“A Mother’s Love” by Tammy Martin-Causey, 2014 Summer Fun Photo Contest
“MacDonald Ranch priceless desert asset”, Scottsdale Progress Tribune, April 10, 1997
This piece, written by Les Conklin of Friends, called for extension of State of Arizona’s lease to Mac Donald’s Ranch. The virgin desert land occupied by Mac Donald’s is located on the west side of Scottsdale Road at the southern end of the Scenic Drive, just south of Jomax Road. The article makes the following arguments in favor of extending the lease: 1) the exceptionally beautiful desert will be lost to development, 2) Mac Donald’s is one of the few places left in the north Valley for visitors to go horseback riding, “We add hotels and subtract from the number of visitor attractions”, 3) MacDonald’s has been a major supporter of the drive and development will most likely have a negative impact on the drive, 4) tourists stop right across the road from MacDonald’s at the drive’s monument sign to take souvenir pictures. “What kind of pictures will they take home in the future?”. 5) area property owners are paying part of the cost to bury power lines to beautify the area. The article calls for officials to work towards creating a public horse riding facility similar to Griffith Park in Los Angeles.
Because of the efforts of many people, Mac Donald’s was later granted a 5 year extension on their lease.
“Monument plants selected for drive”, Sonoran News, April 16, 1997
The article reports on our selection of new plants for the drive following the widening of Scottsdale Road to four lanes. Patrick Quirk, a plant expert, from the world renowned Desert Botanical Gardens assisted in the identification of the plants. Ed Villa, representing Scottsdale’s Keep America Beautiful program assisted.
New plant sites will be established along the six-mile stretch of Scottsdale Road from Carefree Highway to the power lines just south of Jomax Road. In selecting the plants the following criteria were applied: 1) plant sites are no more than 1/4 mile apart to maintain visual continuity of the drive, 2) plants are near the roadside and large enough to be seen from a passing car, 3) selected plants reflect the diversity of species found in the Foothills area.
At this time only plant sites on the east side of Scottsdale Road are being established. Sites on the west side will be done after the power lines are buried later this summer.
“Friends of the Desert Scenic Drive continue campaign to beautify, publicize highway”, Foothills Sentinel, June 11, 1997
This article reports on our Cookout at the Ranch that was held at MacDonald’s Ranch on May 31st. More than 300 people turned out Saturday evening despite a temperature of 102 degrees at 6 PM. The evening included a ride to dinner aboard a horse-drawn hay wagon, a cookout courtesy of Outback Steakhouse, music and displays about the natural desert setting. Merchandise and services donated by local businesses were auctioned and raffled off.
The article includes several pictures: a child looking at Scottsdale’s Keep America Beautiful exhibit, a volunteer from Liberty Wild Life holding a Harris Hawk, an Outback Steakhouse chef preparing dinner, guests boarding a haywagon, and pictures taken in the vicinity of the desert walking area.
“Thank You!”, Sonoran News, June 18, 1997, Advertisement thanking contributors to Cookout at the Ranch
Friends thanks the following merchants and exhibitors for supporting our successful benefit, Cookout at the Ranch, that was held on May 31, 1997. More than 300 people attended.
AJ’s, Arizona Cardinals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Rattlers, Art Alliance, Bagel Boys, Bashas’, Bird’s Nest, Book Vine, The Boulders, Buffalo Chip Saloon, City of Scottsdale, C.O.P.P., Desertique, Dutch’s Water, El Encanto, el Pedregal, Ethereal Blooms, Foothills Sentinel, Fred Astaire Dance, Greasewood Flats, Greater Pinnacle Peak H.O., Heard Museum, Imagine Gallery, Le Sans Souci, Liberty Wild Life, Mac Donald’s Ranch, Mail Boxes, Etc., M.B. York Day Spa, McDowell Mtn. Preserve, McDowell Land Preserve, Mother of Nature Traders, Movies Galore, Outback Steakhouse, Phoenix Suns, Rancho de Vista, Rolph’s Beauty Salon, Rawhide, Safeway, Salon Picaso, Satisfied Frog, Scottsdale Historical Society, Scottsdale Planning, Scottsdale Pride, Scottsdale Progress and Tribune, Sonoran News, Terravita, The Good Egg, Town Dump, Tuscan Caffe, Walgreen’s – Carefree
Special thanks to all the volunteers and our the event’s major sponsors: Outback Steakhouse and MacDonald’s Ranch!
