French Riviera2

French Riviera3

French Riviera4

Great Media for Wickenburg- Julie Brooks, Executive Director

Over the last three weeks Wickenburg has received some great media placement inside The Arizona Republic.  Freelance Writer Roger Naylor called me in early November to discuss writing a story about our community, and then scheduled his trip to Wickenburg in late December.

He met chamber member representatives of: BC Jeep Tours- Mike & Cathy Billingsley;DesertCaballerosWesternMuseum; Tumbleweeds- Lisa & Conley Wilkes, Lazy D Rockin’ P Ranch – Dale & Pat Mee; Hassayampa River Preserve, Rancho de los Caballeros, and Hog Trough Smokehouse BBQ- Kenny & Terri Benoit. 

Roger was a guest overnight at Rancho de los Caballeros, hikedVulturePeak, toured the historical walking tour, and trails around the Hassayampa River Preserve.  We discussed local attractions such as The Webb Center, annual events and how the investments made by the public and private sector show great pride and bring visitor’s coming back to our community. 

The article came out on Sunday, Jan. 22 on the front page of the Travel Section with many four color photographs and a full page inside the section with more information and four black/white photographs.  The article appeared online at az.central.com, and on Roger’s face book and ours.

During the same period of time we were working with Republic Media for the official Arizona Centennial AZ Best Fest program. The Chamber’s ½ page article along with advertising placed by us and partners: Rancho de los Caballeros, Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts, and the DesertCaballerosWesternMuseumgave us a presence of one full page.  The supplement debuted on Friday, February 3^rd inside theArizonaRepublic newspaper.  The publication has statewide coverage, and available at key free pick-up locations around the Valley.

 And with Gold Rush Days, we have been extremely fortunate to again have this heritage event named as a special event by the Arizona Centennial. Event Photographs, articles, radio, & television advertising, interviews, and Ad placement in State and Local publications are in place.  The Wickenburg Sun produces the official Gold Rush Days Program, and 96.3 FM Real County is our official radio station. This week and next should also alert visitors about our community as we participate in the AZ Best Fest on Saturday and Sunday.  Chamber staff and members will hand out our Visitor’s Guide, Shopping & Dining Guide and GRD Schedule of Events.

ONLY One tour per day is available Wednesday’s through Saturday’s. The gates will open at 9:30AM and close at 10AM.

 This is a ½ mile dirt path guided tour.

 $10 Donation per person, cash only is required.  

 For Group Reservations Only contact through email:    vulture_mine@yahoo.com

Group travel excursions information for “Southern Italy” on March 13^th, “South Pacific Wonders” to Australia & New Zealand, on Sept. 17^th-October 1^st, and a “Discover the French Riviera” departing October 27-Nov. 3, 2012 is available on our website or by stopping by the chamber office.

The packages coordinated by member agencies, Chamber Discoveries and Collette Travel are terrific rates of: $2,499* per person forItaly; $5,099* for AUS & NZ; and $2,199* per person for French Riviera. Trips include round-trip airfare. *Wickenburg Chamber Members price per person.

This Super Value all inclusive trips includes round trip transfers between airports, and is open to everyone so you can plan the trip with friends or family!

Rancho Bar 7- Wednesdays on the patio from 6-9:00 p.m. 

Chaparral Ice Cream- Friday and Saturday from 1 to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday 12 to 3:00 p.m.

Cowboy Café – Friday – Holly Jo Samsill- 6-9 p.m.;

Fireside Grill – Friday & Saturday – live bands

Nana’s – 2^nd Wednesday of each month during Wine Tasting-5:30-8:30 p.m.

 For information & Updates call The Chamber at (928) 684-5479.

By Michelle Ye Hee Lee
January 27, 2012 Arizona Republic

A 110-square-mile recreation area that eventually will include hiking and off-road-vehicle trails, campgrounds and wildlife-observation areas will soon start taking shape around the Vulture Mountains in the far northwest Valley. The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors this week directed county parks and recreation staff to begin the $29 million, 30-year project, the first large-scale county-parks project since the 1990s.

The Vulture Mountains Regional Park and Recreation Area near Wickenburg will be the county’s 11th park. The park, to be managed by the county Parks and Recreation Department and the federal Bureau of Land Management, likely will be developed with county capital-improvement funds. Officials plan to complete the project in four phases.

