the signage is still up. - - - SUBMITTED BY: Carolynn on 05/23/05 - 8:03 PM SUBJECT: Long Valley / Blue Ridge area Drove home from Colorado through this area today. We loved it, but couldn't find anything on the internet regarding Long Valley. Is there anything for sale there? Pls call me when you have a minute. My number is (###) ###-####. Thanks, Carolynn S. REPLY: Carolynn, Although I am not a Realtor, I can tell you that Long Valley is known more widely as Happy Jack. The Coldwell Banker - Bishop Realty office in Pine serves that area. You might want to contact Wilma Young - wilmayoung@bishoprealty.com, or you could call 1-800-325-7174. Thank you for your inquiry, - - - SUBMITTED BY: Michael on 05/19/05 - 11:25 AM SUBJECT: Camping Hi. We have been to Payson many times and love it there. We purchased another motor home to explore for a new place to live. We now live in the Valley of the Sun near the Superstition mountains. It's nice but too crowded now! The reason I am contacting you is to find out if there is a campground off route 260. As you get into Payson coming north from Phoenix you take a right on the 260 and there is a place I remember called Ponderosa. I can not find the number for that campground. Is there any way you can help me? Sincerely, Michael & Joyce REPLY: Michael & Joyce, Ponderosa Campground is exactly where you described, and it is now open, there are no extra-ordinary fire restrictions, and its spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The correct number, by the way, for the Forest Service is (928) 474-7900. Sorry for the typo! Johnny @ RimCountry.Com - - - SUBMITTED BY: Andy on 05/13/05 - 9:40 PM SUBJECT: Lumberjack competition? Is there a lumberjack competition in or around Payson? Thanks, Andy Cloudcroft, NM REPLY: Sorry, Andy, but environmental pressures closed the Tonto National Forest to the wood products industry over 15 years ago, and interest in the annual logging festivals slowly but surely waned. I believe there are still similar events held near the only remaining lumber mill in the state, which is owned and operated, by the way, by the White Mountain Apache Tribe over near Springerville, Eagar and Greer, about 150 miles east of here. You might re-direct your inquiry to the administrator of the White Mountain web site - jack@therim.com - - - SUBMITTED BY: Maureen on 05/10/05 - 1:09 PM SUBJECT: Camp Verde Prevailing Winds What are the prevailing wind patterns in the Camp Verde area, specifically near Salt Mine Road between Oasis Road and Beasley Flats? It would be good to know before deciding where to locate a horse stable. Also what is the history of Beasley Flats and the Indian ruins in this area? Thanks, Maureen REPLY: Hi Maureen, Unfortunately, Camp Verde is not considered to be in the Rim Country. Our area is primarily east of Hwy 87 from Payson to Show Low. You might want to inquire with either the Sedona Chamber of Commerce at http://www.visitsedona.com or the Verde Valley / Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce at http://cottonwood.verdevalley.com/fed.shtml Good luck and thank you for your inquiry. - - - SUBMITTED BY: Mike on 04/29/05 - 5:27 PM SUBJECT: Lake phone number..? Hello, I'm trying to find the phone number (if any) for the Woods Canyon Lake Marina. Directory assistance and several web searches left me empty handed. Thanks for any help! Mike REPLY: Mike, The Yellow Page on the web site shows: Woods Canyon Lake Store & Marina, Woods Canyon Lake - info@woodscanyon.com The Business Roster on the web site shows Woods Canyon Lake Store & Marina PO Box 416 Payson AZ 85541 Sorry, no phone. - - - SUBMITTED BY: Patricia on 04/27/05 - 4:22 PM SUBJECT: Horse Property Can you tell me what an average horse property might cost if it included approximately 5 acres, with a modest 2 or 3 bedroom home, or a modular? Also, are there still many areas where a person can buy an acreage and put in a modular? Last, what about the water situation and drilling wells? Thanks, P.J. REPLY: PJ, Since I am not a Realtor, the answers I will give you are simply my opinions based on my own limited observations and minimal understanding of the changing dynamics of our real estate market. I will start and end with the same caveat: Do nothing based on my opinion -- consult a professional first. The best I can do is to suggest price ranges that you might find today if you were to look in the different areas up here. Land with the improvements you've described would be very hard to find in Payson or its immediate vicinity. If there were such a property and if it were to come on the market, I would suspect that it would be priced in the mid to high $60's per acre. South and east of town, probably easier to find, but not much cheaper, maybe 20% or so, but that would depend entirely on the specific property. Amenities like ponds, creeks, large stands of trees and mountaintops will impact asking prices. North of Payson, up in the Pine or Strawberry areas and along Control Road beneath the Rim, such properties might be more plentiful, but you should expect to pay even more for the seclusion and the views. West of town is all National Forest, with but a few exceptions, and those ranches are not currently on the market, to my knowledge. Smaller parcels, of course, can be found in all areas by the acre, in the mid-$30's in the surrounding communities, about half again that in town. As of this writing, there are approximately 120 residential lots on the market, ranging from around $15K to $600K. As you can see, this is not a cookie-cutter community. Building restrictions vary almost as much as prices. Available acre-plus properties number about 40 as of today, and range from about $160K to over $800K per parcel. Water availability and all that goes with it is probably the most asked, least answered question we hear, not just in the Rim Country, but in the entire Southwest. There are properties available in many of our areas that are stunning and affordable, but there is no water. To some, that's not a problem. To others, it makes all the difference in the world. If there is one single reason why you should choose and work closely with a professional, that would be it. If you go back to the website, you can find a very good representation of our local Realtors and their available inventory by pressing the REAL ESTATE button at the top of the page. I hope that helps put things in perspective, and I thank you for your inquiry. - - - SUBMITTED BY: Carol on 04/18/05 - 8:46 PM SUBJECT: Automatic emails? HI, how do I change the parameters of my email property listings? Thanks! REPLY: Hi Carol, Could you be a little bit more specific? There are about 200 listings on the site, and the answer to your inquiry will depend on which one you mean. - - - SUBMITTED BY: Carol on 04/19/05 - 8:37 PMSUBMITTED BY: Scott on 04/11/05 - 8:24 AM SUBJECT: Gun Club We are considering moving to Payson and building a home at the air park. Any info or thoughts would be greatly appreciated with regard to the Air Park Is there a Trap / Skeet / Sporting Clay Gun club in the area? Thanks much, Scott / Reno, Nevada REPLY: Scott, The Mazatzal AirPark is an upscale fly-in community immediately adjacent to the Payson Airport with access to the main taxiway. The homes are among the newest and nicest in the area, and most include hangers or enough space for one. From what I understand, there is little, if any, unimproved land left at the airpark. I am not a realtor, however, so that information may not be accurate. If you wanted to inquire directly to a realtor, you can find a fine selection in the REAL ESTATE section of this website. As for the gun club portion of your question, just south of Payson we have the Tonto Rim Sports Club, a private organization which runs the county firing range. It costs $25 to join, but