Patagonia, AZ (the Town)

The town of Patagonia lies 11 miles north of the State Park along green, rolling hills and canyons. We were surprised to see it so green this late in the year. But, come to think of it, neither one of us knows much about the weather in this part of the country.

The town was very quaint and again hippie in nature, our kind of town. The Red Mountain Store features organic & natural foods, bulk herbs/spices/teas, and a request to “bring your own bags”. There was a Community Garden that looked well cared for with a statue of Buddha and Mother Mary back-to-back (not to leave any faith out), the garden was still producing apples and squash. Rosemary grew wild along paths in the garden, as well as, paths in town. The houses definitely had a Mexican flair to them with bright colored exteriors, adobe courtyard walls, lots of flowers, and statues all around. I could move here not only due to the fact that there is a Yoga Center!

Buddha watching over the garden — Buddha watching over the Garden

Patti and I liked the energy of Patagonia very much and drove slowly up and down the narrow streets looking for houses for sale or rent. Who knows? The people we talked to liked living in Patagonia, and told us the community worked well together. It seemed prosperous in such an out of the way location-close to the Mexican border.

On our way back to camp, we stopped at a shrine that was built or carved into the rock along the road. The shrine was dedicated by a mother who asked Jesus and Mother Mary to protect her son who was a soldier in the war in 1860, I believe. The Shrine was re-dedicated in 1968, and is actually still used today, as evidenced by the burning candles inside the grotto when we arrived to pay our respects.