Our visit to Quartzite in western Arizona was almost like staying in a ghost town!
Welcome to Quartzite
We saw 100s of bikers from this same motorcycle club!
Our Visit to Quartzite Arizona
Steve and I have heard so much about all of the RVers who boondock in Quartzite that we wanted to see what all of the fuss was about. The problem was, we arrived after the influx of RVers had already skedaddled. The dusty, rustic town of Quartzite was nearly deserted.
Stayed at Hassler’s RV Park
After we finished setting up at Hassler’s RV Park, we decided to see what was “happening” around town. Our first, and only, stop was at the Main Trading Post. I was looking for a pair of moccasins.
Main Trading Post
The porch in front of Main Trading Company
Patriotic Camel
And his Mrs.
The Main Trading Post is an enormous emporium selling everything you’d expect to find in a store out west. I could have spent days looking at all of the fabulous Native American jewelry. Some of it was delicate and dainty. Other pieces were large and bold. The coolest was the massive Squash Blossom necklace adorning an enormous bear.
Now that’s what a call a NECKLACE!!!
I tried on a few stunning rings and a couple pairs of moccasins. Found a ring that I really liked, but we figured there were other shops to check out before we bought that ring.
The World’s Largest Belt Buckle
Unfortunately there were no other stores open. In fact, even Main Trading Post had closed up shop for the day. So I went home with nothing. Boo hoo!
Fun Facts
We did learn a couple of very fun and interesting facts about Quartzite. The town of Quartzite was once home to 71 camels! There is also a pyramid, but we never did see it.
According to an article by Rachel Allison and Seymour Rosen, that I read while doing research for this post: “This stone pyramid topped by an etched camel commemorates and marks the grave of one of America’s first camel drivers, Hi Jolly. Hi Jolly was born Philip Tedro in Syria. In his adult life, he converted to Islam and took the name Hadji Ali, which was mispronounced in America and led to his Americanized name ‘Hi Jolly.’
In the 1850s, then-Secretary of War Jefferson Davis conceived a plan to bring camels to America and use them to carry goods across the arid desert. Seventy-one camels were brought over in two trips and were left under the care of Jolly. Despite its success, the camel plan was abandoned by the U.S. government after campaigning by the mule lobby and the start of the Civil War. While the majority of the camels were purchased by assorted buyers at auction, several ended up roaming the desert.
This pyramid marks the place where Hi Jolly was buried in 1902. This monument remains intact and open to visitors. Visitors can also camp for free at the Hi Jolly Camping Area (Milepost 12) in Quartzsite, AZ.”
That explained why we saw statues of camels everywhere we looked!
Colorful light show
Lit puffer fish among other fantasy sculptures at Hassler’s RV Park
Ladybug was bathed in sunlight during the day and these lights at night.
Ladybug’s lights fit right in with the light show at Hassler’s!
By the time we got back to Ladybug the sun was going down. The sun sets earlier in Arizona. Most of the country goes on Daylight Savings Time, Arizona does not! As it got darker outside we could see that all of those fun sculptures made from horseshoes, were wired with colored lights. Suddenly we were right in the midst of a fabulous light show. It was a delightful welcome to Quartzite!