the range is open to the general public on Fridays and Saturdays. They sponsor all types of recreational and competitive shooting events, including trap shooting. Although I don't have a contact person or phone number for the club, they may be reached by mail at P.O. Box 814, Payson AZ 85547-0814. Additional information may be available from the Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association at (480) 838-6064. Thank you for your inquiry. - - - SUBMITTED BY: Scott on 04/13/05 - 11:43 AMSUBMITTED BY: Tom on 04/11/05 - 2:37 AM SUBJECT: Schools We are looking at relocating to your area from Grants Pass, OR. We have a 15 year old who is very involved in Sports, 4-H, horses and is a good student. We could find nothing on schools. Thank you! Tom REPLY: http://www.pusd.k12.az.us/ - - - SUBMITTED BY: Caroline on 04/07/05 - 3:43 PM SUBJECT: Campgrounds Can you recommend the best campground for fishing & tent camping for the week of May 23rd? I am surprising my husband for his birthday with this trip. Thank you! Caroline REPLY: Caroline, Wow... this is a tough question! With so many available options, not only is it almost impossible to select a "best" campground, I think it would be difficult to even come up with a "favorite"... but I'll try. Since you mentioned fishing and birthday, that narrows it down in my book. I know on my birthday, if I were camping and decided it was time to go drown a worm, I wouldn't want to walk very far to do it, and I surely wouldn't want to drive. So, of the several campgrounds that are within casting distance of well-stocked bodies of water, I'd have to zero-in on three. In no particular order, here they are: For easy access, full services and a more "civilized" camping/fishing experience, I'd recommend Woods Canyon Lake. The lake is on top of the Rim, yet it's easy to find, right off the north side of State Highway 260 east of Payson with good signage. The campgrounds are nicely developed with good separation, good utilities and all the wild critters you'd expect. They have a small general store / bait shop and even boat rentals. Because they have the most services in the area, they will probably be the busiest, so you'll want to check on reservation information well in advance. Best of all, you can contact them by eMail at info@woodscanyon.com. For a more remote get-away with fewer creature comforts but just as much fun, I'd try Blue Ridge Reservoir, also atop the Rim, only this one is straight up Highway 87 through Payson and past Strawberry. There is signage, but it's a few miles beyond the Happy Jack / Clint's Well general store / bait shop and you have to watch closely on the east side of the highway. It's a few miles in off the road from there. Personally, Blue Ridge is my favorite - it's the most beautiful and dramatic of the seven Rim Lakes, although sometimes the fishing suffers due to the SRP-controlled water levels at the dam. A well-timed phone call is advised prior to making final plans. Lastly, if creek fishing is more what your husband enjoys, there's a campground down in Bear Flat that's hard to beat. Now this is really a glorified throw-down with no services, but it's literally right on Tonto Creek, and if your timing is good, you can get the best of only four or five prime spots. You'll know you're there when your tires get wet - it's either cross the creek or pitch a tent. There are no Rangers in charge down there, so there's no one to call for reservations - it's first come, first served. The trip in is actually half the adventure. From Highway 260 east of Payson, take the Thompson Draw exit south. It's about 5 miles of graded road, turning to a narrow, winding unimproved jeep trail for the last 2 miles or so, but if you enjoy breathtakingly spectacular canyon and treetop views for miles around (and straight down in a few places!), this is the one for you. For a general campground map, contact phone numbers and an eMail link, see the CAMPING page in the FUN STUFF section of this web site. - - - SUBMITTED BY: Beth on 03/29/05 - 3:35 PM SUBJECT: Payson politics? I would like to know the current general political environment of the Rim Country area, especially the town of Payson. Is it more liberal or more conservative? Is it moving strongly in either direction, in your opinion? Are the elected town officials mostly Democrat or mostly Republican? Has a candidate of either the Libertarian or Constitution party ever ran or been elected there? Is there any link, you might know of, that lists past election results in Payson? Thanks so much, Beth REPLY: Beth, In my opinion, Payson's politics are a reflection of most rural and small town environs in the American West, with urban California, western Washington and most of Oregon being notable exceptions. Arizona is one of the many "Red" states in the West, so fiscal attitudes are generally conservative, while social preferences tend to be just right of center. Since I don't live in Payson or vote in their elections, I don't know the political affiliations of the town council members, but I've never known a third party candidate to make a serious showing in any local, county or state contest, except when Ross Perot's UWSA Party captured 8% of the presidential vote in 1996. You should be able to find more specific and more accurate information on the town's web site at http://www.ci.payson.az.us/ As to your question about attitudinal trends or movement toward one end of the political spectrum or the other, I would say that if there is any such movement it's not measurable to the casual observer. In the 13 years I've been here, the Rim Country (Northern Gila County) has been a stable source of electoral support for virtually any conservative candidate on the ticket. Rural Arizonans are a very independent minded people who tend to place a high value on property rights, personal liberty and individual responsibility. Arizona is an open carry state (firearms), which dovetails quite naturally with the aforementioned proclivities. There is a general trust and respect for government, particularly local law enforcement, public schooling and the military. Many of these prevailing attitudes gain strength from our relatively large population of retired military and former defense contractors. The only other resource on the web that I am aware of for Arizona electoral information would be: http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/politicalInfo.php?locIndex=11267 Good luck, and thank you for your inquiry! - - - SUBMITTED BY: Dave on 03/23/05 - 2:27 PM SUBJECT: Tennis summer in Payson? I would like to spend the summer in Payson an play a lot of tennis. Are there any other tennis facilities other than the three city courts? Thank you, Dave REPLY: Good morning, Dave. Unfortunately, that's it for the public facilities. There are, of course, many private courts, from those that accessorize various condos and apartments around town to those within some of the area's premier gated and golf communities. As with the game of golf, though, unless you know someone or can finagle an invite to play a private court, it's the municipal facilities for you... and for me, too! - - - SUBMITTED BY: Jean on 03/22/05 - 7:57 AM SUBJECT: property tax What is the average tax on a home? REPLY: Property tax in Arizona is based on assessed valuation, which is 10 percent of market value for residential property. Average tax rate on homes in Arizona before exemptions and rebates is 1.3% of market value. Source: http://www.rimcountry.com/stats.htm - - - SUBMITTED BY: Jeff on 10/18/04 - 6:07 PM SUBJECT: broadband Does Payson have broadband yet? REPLY: Yes, Jeff. Broadband is available from either of two providers, plus satellite and wireless. Nevertheless, there are still many on dial-up. BJ - - - SUBMITTED BY: Patrick on 07/13/04 - 8:25 