Vietnam Memorial Pays Call on Quartzsite

Simply called, "The Wall," a replica of Washington D.C.'s monument to US soldiers lost in the Vietnam War now stands in Quartzsite. No, this is not a permanent exhibit, but rather a traveling memorial that clears town in mid-February.

The Wall’s visit was heralded by the thunder--not of jet fighters--but of swarms of motorcycles leading a parade to the viewing area in the town park on North Plymouth. Set up took place this last Thursday, although plenty of folks were on hand to search for names, even as the Wall’s panels went up. At nearly 380 feet in length this version of the wall is 80% scale of the D.C. memorial.

By the time then-President Gerald Ford called a halt to US involvement in the fray, 58,000 American troops had lost their lives. The last 18 servicemen who died are listed on the last panel, representing the last official US losses in mid-May 1975. The thousands of names listed on these panel represent the hopes and fears of still more thousands of families. At the Quartzsite showing, quiet groups are looking for name they know, some making pencil rubbings of those they find.

There is no financial charge for a visit to "The Wall," but the price paid may be on your emotions.

The Mouse Moves to QZ

While officials in Anahiem, California were unavailable for comment, the Quartzsite rumor mill says that Walt's official representative of the Magic Kingdom has transferred residence from the Golden State to the Sonora Desert.

In light of recent temperatures, it isn't clear just why 'The Mouse' would want to relocate to the Quartzsite area, but speculation is that air pollution levels La-La Land were just giving his rodent sinuses fits. Like the man says, "It's the cheese that binds."

We'll let our sharp-eyed readers make the determination as to how much truth to put into the rumor mill, provided they get the point.

Quartzite POW WOW Rock Show Rocking!

What made Quartzsite the snowbird Mecca of the west coast? Rockhounds! Folks selling rocks off the tailgates of their pickup trucks started it all, and it really got "official" 41 years ago when the Quartzsite Pow Wow Gem and Mineral Show took off. Today marked the official opening of the 41st annual Pow Wow--and you can emphasize the WOW part.

The show takes place at the Quartzsite Improvement Association (QIA) building. Hundreds of exhibitors are set up. Rocks, minerals, and gems of every shape, color, and description line the tables. Tools for turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. Gold panning and metal detecting "how tos" and plenty of handshaking "how dos." The show runs daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm from today through the 28th.

There’s plenty of free parking a couple of blocks east of the QIA site, and a tractor pulled jitney ferries foot weary troops to and from the big shoe.

Yipes! Big Quartzsite RV Show Changes Its Stripes

Visitors to Quartzsite who look forward to the big red and white stripped tent are in for a shock. The home of the Quartzsite Sports, Vacation, and RV Show has been replaced. Don’t roll over yet, Kenny King, the show’s promoter has replaced the venerable red and white with an even larger Big White.

This year’s RV show begins January 20th and runs through the 28th. Tens of thousands are expected to--well we can’t exactly say "file through" the tent--shoulder their way through the tent in search of everything RV. If you need it for your RV--of if you need an RV for that matter--you’ll probably find it in the big tent.

As always, parking is free on the grounds. But watch yourselves! Those "No Parking" signs along Highway 95 south of the show site mean just that. Every year Quartzsite Town police officers get plenty of exercise walking up and down a long stretch of the highway writing out big tickets to folks who seem to think the signs don’t apply to winter visitors.

Photo: 'The Great White Tent' looms over Quartzsite skyline. Thousands will soon be swallowed up.

Record Chills Send Propane Dealers into Shivers

Just days before the opening of the big Quartzsite RV Show, local propane dealers are in need of traffic cops. Chilly temps--down into the low 20s--drifted down from jealous northerners blanketing the desert in shivers. Lines of motorhomes, pickups, and trailers blocks long led into the parking lot of the RV Pitstop, one of the town's most popular gas passers. The sounds of chattering teeth behind the wheels fed the cacophony.

Compounding the problem--nearby citrus orchardists were fearful their crops would freeze in temps that haven't been this low in 16 years. Propane wholesalers bypassed Quartzsite RV pumpers in favor of protecting the fruit crops. But the cold has made the snowbirds relentless. One dealer told us his sales were way up--pumping nearly 8,000 gallons of the liquid heat a day. On Tuesday afternoon, things came to a head: The RV Pitstop began flagging customers off, having emptied both of their 5,000 gallon tanks. Happily, a bobtail LP truck showed up bearing another 3,000 gallons, and despite attempted "line cutting" sales were orderly, and most decidely brisk.

While the deserts are blooming with rigs, there's still plenty of room left for more. Just be sure to keep your powder dry, and your LP tanks full!

Quartzsite's Motorhome Bank

Until very recently, Quartzsite had no bank. These days, Horizon Community Bank serves the local community. But turn back the clock a couple of decades and there was, indeed, a bank. And, appropriately enough, considering the town's substantial seasonal RVer population (even then), it was located in a motorhome. This photo was taken about 20 years ago. Desert Sun State Bank was right on Quartzsite's main drag, when there wasn't much there compared to today — no truck stops, no McDonalds. A few years after this bank came (and soon went!), Burger King came to town. Actually the fast food joint was in the form of trailer and was pulled to and from town depending upon how many customers were around (not very many in the hot summer!). Back in those days, Quartzsite was truly in the boonies, not like today when it bustles with activity in the winter, and is home to many year-round businesses.

Chili Cookoff Returns to Quartzsite

Quartzsite chili lovers should mark Feb. 24 on their calendar. That’s when the the Quartzsite Business Chamber of Commerce will host its 2007 "It's Chili in Quartzsite" Chili Cookoff and State Salsa Championship.

The popular event, which features live music, will be held at the Tyson Wells Showgrounds. If you would like to show your stuff, pick up an entry at the Quartzsite Business Chamber of Commerce at 101 W. Main St. For more information, call 928-927-9321.

Quartzsite gets its first pharmacy

For a long time, when a resident or winter visitor to Quartzsite needed a prescription filled it meant a trip to Blythe, Yuma or Parker. But no more: Quartzsite has its own pharmacy. The new Intown Pharmacy is in the back of the La Paz Medical Center next to the Fire Department on Tyson Drive. It’s open Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Most insurance plans are accepted.

Greatest DVD on Quartzsite

If you have never been to the Snowbird Capital of the Southwest, then take an armchair trip there through the magic of DVD.
Quartzsite is one of THE most popular snowbird destinations in the American Southwest. RVers arrive to camp for free on government land or camp for seven months for less than a dollar a day. And they come for the giant, ongoing mineral shows, flea markets, and annual RV show.
Viewing this wonderful DVD is the closest thing to being there without actually going. It features more than an hour of professionally produced, movie-quality video of the location including every significant point of interest, profiles of the area’s colorful permanent residents, extensive video coverage of all the area’s key must-see attractions with GPS readings of each, where to camp (for free or in an RV park), events, etc. The DVD is packed with maps and other useful information that can be printed or viewed on the screen. Quartzsite is one of the most interesting RV locations in the U.S. It evolves from a near ghost town of approximately 400 residents in the summer to more than 100,000 at times during the winter — most the them RVers. The DVD also features campsite diagrams with detailed hookup and reservation information, town history, places to visit nearby, restaurant menus, and more. Each location includes GPS readings to make it easy to locate. Take an armchair visit to Quartzsite, Arizona, one of the largest winter RVer gathering places in the U.S. See where to camp for free or nearly free on government land, tour RV parks, visit local attractions, and get inside information from RVers who return year after year.