Visitors line up to tour the first floor of the historic San Rafael House. Photo by Marion Vendituoli 
The barn at the Ranch is probably too far gone to be restored. Photo by Marion Vendituoli 
Betty and Glen Dickens, of Elgin, staffed a booth for the Arizona Antelope Foundation, the organization that is responsible for the reintroduction and success of local antelope herds. Photo by Marion Vendituoli 
Dick Schorr demonstrates plaiting a rawhide riata. Photo by Marion Vendituoli 
Local musician Bruce Andre sang and played western music during the event. Photo by Marion Vendituoli 
Patti Oliver discusses movies filmed in the San Rafael Valley with guests touring the San Rafael Ranch House. Oliver played parts in several of the movies made locally. Photo by Marion Vendituoli 
Local artisan Fox Neville Johnson helps a visitor to the event create a leather key fob. Photo by Marion Vendituoli
Organizers weren’t sure how much interest there would be for the Arizona250 celebration at the San Rafael Ranch, held on April 11. After all, the ranch is located deep in the San Rafael Valley east of Patagonia, almost to the Mexican border and accessible only by a long drive on dirt roads.
It turns out there was considerable interest. About 1,100 people signed up to attend, and more than 600 showed up to tour the ranch house, experience one of the most beautiful spots in Southern Arizona and learn about work being done by local environmental and educational groups.
The event was the result of the collaboration between Arizona State Parks and Trails, which owns the 3,557-acre ranch, and Friends of San Rafael Valley, a local nonprofit committed to preserving the historic ranch headquarters and promoting conservation. Several other local and state groups also participated in the event.
“The collaboration was really great to see,” said FOSRV board member Linda Shore.
The main attraction for visitors was a tour of the San Rafael Ranch House, a large, graceful brick home built in 1900. Period furniture and displays depicted ranching life, historic displays, photos of the families that have lived in the house, and movies that were filmed in the area. Patti Oliver, of Elgin, sat in the kitchen of the ranch house surrounded by movie memorabilia. She shared stories of her experiences acting in several westerns and handed out photographs of her standing with John Wayne. Volunteers from FOSRV answered questions in each of the eight rooms on the main floor.
Only the first floor was open to visitors, as the second floor and basement still need major restoration. The roof, which had significant leaks, was recently replaced. According to Carol Bonchalk, FOSRV board president, the next big project will be the restoration of the porch, repairs to the brick pillars and the installation of gutters. The group has received a historic preservation grant to help with these repairs but needs to raise $33,000 to complete this project.
On the front lawn, visitors had the opportunity to speak with representatives from several local and state groups committed to preserving local history and conserving the short grass prairie on the ranch and throughout the valley. Local musicians Andy Hersey and Bruce Andre entertained the crowd with western music, visitors tried their hand at leather stamping, and Dick Schorr, who grew up in Canelo, demonstrated the art of rawhide riata making. There was also a dedication of the ranch as an International Birding Area.
Arizona State Parks has no plans to open the San Rafael State Park full-time. State parks have to be self-supporting, and the sentiment seems to be that the remoteness of the ranch would preclude there being enough visitors to warrant the expense of keeping it open. FOSRV would like to develop programs and events that could take place at the ranch, however.
“For us, this event was an opportunity to prove to the state that there was interest in the house,” Bonchalk said. “Yes, we can’t open it full time but going forward we can use it for educational programs, events and cultural activities.”