“Scout helps Scenic Drive as Eagle project”, Foothills Sentinel, July 25, 1997
Friends had begun creating new plant sites along the east side of Scottsdale Road prior to the Cookout. Dick McIntrye had cut signs and posts, John Ryon had routed the plant names onto the signs and Roy Slaunwhite had painted the signs. Dick McIntyre had installed many of the new signs. We had also purchased a truck load of rocks that needed to be painted and placed around the plant sites.
At this point, Les Conklin was contacted by Jesse Blake and his parents. Did Friends of the Scenic Drive have a project that Jesse could do that would count towards his Eagle award? It took about a second to answer that one.
This article reports on the successful completion of Jesse’s project. Jesse organized 16 scouts from Cave Creek Troop 203 and parents to finish the work Friends had begun. They cleaned up all the plant sites at the monument sign area and along Scottsdale Road. They circled all the plants with rocks which they hauled to the sites, and then painted the rocks. The project took more than 100 volunteer hours.
As part of the requirement for his Eagle, Jesse had written a plan for the project which Friends approved. When the project was finished, Jesse submitted a report covering what had been done. Friends signed a copy moving Jesse one step closer to his Eagle.
Jesse’s parents, long time residents of the area, were very supportive of his work on the drive’s behalf. Friends thanks the Blakes and Troop 203.
“Scenic Drive to get improvements, Del Webb to fund Desert Foothills upgrades”, Scottsdale Tribune, October 26, 1997
This article describes the breakfast ceremony that Friends held on Saturday, October 25th to celebrate Del Webb Corporation’s $30,000 donation to fund Scenic Drive informational signs and a visitor exhibit. The article quotes several ceremony participants.
Sam Campana, Scottsdale Mayor. “The scenic drive has been a partnership among residents from Cave Creek, Carefree and Scottsdale. This has been done with a minimum of government assistance.”
Tom Augerton, Cave Creek Mayor. “The drive is about volunteers who want to preserve the environment. It the drive is not preserved there will be nothing left to appreciate.”
Corkie Cockburn, Scenic Drive founder. “There are a lot of people who seeing our area for the first time just stand, look and take pictures … we hated to see it bulldozed down by developers.”
Les Conklin, Friends of the Scenic Drive. “All over America, roads are beginning to look alike. This project is to make sure that this six mile stretch of Scottsdale Road doesn’t look like other roads. We want to keep it a scenic corridor.”
“Group determined to save scenic area”, Arizona Republic, October 26, 1997
This article describes the celebration ceremony and brunch that was held on Saturday, October 25th. It also summarizes the history of the Scenic Drive and the efforts of preservationists. The article quotes founder, Corkie Cockburn. Corkie said, “To drive past mile after mile of commercial development was not what we wanted. I thank God that some of the planners and officials and even some of the developers are recognizing the value of having a natural corridor, or at least as natural as it can be.” The article includes a picture of the desert near the Monument Sign where the ceremony was held.
“New signs for Scenic Drive”, Sonoran News, October 29 – Nov. 4, 1997
This article also covers the October 25th celebration. It includes a picture of one of the new Desert Foothills Scenic Drive identification signs that will be installed along Scottsdale Road. A second picture shows Carefree Mayor Hugh Stevens, Cave Creek Mayor Tom Augherton, Scottsdale City Council member Mary Manross and drive founder, Corkie Cockburn, conversing prior to the ceremony.
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