The Pinal County Birding Trail showcases the area’s best sites to find birds and other wildlife. By using this interactive map, the trail allows visitors to set their own itinerary to explore the best the County has to offer. All sites along the trail are public with easy access and parking. Most sites also offer … Read More…
Apache Junction, the gateway to the Superstition Mountains, offers a myriad of attractions within easy reach of Phoenix. Made famous by the legend of the Lost Dutchman Mine, Apache Junction and the Superstition Mountains offer history, outdoor activities and adventure. This is the start of the Apache Trail, with its many attractions. The drive up … Read More…
Casa Grande is the largest incorporated city in Pinal County and a major economic engine for the region. Founded in 1879 as a temporary terminus for the Southern Pacific Railroad, it was named Casa Grande in 1880 for the nearby Casa Grande ruins. It’s centrally located between Phoenix and Tucson and growing rapidly. The Museum … Read More…
The Pinal County portion of Arizona’s Copper Corridor runs from Superior in the north to Oracle Junction in the south, encompassing some of the most interesting geography in the state – along with a fascinating slice of the state’s history and scenery. Developed by the Copper Corridor Economic Development Coalition and named for the enormous … Read More…
Coolidge is the home of the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. This was the first prehistoric cultural site to be protected by the United States government when President Benjamin Harrison signed the Executive Order proclamation on June 22, 1892. And what a treasure it is. The four-story building was built by the Hohokam Indians who … Read More…
Next along the Golden Corridor is Eloy, strategically located just south of the junction of I-8 and I-10. Long recognized as an important cotton-growing center, Eloy is now experiencing dramatic industrial growth thanks to, as they say, location, location, location. That’s true throughout Pinal County, and it’s certainly true here. The City was founded in … Read More…
Florence is a living history museum. The sixth oldest non-Native American community in Arizona was founded in 1866. By digging out and using the prehistoric irrigation canals from the nearby Gila River, the newcomers created a successful farming community. The Arizona Territory created Pinal County in 1875, naming Florence its county seat. Silver was discovered … Read More…
Marana anchors the southern end of the Golden Corridor and makes an excellent base camp for regional exploring. With a myriad of hotels and restaurants, it’s easy to stay here and take the back roads to Saguaro National Park West, Old Tucson and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. With its favorable location on the Santa Cruz … Read More…
Maricopa is a vibrant city in the Gila River Valley south of Phoenix. When Father Eusebio Francisco Kino visited in 1694, he reported finding a Native American farming community. In the 1800s, it became an oasis in the desert, growing up around its wells and watering holes. The Gila and Santa Cruz rivers provided an … Read More…
An adventuresome would-be gold-miner was sailing from Boston around South America to California on a ship named Oracle when the ship sailed up the Gulf of California by mistake. He decided he’d had enough sailing and headed overland, making it as far as Tucson, where he joined other miners filing claims on the north side … Read More…