The first is to develop a rest area near the Hassayampa River Preserve managed by the Nature Conservancy. The river mostly runs underground, but a 5-mile stretch of stream above ground has become an oasis for vegetation and more than 280 species of birds that nest in or migrate through the area. Subsequent phases include a campground at the Vulture Peak, back-country off-road sites, and day-use areas.

The project had been discussed since about 2005, said R.J. Cardin, county Parks and Recreation Department director. Wickenburg and county officials have been trying to come up with a way to preserve the vast open space and diverse natural attractions in the far northwest Valley, Cardin said. The area has a variety of features that attract diverse plant life and wildlife: mountainous terrain, riparian habitat and pristine desert.

The Vulture Mountains for years have attracted local hikers and recreational gold miners. The region also is popular with those who enjoy remnants of the Vulture Gold Mine that Henry Wickenburg developed after discovering gold there in 1863. Officials hope that the creation of a park and recreation area will attract more visitors and bring economic development to Wickenburg.

“It’s another place that they can go to that’s a part of Arizona. It’s a place to have a picnic or a place to climb a mountain, a place to see,” said county Supervisor Max Wilson, who represents the West Valley’s District 4. “Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever. That’s part of our job in the parks system: to protect those for the future generations to enjoy.”

Moe Frenette, a Peoria resident recently hiking the Vulture Peak Trail, said he would support a recreation area around the mountains. He is a member of a hiking club that frequents the Vulture Peak Trail to enjoy the desert scenery.

Among other proposed recreational amenities are visitor and nature centers, ramadas and an archery range.

For more information see www.Maricopa.gov website.

Use for 2011 Individual Income Tax Preparation Fees Only.

Not Valid with Any Other Offer. H&R Block TS12

Call now to set your appointment (928) 684-7453

Las Siesta Plaza – 472 E. Wickenburg Way, Suite 202

Wickenburg, Arizona 85390

Custom Builder; Custom Homes and Remodel; Commercial & Steel

Chamber Ambassadors and Owner-David Echeverria

Featured in picture: Head frame for the Douglas Shaft from The Vulture Mine in the process of being restored for display

(928) 668-0246

 EVENT SCHEDULE - (As of January 20^th, 2012)

January 19, 20, 21 – BJ Campbell Team Roping  (bjcampbellteamroping.com)

January 26 – BJ Campbell Team Roping  (bjcampbellteamroping.com)

January 28 & 29   —  Yost Team Roping (www.yostevents.com)

February 2 – BJ Campbell Team Roping  (bjcampbellteamroping.com)

February 4, 5, 6  -Team Roping – Scott Whitworth (Silver Bit)

February 9 – BJ Campbell Team Roping  (bjcampbellteamroping.com)

February 10 & 11   —  Yost Team Roping Event  (www.yostevents.com)

February 17, 18, 19  — 64th Gold Rush Days NSPRA & GCPRA Rodeo- www.wickenburgchamber.com

February 23 – BJ Campbell Team Roping (bjcampbellteamroping.com)

February 25 & 26—  Yost Team Roping  (www.yostevents.com)

March 1 – BJ Campbell Team Roping  (bjcampbellteamroping.com)

March 3   —  Saturday Rodeo 1:00 pm

(Slash M Rodeo Co. – Scott McDaniels)

March 4   —  Yost Team Roping

(www.yostevents.com)

March 4  — St. Jude’s Benefit Ride –Horspitality RV Resort

March 8 – BJ Campbell Team Roping  (bjcampbellteamroping.com)

March 10 & 11 – Arizona Junior Rodeo Association Event (www.arizonajuniorrodeo.com)

March 15 – BJCampbellTeam Roping   (bjcampbellteamroping.com)

March 18 – Yost Team Roping

(www.yostevents.com)

March 22 – BJ Campbell Team Roping (bjcampbellteamroping.com)

March 23, 24, 25  —  Desert Scouts Truck Rodeo  (www.sonoradesertscouts.com)

March 29 – BJCampbellTeam Roping   (bjcampbellteamroping.com)

March 31 – Saturday Rodeo – 1:00 p.m.  (Slash M Rodeo Co. – Scott McDaniels)

April 1 – Yost Team Roping Event 

(www.yostevents.com)

April  6, 7, 8  —  Arizona Cowpunchers Rodeo (www.azcowpunchers.com)

 For additional information on Wickenburg, call The Chamber at (928) 684-5479 or info@wickenburgchamber.com