Wicked Wickenburg

Wickenburg is a town most people have never heard of, just outside the booming metropolis of Phoenix, population 5,082. Henry Wickenburg discovered a gold mine there in 1863 and the town boomed. In fact, by 1866 the town was the third largest city in Arizona and missed becoming the state capital by only 2 votes! It is an old western town right out of Gunsmoke and the shops are old and wooden and full of character - one of them is called "Buckshot Babes". On the streets they have life sized "people" of old at various corners, complete with an audio history who at the press of a button will tell you their story of making Wickenburg successful.

We had lunch at a place built in 1937 where the owner, "Uncle Wes", age 89 as of last week, chatted us up and told us his story of living in Wickenburg. He was obviously proud of the place and still stood tall and walked around confidently making sure things were in order.

We camped in a wonderful RV park close to town with lots of trees and a gorgeous pool where we met people who live there either full time or 6 months at a time. The atmosphere and hospitality of the place was truly "wicked"!