AM SUBJECT: Bear Canyon Lake Hello, We are looking at coming up Friday to camp at Bear Canyon Lake? Is the forest open to camping? What are the rules? Do you have directions? Please advise, REPLY: Patrick, According to the USFS this morning at (928) 535-4481, the forest around Bear Canyon Lake is open. Camping is primitive, no developed campground, and no open fires are allowed - propane stoves only. Take SR 260 east out of Payson to FR 300, the Woods Canyon Lake turnoff on the north (left) side of Hwy 260. Go 8.5 miles west on FR 300, past Woods Cyn Lake, to FR 89. Go north (right) on FR 89 and FR 89A about 2 miles to the lake. Have a great time and please be VERY careful with fire. - - - SUBMITTED BY: Jo on 06/14/04 - 3:45 AM SUBJECT: US Forest Servie number Do you have a phone number to contact the Forest Service near Strawberry? Thanks, Jo REPLY: Good morning, Jo. Strawberry is in the Payson Ranger District. You'll want to call (928) 474-7900 or 2208. - - - SUBMITTED BY: George on 06/10/04 - 10:54 PM SUBJECT: Payson Could someone, hopefully not a RE type with a vested interest tell me just a little about Payson. I remember a fellow trail rider in Monument Valley tell me how great it is, but alas, we have not made it there YET. How hot? How cold? How costly/ How far to Phoenix or next major city? That sort of thing. We are looking for mainly a winter type place since my wife is convinced she cannot live in AZ in summer. Thank you, George OK maybe a little teaser from a RE type, but our budget is limited to 225 and need privacy and some reasonable view. REPLY: George, I'm not a Realtor... not even married to one, so no vested interest here. But be forewarned... I love the Rim Country anyway! Having moved here from Southern California's San Bernardino Mountains, I really enjoy Payson's four seasons, though I find the summer a bit warm - every July sees a couple weeks in the mid- to high-90° range. Other than that, though, it's just about perfect. We actually live 25 miles north of Payson in Strawberry, which is about 1200 feet higher, just enough to take the edge off that summer heat. Regardless of which of the mountain communities you choose up here, there is no humidity to speak of, incredibly even when it rains! Winter typically sees four or five storms, maybe three to six inches each. Of course, there will be the occasional 8- to 10-inch "wailer", and the record books show some truly heavy dumps, but none in the 12 years I've been here. The best thing about the snow is that when it stops, you'd better get out and enjoy the beauty, because it will be gone in a day or two. No long, dirty, slushy Spring around here! There's a web page (http://www.rimcountry.com/stats.htm) that indicates the temperature averages to be from an overnight low of 23 in January to a daily high of about 93 in August. The extremes, of course, can be ten to fifteen degrees higher in either direction. I've found that just about any time of year, subtract 15 to 20 degrees from the reported temperature at Phoenix' Sky Harbor and you have the Rim Country's current temperature range. Cost of living is always a relative factor, based mostly on where it is you're comparing it to. We found Payson's refreshingly less than Southern California's, although housing has spiked along with the rest of the Southwest. The Real Estate section of the RimCountry.Com (http://www.rimcountry.com/real.htm) web site has a very good representation of the market, both in Payson and in the surrounding "bedroom" communities. In addition to the milder summers, one of the reasons we chose our area (Strawberry) was affordability of housing relative to the homes in town where you pay a little bit more for the "convenience". Phoenix is the first city of ANY size to the south, and it's 1.5 hours of scenic 4-lane divided highway to its amenities. 90 miles north of Payson is Flagstaff, a slightly longer trip because of the equally scenic but challenging 2-lane blacktop that winds over the top of the Mogollon Rim through the pines and a number of resort communities. Prescott and Sedona are about 1.5 hours west, and about 100 miles to the east the less-known communities of Show Low and Pinetop complete the circle. As you can see, Payson is located right in the center of everything, either equally close or inconveniently far from everywhere, depending on your perspective. If you draw an "X" from the corners of the state, you'll find Payson at the exact center. Hope this is helpful... and thank you for your inquiry. PS: You should be able to buy all the privacy you can stand, plus one heck of a view, for $225K! REPLY TO REPLY: Thank you very much for that info! I have always wanted to visit Payson. We are looking for a nice climate to live in for most of the year. It sounds like you would have to get out of there in June July August and maybe Dec Jan Feb? To have a really nice climate. I thought it would be more temperate there at that elevation. So if you want to give us more info, and I can understand if not, how many months of really pleasant weather are there? We really like to be outdoors as much as possible. George REPLY TO REPLY TO REPLY: No problem, George. Since I really do enjoy the four seasons, I don't find winters here a bother at all. Even in January when it does drop down below freezing at night, it usually warms back up into the 50's during the day, and even higher in a mild year. Having grown up in Upstate New York, the weather here from December to February BARELY qualifies as winter. I have a 100 foot south-facing sloped driveway that, after a storm, typically clears itself of snow in a day. The only reason I own a snow shovel is to clear the steps up to the front door, although my neighbor and I do co-own a quad with a small blade on it for those rare "wailers" I mentioned earlier. As for the warm summer months, in July and August, the heat peaks out at about 2 in the afternoon. By 5pm, it's starting to cool, and at sundown, the temperature drops like a rock because there's no moisture in the air to hold it - usually 15-20° in an hour, then into the low 70's overnight. That's the area's saving grace - the cool evenings. I sit and watch the evening news report 100°-plus temperatures at 10pm in Phoenix and I quietly thank my wife for finding the Rim Country! To be honest, George, if there were anything I could change about the area, it would not be the temperatures - it would be the amount of precipitation we get. The drought is a terrible thing. It stresses the trees and creates a danger for those who live in the tall pines. Our home is above the treeline in the Strawberry Valley, but the danger remains. We really need two or three good years of "average" rain and snow to bring the forests back to a healthy state. Well, that's my take on the weather. Hope it helped. Let me know if there's anything else I can help you with. - - - SUBMITTED BY: Ron on 05/24/04 - 1:35 PM SUBJECT: Camping... We would like to hike down to Fossil Springs. What would be the nearest camping facilities in that area? We have a Pop up tent camper and are totally self-contained so all or no facilities would work. Is there a National Forest campground in the area? I have not been able to locate anything on the internet near you. Thank you, Ron REPLY: Ron, Under normal conditions, you would most probably be able to set-up your pop-up right at the Fossil Springs Trailhead throw-down at the end of Fossil Creek Road in Strawberry. Unfortunately, all access to the Tonto NF from Strawberry has been closed by the Forest service due to severe fire danger. They have not told us how long they expect this closure to last. I understand that some access to the Tonto is still being allowed from the Camp Verde side of Fossil Creek Road at the extreme eastern end of the Verde Valley, but that's sort