Great NEON MILE HISTORIC OPEN HOUSE & TOUR!!!!

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To those of you that didn't attend [who cares if your only born child was graduating from UA at the same time], you?really missed a fantastic evening.? I've uploaded a few photos from tonight.?

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Scheduled activities were:

Historic US 80 and Miracle Mile - talk by Demion Clinco, Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation

Sign-o-Rama - talk by Carlos Lozano, Vanishing Tucson

Guided Tour of Ghost Ranch Lodge historic cactus garden - Ken Scoville, Old Pueblo Walking Tours

Historic Wayward Winds neon sign lighting

Evergreen Cemetery after-dark tour - Ken Scoville

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The Monterey Court was hosting this year's event and the joint was jumping.? Good drinks, great food, and really good music from Greyhound Soul.? Very nifty venue if you haven't found this place, yet.? It was formerly a down-on-its-luck tourist court that has been turned around into artist studios and restaurant.? This is their 1st Anniversary so help them celebrate by dropping by tomorrow evening.

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Demion's talk was funny and full of neato factoids about Tucson and it's relationship to tourists and specifically the automobile tourist.

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We missed Carlos' talk, Sign-o-Rama, but we did see some of his slides as he was loading his talk onto the computer and he had some really nifty photos of neon signage in Tucson.? It was a difficult decision to miss Carlos but we actually came to see the Ghost Ranch Lodge cactus garden so, maybe we'll catch your act next year.?

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Ken Scoville gave an interesting overview of the history of the Ghost Ranch Lodge and then we got a tour of the grounds.? Check out my photo of the cactus garden.? That ain't no tall skinny saguaro, that's one big-assed boojum!!!

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Around 7:00pm the newly restored neon sign for the Wayward Winds Lodge was switched on.? The Gospel Rescue Mission now has the lodge and they are providing shelter to women and children in need.

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We walked up to Monterey Court for some libations and sat down to listen to the live music from Greyhound Soul.? Nice blues and a nice red ale.

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A huge crowd signed up for the after-dark tour of Evergreen Cemetery - more than Ken Scoville was anticipating.? The Tucson Police were on hand to block traffic on Miracle Mile as the crowd migrated from Monterey Court over to Evergreen.? With flashlights out and?keeping up?a crisp pace, Ken managed to give us the highlights of some of the personages buried in the cemetery.? Did you know Tom Jeffords, blood brother to Cochise, is buried here?

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To top it all off, the Monterey Court celebrated their 1st Anniversary with a very tasty shortcakey strawberry?dessert.

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If you missed it, too bad.? You need to pay attention for next year's shindig.? When Carlos posts a notice - read and act!

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Alex Cook

Southern Arizonan since 1954

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