What's New In Yarnell?

Yarnell Arizona

It’s been a while since my last Yarnell post.  There’s quite a bit going on up here on the hill, so I thought it was about time to catch up.

Incident Site, Yarnell Arizona

Judging from the turnout, word has gotten out about the State Park Memorial Trail. The hike is significant but worth the effort and does a nice job of honoring the 19 fallen firefighters from the wildfire almost five years ago. Consensus from the merchants is that hikers have been exploring Yarnell a bit, and we’re happy to see them.

Yarnell Hill Fire Memorial under construction

The Yarnell Hill Recovery Group, which was recognized but disaster relief professionals as a truly remarkable local (relief) group, is focusing on our memorial in town.  The restroom building is going up now, and we’re all looking forward to seeing the rest of the park, designed for us by the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture.

We have a new food truck in town, “This Dude’s Food.”  I became an instant fan of Zach’s (the dude in question) street tacos. There’s a lot of buzz in our little town about The food served from his red trailer, and coverage from local press.

Iris bud in my backyard, Yarnell AZ

Spring is my favorite season and it has arrived.  Yarnell is decorated with blooming iris and lilac and the town smells great.  The Turkey Vultures have returned for the season as well.  These guys sometimes get a bit of a bad rap, but we think of them as town mascots.

Yarnell Daze Parade 2017

Yarnell Daze, The Mountain Festival, held each third weekend in May, is coming May 19 this year.  The parade starts at 10:00, and afterward you can listen to live performances, shop, and visit the beer garden and art show. The festival draws lots of desert dwellers because our temperatures are about fifteen degrees cooler.

Barnstar Brewing

My husband and I have been spending time at Barnstar Brewing Company, north of us in Skull Valley.  Open weekend afternoons, they offer spectacular microbrews available nowhere else, along with light food and terrific views form indoor or outdoor seating.  Dave, Sandy, and Jason have a way of making everyone feel like family. We’ve officially become “Barnstar Rifraff.”

Wagoner Road Bridge over Hassayampa River

As for me, I’ve been spending more and more time in Yarnell and working on photo projects all over Southern Yavapai County.  There are some locations that have been in the back of my mind for years, and it’s been great chasing these.

Highway 89 at Dusk

Among my favorites are the Bridge on Wagoner Road, and traffic at dusk on highway 89 North of Wilhoit.

I’m sorry if I sound something like a Cheerleader for our town, but that’s not too far from the truth.

I hope to see you up on the hill.