of like going from Phoenix to Flagstaff by way of Tucson. I wish I could be more helpful, but that's the best I can do. You might make further inquiries directly to the USFS at wthole@fs.fed.us. - - - SUBMITTED BY: Sue on 03/21/04 - 9:47 AM SUBJECT: CABIN CLEANUP HI, WE HAVE A SMALL CABIN IN PINE, AZ. THAT RECENTLY HAS BEEN BROKEN INTO AND USED AND ABUSED FOR ABOUT A MONTH. WE NEED SOMEONE TO GO IN AND DO AN OVERALL CLEANUP AND CARPET CLEANING. ANY RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE APPRECIATED. REPLY: Sue, Sorry to hear about your "visitors". One of our local real estate offices that handles vacation cabin rentals uses Monica Nestich's cleaning service at (928) 476-3019. Monica may no longer do carpets, but we recommend Refined Carpet Care at 472-2282. And, although you didn't ask, you might consider a sit-down with a home security consultant. Unfortunately, the high number of second-homes (where the owner is absent most of the time) in areas such as ours tends to attract undesirables. Here are a few you might want to consult: Arizona Digital Satellite & Security - Toll Free 1-866-314-3575 Arizona Wiring & Home Entertainment (928) 468-1155 Aztec Alarm - (928) 472-7767 Best of luck! - - - SUBMITTED BY: James on 11/12/03 - 5:19 PM SUBJECT: is payson on the rim or not??? I have a hand written Heber-Overgaard vacation map that says you are on the 260 before the rim. Thank you REPLY: Well, Jim, Payson is located below the Rim precisely at the intersection of State Highway 260 (east & west) and State Highway 87 (north & south). - - - SUBMITTED BY: AndCACA on 09/23/03 - 5:47 PM SUBJECT: Mazatzal Casino Can you tell me if there is lodging at the Mazatzal Casino? Aso, is there live poker? Thank you REPLY: AndCACA, The Tonto Apache Tribe owns and operates PaysonGlo Lodge, an off-site lodging facility located about two blocks north of the casino, and the only live card tables are for Black Jack. Casino: 1-800-777-7529 Lodge: 1-800-772-9766 - - - SUBMITTED BY: Dina on 09/17/03 - 6:01PM SUBJECT: Business contact request Hello, I would like to locate and contact an animal sanctuary which is supposedly in the Payson area. I believe it is called Whispering Winds Animal Sanctuary. Can you give me the address and phone number of this organization? Thank you! Dina, Clarkdale, AZ. REPLY: Sorry, Dina, all my resources (failing memory, local phone book, Chamber of Commerce volunteer on duty, Google) drew a blank. The closest we can come around here is the Whispering Hope Ranch, (928) 478-0339, but that's sort of a retreat-type spa for city folks to unwind. I believe they have animals on the property as part of the "therapy", but I doubt that it would be considered a sanctuary for them. Google did return the following links, however, to two websites with that same name, the first being near Palm Springs, California, and the other in Florida. Maybe they can help. http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/whispering_winds.html http://whisperingwindsranch.homestead.com/ REPLY TO REPLY: Now that I see the name, I do believe it is Whispering Hope Ranch. I saw an hour-long documentary on this place in Payson, AZ which was described as an animal sanctuary that does use the animals as part of the "therapy" for the mentally and physically challenged. I saw this program many months ago. I too looked under Google for "Whispering Winds" because to the best of my memory that is what I thought the name was! I haven't called or checked yet for a website on Whispering Hope Ranch, but I will! Thanks so much for your help! Dina - - - SUBMITTED BY: Jean on 09/13/03 - 9:46 AM SUBJECT: Demographics I read somewhere that a large percentage of people 65 and older reside in or near Payson. What is that figure? REPLY: Jean, I've heard that same rumor quite often, usually by people trying to cast Payson as Sun City North. Well, The U.S. Census Bureau and I are here to tell you it ain't so. According to the latest available data, households with individuals 65 and over comprise less than 15% of our population. Almost 70% of the town's household units are "family households", containing an average of 2.71 people each. Additionally, those statistics show that a full 41.5% of the population falls between the ages of 20 and 59. - - - SUBMITTED BY: Tanya on 08/18/03 - 4:53 PM SUBJECT: Fishing in Christopher Creek I was trying to search the site for an email address for information, but this page is all I found, so if you could please help me I would appreciate it. My family and I wanted to go to Christopher Creek this weekend but I wanted to know if there was water in the creek and if it has been recently stocked. We would like to go fishing so if you could please let me know if there is water and if there is fish I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you so much for your help, Tanya REPLY: Tanya, Yes, there is water in Tonto Creek, although it's lower right now than it was during spring run-off, and it is stocked. Unfortunately, I don't have an eMail address for you, but you could call the Fish Hatchery at (928) 468-4200 and they will tell you when the last time was that they stocked it, and maybe even how much. If you're nice, they might even tell you when the NEXT time is that they're going to stock it so you can plan to be downstream! Have a great weekend! - - - SUBMITTED BY: Sarge on 07/20/03 - 4:19 PM SUBJECT: Horseback riding Please give some numbers to call for trail riding in the Woods Canyon Area. Thanks, Sarge REPLY: Sarge, The best I can do is the riding stable over in Kohl's Ranch - (928) 478-0030. They aren't up on the Rim, but they're pretty close and may be able to refer you. You could always try sending an eMail to the Woods Canyon Store & Marina at info@woodscanyon.com... if they're not too busy to respond, they might be helpful. Happy trails... REPLY #2: Sarge, If you call the Campers Country Corner Market at Forest Lakes, (928) 535-4716, they may be able to provide information about the summer horse rentals based at their market. I believe the rates are $20 per hour per person and the wrangler, Ray, took my granddaughter (age 7) and I for a beautiful ride. My understanding is that the horses are there until Labor Day. I own a rental cabin at Forest Lakes and, in my opinion, the area is well worth it. Hope this helps. Susan - - - SUBMITTED BY: Lewis on 03/18/03 - 4:21 PM SUBJECT: Payson vs Durango, CO I'm a 20-year resident of Durango (Colorado) and love the mountains, nearby canyons of Utah and, of course, Arizona's Grand Canyon. However, the cost of real estate in Durango has escalated to the point where I'm considering selling out and looking for someplace with similar outdoor amenities and culture with a somewhat lower cost of housing and living. Although I am not retired quite yet, the job situation isn't critical. I am an amateur astronomer and would need a good sky view with relatively few polluting lights. Could the Payson area provide me with what I'm looking for? Love your Web site -- and thanks for your help. Lew REPLY: Lew, If you've looked over the site, I don't need to tell you that you get much more house for the dollar here than in or around Durango. Although my husband and I love Southwestern Colorado, we settled here for the exact reasons you cite -- similar but much more affordable amenities. Our climate is quite a bit milder than yours, as is evidenced by the fact that the nearest ski resort is 1½ hours north of us in Flagstaff, and even at that, the season is considerably shorter than what you're used to. As for your amateur astronomy, you will be pleased to learn that we have very little light pollution, especially in Pine, Strawberry, Christopher Creek, Heber and other "bedroom" communities around Payson, a growing town of some 15,000 people. Phoenix, the closest large