Willcox, AZ

This morning was very windy (20-22 mph), cloudy and some snow on the mountains, we are joining a group on a field trip to Wilcox, visiting the Rex Allen Museum, and other historic sites, lunch at Big Tex, pie at Stout’s Cider Mill. We met at the clubhouse at 10:00 am, Jim (Activities Coordinator) had called Wilcox to check weather and was informed it was much nicer there so the trip was a go. Wilcox is about an hours drive from the park and we will travel through Texas Canyon on Hwy 90, a very neat canyon with unusual rock formations. As we drove towards Wilcox, the clouds were breaking up and by the time we arrived the sun was shining and the wind had calmed down.

We took a short cut, gravel road but in pretty good shape.

Once we joined State Hwy 90 we drove through Texas Canyon, the rock formations fascinate us and I took more pictures, we drove through this canyon on the way down here but as with all mountains big or small they always present different pictures with weather or direction change.

Hope you enjoy the pictures which of course does not capture the awesome view that our eye can see.

Our first stop was the train station, which has been restored, houses a small museum and the town offices.

Patsy, John (owner of TTRV) and Georgina (park guest and friend).

Jim was filling us in on a little history of the old Train Station.

Just down the street was Big Tex Diner (right), where we planned to have lunch.

The train station as it looks today.

Walked across the street to Big Tex Diner, an old railway car turned into a restaurant for lunch, excellent food and company

We gathered in the addtion, our group was to large to sit in the actual train car.

That was okay though, as you can see they were all decked out Christmas and we totally enjoyed visiting with the gang.

We would surely recommend the Big Tex, the food is awesome and it is a fun place to visit.

Right is the original stove in the train car.

After lunch we visited the Rex Allen Museum.

Statue of Rex Allen, his ashes are spread in this park.

His horse Ko Ko is buried in front of the statue.














The from ranches in the area of Wilcox, AZ

The movie theatre is named after Rex Allen.

The museum is small, is well organized and displays a large assortment of Rex Allen memorbilia.

His guitar.

Some items from his parents home.







Posters from his live appearances and movies.

His saddle and many outfits he wore, I had forgotten how colourful his outfits were.

The buggy used in the TV series "Frontier Doctor", man I had forgotten that show and used to watch it many years ago.

Some of our group.

We left the museum and walked across the street to take a look at the oldest continuous commercial store in Arizona.

The train car that houses the "Big Tex Diner".

Almost everyone bought something at the Willcox Commercial Store, they carry good quality merchandise at reasonable prices. Woody bought a new belt.

The outside of the store has been redone but much of the interior is original including ceiling, floor, many old display cases and the original old cash register which they still use today!

Leaving Willcox Commercial Store we headed to Stout's Cider Mill for dessert. The owners specialize in fresh hand-made products, no preservatives, use fresh apples grown in their own orchard. Our group just had to try their most famous Apple Pie, made with 9 lbs. of apples! It truely is spectacluar!

If you are ever in Willcox do make this a "have to visit" place! They are just off I10 -Exit 340.

We arrived home late afternoon, greeted by our dogs who were very excited to see us and needed a nice long walk after being inside for most of the day! We enjoyed the walk, then spent a quiet evening at home!

For more information on the museum see: http://www.rexallenmuseum.org/

For more information on Stout's Cider Mill see: http://www.cidermill.com/