|
Arivaca,
Arizona SLIDESHOW |
| Arivaca - ART | WILDLIFE |
Arivaca was originally a Tohono O'odham (Pima - Papago) Indian village. The Pima called it Al Wa:k or "place of small water or springs". Later as a visita of Guevavi Mission, it was called Santa Gertrudis de Aribaca.
Mining
and ranching are a part of Arivaca's history. Today, in Arivaca,
you will find diverse vocations in a population of nearly 1000.
While there are still ranchers,
you will also find artists,
pottery
makers, craftsmen,
builders,
birdwatchers,
environmental
educators, coffee
roasters, filmmakers,
photographers,
sculpturers,
singer/songwriters,
web designers and publishers.
Something that we found in Arivaca residents, that they seem to
have in common, is their friendly welcoming ways. Stop by Arivaca
Artist’s Cooperative and pick up some paintings, prints,
scultptures, wine stoppers, or even gourd
art. And right next door is Bill's Rock Shop, where you will
find beautiful rocks and you will learn the history behind them.
Like the rest of the Santa Cruz Valley, Arivaca
has excellent birdwatching opportunities. Specifically, two areas
operated by the Buenos
Aires National Wildlife Refuge, Arivaca Cienega
and Arivaca Creek, are excellent places to watch
birds. 
Arivaca
Cienega are wetlands that attract many different species. Buenos
Aires Wildlife Refuge has built a wooden boardwalk to enhance
viewing of the area. Arivaca Creek, west of Arivaca, is where you
will find the Visitor's Center.
The Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge is a large refuge of 118,000 acres extending down near the border of Mexico. It is used to protect the threatened Masked (and Hooded) Bobwhite Quail and Pronghorn.
Places to stay in Arivaca include, The Birdhouse Bed & Breakfast, Arivaca Country Bed and Breakfast, Sonoran Desert Herbal Retreat, and Universal Ranch RV Park Resort.
The Lonesome Oak Ranch has rustic accommodations (bunk houses) available for weekend and summer camps. Their primary mission includes guiding children, and teaching them to ride and care for their horses. Another organization that is dedicated to helping and teaching youngsters about horses, in Arivaca, is the Arivaca Boys Ranch and Academy.
One
prominent feature in the Arivaca area is Baboquivari Peak. This
peak lies within the Baboquivari
Peak Wilderness Area. It is very visible from the Tucson Foothills,
looking to the southwest. This area has many canyons and trails
to hike. It is located in the Tohono O’odham Reservation.
It is the most sacred place to the Tohono O’odham,
and regarded as "navel of the world" by the O'odham.
One local Arivaca resident, told us "The Tohono O'odham
believe it is God's Footstool".
Jesuit Padre Kino documented Baboquivari Peak
during his explorations of this area. It is in this area that the
elusive jaguar has been spotted in recent years.
Visit the The
Desert Light Labyrinth in the shadow of the sacred mountain.
About 5 miles south of Arivaca, in the Coronado National Forest, is Arivaca Lake. It is a small lake, but there is fishing for bass, catfish, and largemouth bass.
Additional resources include the Arivaca Community Calendar, The Connection Newspaper and Arivaca Arizona Online, which are all excellent sources of Arivaca information.
Thanks for Visiting
A Visitors Guide to Arizona's Santa Cruz Valley