city, is about 60 linear miles to the south at an elevation of 1400 feet, and there's an 8000 ft mountain range between their city lights and our starry skies. You might want to consider a drive down some weekend to check it out for yourself. I'd consult the Weather Channel first, though... I haven't seen the stars (or the sun) in three days, but I'm not complaining -- we really need the snowfall. - - - SUBMITTED BY: Old Mom on 03/08/03 - 4:33 PM SUBJECT: growing season We are thinking of relocating to the Payson area. I have always enjoyed a vegetable garden in PA, but our growing season is very short. What's the season in Payson? Is it too hot in the summer for produce? Thanks REPLY: Old Mom, A Payson old-timer tells me we have a "flat two hundred-day" growing season, with the last frost usually occurring in mid-April. He cautions that the warmest months of June, July and August, when low triple-digit temperatures are not infrequent, are perfect for produce, provided there is adequate shade where needed and, of course, plenty of water. The University of Arizona maintains an informative web site at the following address: http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/az1169/ You'll also find local climate statistics in the COMMERCE section of this web site. You can get to the COMMERCE section by clicking the COMMERCE button to the left. We hope you find this information helpful in deciding whether or not to relocate to the Central Arizona mountains. - - - SUBMITTED BY: Mary W. on 02/19/03 - 8:15 PM SUBJECT: Hotel info Hi, I am searching for a Hotel / Motel with a Jacuzzi / Hot Tub in the room. Do you know of any in the Payson area? You can reply back to this email or preferably send the info. to xxx@xxx.xxx. Thank you, Mary REPLY: Mary, Here are the places I know of in the area that have spas, hot tubs, pools, etc... Best Western Inn of Payson (pool) Cool Pines Cabin, Pine Kohl's Ranch Lodge, Kohl's Ranch Majestic Mountain Inn, Payson (no kids) Pine Haven B&B, Pine (outdoor spa) Tonto Creek Hideaway, Near Christopher Creek There may be others, but I just don't get out like I used to! Have a great vacation! - - - SUBMITTED BY: Larry S. on 02/13/03 - 9:44 AM SUBJECT: relocating I will soon be relocating to Payson or surrounding area and was wondering what area I should look into. I love to fish and golf. I would like to live on the water with a nice view as I have a small fishing boat. What lakes are in the area ? And what type of fish? Also is there any night life in or around Payson for a single 40ish guy or is there a web site I could visit to talk to other singles?. REPLY: Larry, We have one large lake and seven smaller lakes in the area. All are fishing and recreational-type lakes, and the smaller ones are all up on the Rim. Blue Ridge Reservoir is closest to Strawberry, and Woods Canyon Lake is closest to Christopher Creek. But, since all of the communities up here are pretty close together, and so are the lakes, it might only be 15 or 20 minutes further from one of the other towns. All these lakes are on "public" land, so there is no permanent residential use permitted on the lakeshore. Lake views are available at Lake Roosevelt, the largest, in the Tonto Basin. Payson is closest to Lake Roosevelt. You should take a look at the map in the MAPS section of the website, and also check the fishing report in the FUN STUFF section (see buttons at left). You're in pretty good shape as far as golf is concerned. The public course in Payson is a good place to keep your swing loose, and there are two fine private courses. Ask around about Chaparral Pines and The Rim Golf Club. As for the local night life... I've been married so long I can't remember what you're talking about! There are the usual haunts in town (Payson), if you like drinking, loud music and a rowdy party-type atmosphere, and there are several smaller, more quiet pubs in the out-lying areas... some I've never been in and couldn't recommend. Personally, I met my husband at a church social, and that was twenty-X years ago, so I'd say if you look hard enough for the right places, you can find them in the Rim Country. I'd suggest coming up some weekend, renting a room in one of our better lodging facilities, and checking it out in person. Good luck! - - - SUBMITTED BY: Jane D. on 01/13/03 - 9:52 AM SUBJECT: Fire damage? I would like current information on conditions of the forest and lake access for this coming Spring. I was out in your beautiful country last February 22 and will be coming out to AZ again this year around March 26 and want to spend a couple days in the Payson lakes area. Was the area badly burned last summer? Is most of it accessible? Please advise. Thank you! Jane REPLY: Jane, Despite appearances on CNN that the entire state of Arizona was aflame, all of the damage from the Rodeo/Chedeski fire occurred at least fifty miles to the east of Payson, well away from any of the seven Rim Lakes. As of this writing, we are not aware of any planned Forest Road closures or travel restrictions that would limit lake access. It is not a long drive, however, from either Woods Canyon or Willow Springs Lake to just east of Heber-Overgaard where you can begin to see signs of the fire's path from Highway 260. In several of those areas, extensive land rehabilitation efforts are in effect. Although accessible on foot or horseback, off road vehicle travel into the forest may still be restricted. On the bright side, the area received good rains last fall, and we all hope for continued snowfall this winter. That, in conjunction with some promising new attitudes out of Washington regarding fair and responsible public land stewardship, should help with Nature's gradual recovery, but overall, regional drought conditions continue throughout the Southwest. Before leaving on your trip, you might want to get the most current, up-to-date forest information from the Forest Service web site at http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/fire/swainfo/swainfo.htm. Enjoy a safe trip this spring, and thank you for your inquiry. - - - SUBMITTED BY: Bob on 09/17/02 - 4:57 PM SUBJECT: 4WD pickups I am curious about the weather conditions in Payson, Strawberry and Pine, and how they affect driving conditions during the winter months. Is it necessary to have a 4WD, or a 2WD. Thanks, Bob REPLY: Bob, In the ten years I've lived in this area, I have yet to see a winter that required 4-wheel drive for normal driving activities on paved roads in and around Payson. There are usually four to six winter storms per season, usually less than 3 inches of accumulation per storm, with snow coverage rarely lasting beyond the next day. Pine, Strawberry, and the communities up on the Rim above 7000' between Forest Lakes and Heber-Overgaard are a different matter, however. Payson and the immediately surrounding area is approximately 5000' in elevation and relatively flat, located near the lip of a wide, south-facing mesa. Pine and Strawberry are located between 6000' and 6500', higher up in the foothills of the Mogollon Rim with very little level terrain. Virtually any snow coverage can make 2-wheel drive vehicles useless, at least for the short run. Fortunately, the mild weather patterns usually melt away any serious snow buildup on local roads before the plows get there. The three-mile stretch of steep and winding highway between Pine and Strawberry is plowed and cindered regularly and early during storms. By the way, my comments apply only to paved roads. If you're considering off road travel, all bets are off. - - - SUBMITTED BY: Kent on 08/19/02 - 6:34 AM SUBJECT: Broadband? Does Payson have broadband access? Communications statistic aren't clear on this. I'm considering relocation to Payson. Thanks Kent REPLY: Kent, No, not really. There's an on-again, off-again cable