Seniors Spend An Evening In Willcox

My wife’s sisters drove from Van Horn, Texas to Willcox, Arizona.  So now we’re checking into Willcox, a town of just under 4,000. Originally known as “Maley”, the town was founded in 1880 as a whistlestop on the Southern Pacific Railroad.

It was renamed in honor of a visit by General Orlando B. Willcox in 1889. In the early 20th century, Willcox had the distinction of being a national leader in cattle raising. Today agriculture remains important to the local economy, and I-10 has replaced the railroad as the major transportation link.

Much of the economy is now tied to the highway, which runs immediately north of the town. Interstate 10 serves the city with three exits into town, so it is an easy exit for senior travelers. Check out Railroad Avenue, the main drag through downtown.

 Seniors Remember ‘The Arizona Cowboy’, Rex Allen

Any chance you remember a cowboy named Rex Allen?  He was born in Willcox and known as “The Arizona Cowboy.”  Rex wrote and recorded many songs, and starred in several western movies during the early 1950s.

The Rex Allen Museum awaits your visit. So does the Chiricahua National Monument that has several balanced rocks that are well known and well worth a visit.

Senior oenophiles (that’s folks who appreciate fine wine), Willcox is home to Arizona’s upcoming wine country with a wide variety of grape varietals (16 to be precise) grown nearby.

Historic Cochise County Attracts Seniors

The local Chamber of Commerce notes that Willcox offers outdoor recreation like hiking, biking, camping, golfing and bird watching as well as beautiful sunsets.

Historic downtown Willcox is home to the oldest continually operating store in Arizona, along with antique shops, museums, unique restaurants, specialty shops, and great people.

For your information a note on Cochise County: it was established on February 1, 1881, during the 11th Territorial Assembly. The County was formed from the southeast corner of Pima County and the original County seat was in Tombstone. After the decline of silver mining in Tombstone, the county seat was moved to Bisbee in 1929, where it remains today.

The three industries that put Cochise County on the map are copper, cattle and cotton. Agriculture continues to be an important industry in the county today, even with new-to-the-County agricultural ventures such as vineyards.

Fort Huachuca has also played a major role in the development of the county and contributes substantially to the local economy.

This part of Arizona is flooded with scenery, history and Arizona regional cuisine. Enjoy your stop in Willcox.  -jeb