ISP, but even when they're up and running, it's not full-duplex - you still need to tie up a phone line. The only other alternative to our two major dial-ups is Starband (satellite), which although a bit pricey at $70 a month, can typically achieve throughput in the 300 to 700K range. Compared to the alternatives, it's almost like having your own T1 line! - - - SUBMITTED BY: Sandi on 08/08/02 - 11:21 PM SUBJECT: Waterfall question Hi, I just found your web site, and realize that this is a hard question. We are coming up tomorrow afternoon, to camp at Houston Mesa Campground This would be Friday, so actually you are probably reading this on Friday... But.... if you do read your mail every day, is there any way you could tell me what the person in another post on your FAQ page is referring to when he wrote: "I was planning on camping in or around the Houston Mesa campground, or a little farther up the road, in a non-designated spot near the waterfall off Houston Mesa Road. " This is a quote from the FAQ page, and I am curious about the waterfall, having lived in Payson, Pine, and Star Valley myself, and having visited there numerous times since we have moved to the valley, I have never heard of a waterfall, and think it would be a great thing to see with the kids. If you know, and read this before noon friday, can you please answer? If not, I wish I had found your site sooner, and thanks for having a site with so much info. Thanks, Sandi REPLY: Sandi, So sorry for the delayed response, but believe it or not, I'm new on the job and, well... Hope you had a nice trip. For the record, I'm filing the following under "Better Late Than Never": The waterfall you asked about doesn't have a name that I know of... just "The Falls" by the waterwheel. To get there, take Houston Mesa Road east from Highway 87 at the north end of Payson. There are three places where the road crosses the East Verde River. Just past the Second Crossing, watch for the waterwheel throwdown on the right. There will be plenty of parking. Cross the river here and continue upstream. I haven't been to the falls in several years, so I'm not certain what time has done to the course of the river, but there shouldn't be a problem finding it. The current low river level may make it less than impressive, however, the pools below the rocks should still be refreshing. Of course, you should take a good Forest Service map with you, and observe all necessary precautions when hiking in the wild. - - - SUBMITTED BY: Ron on 06/11/02 - 1:02 PM SUBJECT: Fishing report As a daily reader of your web site, I am dismayed that Dennis Pittman's fishing report for the area hasn't changed at all lately. My wife and I have bought property in the area and plan to retire to Strawberry soon. I am always interested in seeing how the fishing is there, but the report isn't changing. Why? Thank you Ron Wilson Thousand Oaks, Ca. REPLY: Ron, Thanks for the "heads up"! We've been waiting for Dennis to resume his weekly reports, but he seems to be otherwise occupied. In the meantime, we've changed the link in the FUN STUFF section to a similar report provided by the state Game & Fish department. - - - SUBMITTED BY: Betty on 06/04/02 - 11:29 AM SUBJECT: Payson info? What is the population of Payson and the elevation? How far is it from Prescot, AZ? What industry is there, how many nursing homes? Thanks. REPLY: Betty, Payson Population: 13,180 (1999 census) Elevation: 4982 Distance from Prescott is 90 miles (±). For information on our industries, nursing homes, etc., click HERE for a printable report. For a roster of local businesses, click HERE. And, click HERE for the YELLOW PAGE listings of local businesses with eMail addresses. - - - SUBMITTED BY: Jean on 05/16/02 - 6:45 PM SUBJECT: Camping restrictions Hi, my name is Jean, and I am planning to come to Payson over the Memorial Day holiday. I am having a hard time locating a website that shows the restrictions on camping. Due to the tremendous amount of fires we have had, I was wondering if the campgrounds will even be open. If they are going to be open, what fire restrictions will there be, and how are they going to be enforced? I would appreciate a response to this email ASAP, as my plans depend on the conditions in your area. If you can't give me any information, can you refer me to a phone number or a website that can provide this information. I was planning on camping in or around the Houston Mesa campground, or a little farther up the road, in a non-designated spot near the waterfall off Houston Mesa Road. Any assistance you can provide would be much appreciated. Thanks, Jean F. REPLY: Jean, If you can't find the information you need by following the "Latest Forest Restrictions" link in our FUN STUFF section, you may want to contact the USFS directly at wthole@fs.fed.us for the latest conditions. As you know, this time of year they can change daily! - - - SUBMITTED BY: Carlyn on 05/07/02 - 3:17 PM SUBJECT: Driving to Young, Arizona Hi, I'm sorry to bother you but I have a question regarding the drive to Young. I would be driving from Phoenix, and generally want to avoid winding mountain roads. Would you be able to tell me just how winding they are? For what distance, etc. I would appreciate it very much. Thank you, Carlyn. REPLY: Carlyn, The "North Road" that you can take to get to Young from Highway 260 east of Payson gets windy at the 3-mile mark and straightens out again at about the 6-mile mark. Then there are some gentle, wide curves here and there until you get to 5 miles from the end of the 22-mile dirt road. At this point you would be at the top of what the locals call "Cherry Creek Hill". Since mid-January, this last 5-mile stretch has been under construction. The Federal Highways Administration is supervising this road widening and paving project. There are guaranteed traffic delays Monday through Thursday between 7:00 am and 5:30 pm until the project is complete -- maybe September (?). From 10:00 am through 2:00 pm, no traffic drives through in either direction; the road is totally shut down for construction. Some Fridays there could be delays but this just began a couple of weeks ago as a small crew had to work to catch up with the schedule. The "South Road" that comes up to Young from the junction at Highway 188 north of Globe is longer -- 35 miles of dirt / gravel surface -- however, it has fewer potholes and very gentle washboards compared to the North Road, which is torn up pretty badly. The transportation crews that maintain the dirt roads cut back on frequency of gradings when the road surface is dry as it tears up their grader blades. The "South Road" has quite a few more curves and especially blind curves that are narrower. I hope this answers your question. If you want to ask a more specific question of clarify something please reply to me directly. Renee Zeising, reneeinyoung@theriver.com - - - SUBMITTED BY: Adam on 04/13/02 - 10:44 AM SUBJECT: Payson Airport Questions Where could one find the Payson Airport Master Plan? And if not included, the property available on the airport? With Payson and the Rim Country growing, a vital asset to the success of a booming town is transportation (air included). With recently flying into Payson Airport, one sees it as a bare run down strip, with little to offer the towns economy. Thanks, Adam REPLY: Adam, I'm not sure how long ago your "recent" fly-in was, but with the last airport expansion project having been completed late last year, plus with the ongoing development of airpark-style residential communities immediately adjacent to the taxiways, the airport has quite a different look these days, as well as increased service and functionality. For the latest information on these and other airport-related developments, you should contact Ted Anderson, Airport Manager, at (928) 978-4748. For on-line access, you can eMail inquiries to the Town of Payson at spidham@ci.payson.az.us - - - SUBMITTED BY: Everett Smart on 04/11/02 - 11:14 AM SUBJECT: Heber/Overgaard Arts & Crafts Good morning! Would you happen to have a number for the Arts & Crafts show that is held in the town park (Tall Timber?) over the July 4th weekend? Thanks! Everett Smart REPLY: Everett, You can get the most up-to-date info from the H/O Chamber of Commerce at (928) 535-5777. Vickie, the secretary, is always a great source of information. As of right now, they do not have a dedicated eMail address, but I hear that one is in the works. - - - SUBMITTED BY: John C. Kelley on 04/08/02 - 1:07 PM SUBJECT: School District e-mail? Hi Michael, I contacted you last summer about moving to Payson. I am going for my Master's degree in Education now in Phoenix in hopes of teaching next Fall (2003) in Payson (7-12th grades). Would you by any chance have a contact at the Payson Unified School District? I'd like to talk to that person. Thanks again and have a great "Rim" day! REPLY: John, The person currently fielding inquiries at the School District is Susan Campbell. Her direct eMail is: scampbel@pusd.com - - - SUBMITTED BY: Ron on 04/05/02 - 5:37 PM SUBJECT: Payson Golf Hi: Could you please supply with information concerning golf courses in the Payson area. Thanks. Ron in Chandler, AZ REPLY: Ron, There are currently three golf courses in the immediate area... These first two are private: The Rim Golf Club at 300 S. Clubhouse Road in Payson (928) 472-1431 Chaparral Pines Golf Club at 504 N. Club Drive, Payson 472-8330 This is our only public course: Payson Golf Course at 1504 W. Country Club Drive 474-2273 - - - SUBMITTED BY: Mike Honea on 03/11/02 - 3:49 PM SUBJECT: Visit to your area... Would like info on Horse Back to good fishing Lake for a day trip... day trails... I will be there for three days.. 3-21-02 03-21-02 thank you REPLY: Mike, If you're bringing your own horses (recommended), prepare for a great day trip! Trailer east along Hwy 260 out to FR 300 or the Woods Canyon Lake cutoff. Throw down anywhere... you're within a two-hour ride of four of the seven Rim Lakes. Woods Canyon and Willow Springs are closest and probably the busiest. It's a longer ride to either Bear Canyon or Knoll Lake, but sure to be quieter once you get there. Don't forget to stop by the Ranger Station on Hwy 260 in Payson and get a new trail map and up-to-date fire condition information. - - - SUBMITTED BY: Robyn Walsworth on 03/10/02 - 11:51 AM SUBJECT: Mountain Biking Looking for some information about Mountain Biking in Payson. Are there any trails? Are you allowed to go anywhere? Any info would be greatly appreciated. REPLY: Robyn, The short answer is "Yes", you can ride your mountain bike anywhere, except in one of our local shopping malls, but they were thoughtful enough to actually post signs letting riders know that their preferred method of transportation (and their business?) is not wanted. There are great trails all over the Rim Country, and they just about run the entire difficulty gamut. In-towners can warm up with a round-trip run from Rumsey Park "over the hill" to Green Valley Lake and back. For some very challenging and beautiful desert/mountain terrain, there are several trails down in the Rye / Gisela area. And for sheer exhileration (and considerable danger!), there's the bone-shaking run from the Fossil Springs Trailhead near Strawberry down to the power plant at Childs... or wherever. Contact the following local businesses for the most up-to-date info: Manzanity Cyclery - (928) 474-0744 Action Bicycle Center - (928) 474-2982 All Bikes Sales - (928) 474-2526 - - - SUBMITTED BY: Bob Durka on 03/09/02 - 1:31 PM SUBJECT: Camping Hello all, my question has to do with camping. We just bought a little 21' travel trailer and we are looking for a place to go camping. We have kids at 6,4 & 1 yrs old. I have a list of the camp grounds, but looking for recomendations for this camping rookie family. I havent been camping in a very long time, but looking for any help I can get. Thx....Bob REPLY: Bob, One of the greatest things about living in Arizona is that you can set up a campsite just about anywhere there isn't a sign saying you can't! It's called "at large" camping, and not all states are like that. Fortunately, ours is, making for endless possibilities. My personal favorites are right here, close by, atop the Mogollon Rim. Forest Road 300 winds for miles along the edge, from Hwy 87 just above Strawberry to Hwy 260 out by Christopher Creek, skirting the boundary between the dense Ponderosa forest and the open expanse of the Great Tonto Basin below. Several side roads offer access to some very private and scenic spots, like out on Milk Ranch Point above Pine, or a bit further east on Promontory Point above Kohl's Ranch and Christopher Creek. For a little more adventure, though, Nash Point above Strawberry offers an indescribable overlook of Fossil Springs Wilderness. Besides emergency communication capabilities (radio/cell phone), the most essential requirement is a good map, which is available from the Forest Ranger station on Hwy 260 in Payson. They are also your best source of current and up-to-date fire condition information. Have a great and safe trip! - - - SUBMITTED BY: Sonny Galvan on 03/05/02 - 9:33 PM SUBJECT: School question? Hello my name is Sonny Galvan. I attended Rim Country middle school during 97' 98' 99'. I'm a sophomore in high school now. I was wondering if Payson High School has a webpage of their own? If they do what is it? Thank you Sonny G. hgmccury@ruraltel.net REPLY: Sonny, The best I can do is this link to the Payson Regional Economic Development Corporation's website. For further info, you can contact them direct at info@paysonecon.org. - - - SUBMITTED BY: Julia & Floyd on 02/21/02 - 7:53 PM SUBJECT: Moving business to Payson I have heard that Payson has a lot to offer accept for jobs. Suposidley entrepeneurer are welcome. I was wondering what the situation is for private computer tutoring and if there are any established carpet cleaning companies in the area? We hoped to come a little later in spring but it looks like we'll be on our way sooner than expected. Could you also put me intouch with some RV parks with some trailers available for purchase. Your bulliten board is great for Payson. I hope they (the towns' business people) appreciate what you do. MANY THANKS, Julia REPLY: Julia, Let me take your inquiries one at a time... The prospects of making a living at individualized computer tutoring, as with most business start-ups, are only as good as your talent and ability to market your service. There is an active local computer club that might help along those lines. All things being equal, the potential ought to be huge. There are still three or four people out there who don't have computers, but we're working on them. In the Probably-Not-So-Good-News Department, our yellow pages show no less than eight carpet cleaners in Payson, more if you count the surrounding communities, including one "Dr Chem Dry" franchise and a "ServiceMaster". On the other hand, there are seven carpet DEALERS listed and they're building new homes everywhere you look! As for an RV park where you can find stuff for sale, I'd start with Sky Park RV Service & Storage up at the airport. Allen runs the show, and there always seems to be somebody asking him to try to sell their RV... for just slightly more than they paid for it. Call (928) 474-3908 or 978-2084. PS: Thanks for the kind words! - - - SUBMITTED BY: Emily Halston on 02/19/02 - 12:42 PM SUBJECT: relocating to Pine Hello everyone. In March, 2002 I will be moving to the Pine, Strawberry, Payson area. I have lived in Arizona for many years and have traveled to this area many times. I always feel physically and mentally better when I enter the Pine Forest there. I am an artist, photography is my medium, and I use Adobe photoshop to enhance my work. I am looking for a long term rental artist's cottage with a fireplace and a garden. Any help will be greatly appreciated. I look forward to the adventure of my move to Pine. REPLY: Dale Oestmann Prudential-Arrowhead Property Management / Pine-Strawberry eMail: DaleInPine@therivier.com - - - SUBMITTED BY: Brad W. on 02/17/02 - 12:46 AM SUBJECT: IT Jobs The Mogollon Rim area seems like a beautiful place and I have relatives in Scottsdale and Tuscon. I am considering relocating to the area from Vancouver. I am curious what the job market is like for IT/technical related positions. Thanks for any help that can be provided. REPLY: Brad, With regard to IT jobs, or virtually any hi-tek job, it's a good idea to BYOJ (bring your own job) to the Rim Country. Given the current state of our local economy, which is good but not projecting enormous growth in the technical sector, if you have a business you can start here, do it. One of the most recent "needs" I've noticed is competent network specialists. Otherwise, there's always the tried and true approach... the classifieds. - - - SUBMITTED BY: Dale M. on 02/10/02 - 11:23 AM SUBJECT: Lumber Are there any small sawmills in the area where I can buy rough cut pine boards? Dale M. REPLY: Dale, Not to my knowledge. The local mills (and all commercial development of local forest products) were shut down years ago by rumors of a Mexican Spotted Owl passing through the region. I understand there may still be a sawmill operating out in Eager, by Springerville, but you'd probably have to check with someone in the White Mountain region. Try White Mountain OnLine at http://www.wmonline.com Otherwise, I think places like Home Depot and even most local building suppliers can get rough-cut pine (or more likely, fir) boards from Western Washington or Oregon. Most will also "special order" just about anything you need. I don't know if your needs require that the source of the material be the Rim Country, but maybe you can find someone to work with you even on that. The downside, of course, is that you'll really have to pay for it, but I guess the prevailing thought is that you can afford it more than the occasional, itinerant owl. - - - SUBMITTED BY: GC on 02/06/02 - 2:42 PM SUBJECT: Natural medicine? Looking for info on natural medicine in the Payson area. How well it is received. I am a natural medicine Doctor thinking of relocating there and would appreciate any info. Thanks. REPLY: I can give you an opinion. The weather in this town is much more mild then the weather in places all around us, and the environment is very healthy, so it's like a lot of other tourist / retiree towns with a larger proportions of active elderly than most. The regional medical center hospital is quite modern and reliable, and two HMO's serve the area. There are six columns of "Physicians" in the big yellow pages, five clinics of various descriptions, plus four retail health food stores and an organic warehouse distribution club. All three major grocers offer limited oragnic produce. Nobody advertising a naturopathic or homeopathic practice, but there are a lot of interests in both. The pharmacies even carry a surprising variety of non-western, herbal products. A regular news item around here are the bus loads of people, old and young, who routinely take the short trip down to Mexico for cheaper drugs and regimens not yet "FDA-approved". Bottom line: If I had a shingle, I'd hang it! - - - SUBMITTED BY: Mark A. Moore on 02/06/02 - 12:33 PM SUBJECT: Jobs Hi, my wife and I are planning on relocating to the Payson area. I have been in banking for 17 years and would like to find something in that field. I know there are several banks and mortgage companies in Payson and I was wondering if I could get a list of people to contact or if you knew something that might be available. Thanks, Mark REPLY: Mark, Here's a start. There are others, but I wasn't able to find local contacts. Compass Bank - Personnel (928) 472-9602 First National Bank of Arizona (928) 468-2471 Wells Fargo (928) 474-4591 Concord Mortgage Company - Tara Keeney (928) 468-2375 Payson Mortgage & Investment - Maggie DuTeau (928) 474-0051 - - - SUBMITTED BY: Debbie Reinhardt on 01/29/02 - 09:28 AM SUBJECT: Doctor I need the address and phone number and email/web address if possible for Dr. York. REPLY: Lisa Marie York, MD (928) 474-9190 - - - SUBMITTED BY: j-rob on 01/25/02 - 11:27 AM SUBJECT: Current demographics I am looking for current demographic info on Payson... last 2 years. Any ideas where it might be published? REPLY: J-Rob, The most current demographics on this site are to be found in the COMMERCE section of this website under each of the various communities featured there. Updates of that same information may be available at the Arizona Department of Commerce web site. - - - SUBMITTED BY: Stephanie on 01/22/02 - 1:02 PM SUBJECT: Weather What is the weather like in Rim County during the winter months? Does it snow? REPLY: Stephanie, I really hate this question! Having experienced winters in Essex Junction, Vermont; San Diego, California; Glenwood Springs, Colorado and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, I've come to understand that one man's "weather" may be cause for severe ridicule from another. I think it best to just give you the links and let you decide... Rim Country Annual Weather Statistics Rim Country Current Weather Page - - - SUBMITTED BY: Mark Norris on 01/19/02 - 11:43 AM SUBJECT: EMS in Payson? I'm a Paramedic with hopes of moving to the Payson Area. Flight Medic or Street Medic is fine. I have been researching the Payson area for a couple years and find it a very attractive place to settle down. I enjoy Fishing,Camping, Golf & Hunting. Any info would be helpful. Thanks & Be Safe ! Mark REPLY: Mark, It's always best to go straight to the source... try Mike Brandt, PSFD at brandt@hotmail.com. - - - SUBMITTED BY: Bob on 01/14/02 - 6:55 PM SUBJECT: schools I am interested in hearing how the community rates the local school system. REPLY: No kids myself, but my friends with kids say that compared to where they came from, Cal & NY & Virginia, all say there is lot less emphasis on the PC crap here (religion, gays, ethnic diversity), so more class time is spent on 3R's. Curriculum goals seem adequate, but quality of teachers (pay scale) is low, so it's a wash. Youth crime, drugs, violence, gangs, guns, sex on campus virtually non-existent, not much more in entire town. - - - SUBMITTED BY: Charlotte Gilje on 01/03/02 - 7:12 PM SUBJECT: Information for area around Payson I'd like to get some information sent on the area around Payson and living expenses. I'm about to retire (august 02) and I was told Payson and the surrounding area was very pretty. Cost of Living home prices and anything else that would help me to determine rather I should take a trip to Payson to check it out. Thank You. Charlotte REPLY: Charlotte, I would suggest that the best place to get the most current information on "cost of living" would be our local Rim Country Regional Chamber of Commerce. They can be reached by eMail at rcrc@rimcountrychamber.com As for the cost of homes in the area, I can tell you that the prices run the gamut... you can find something in virtually any price range, depending of course on the amenities. The best place to start would be the REAL ESTATE section of this web site. See button above. As for the beauty of the surroundinmg area, you might want to spend a few minutes in the RIMAGES section of this web site... it will show you what the entire area looks like. - - - Click Here to Submit Your Question! |
RimCountry.Com
eMail: admin@rimcountry.com