This article, with complete narrative, links, and photos, was published in Travel Awaits on May 19, 2021
Last year at
the Oscars, another Frances McDormand movie, Nomadland, won Best Picture.
Having RVed across North America with my husband for eight years, we both
identified with the story set in the small town of Quartzsite in Arizona. Here are ten reasons why the town is perfect for RVers and more.
Quartzsite Has
that Mystique for RVers
1. There Are
Unbelievably Wide Open Spaces to Camp for a Song
“The Bureau
of Land Management Long-Term Visitor Areas (La Posa and Midland) surround the
town. Primarily established to help preserve the desert, these public lands
provide minimal facilities—vault toilets, dump station, and
water faucets, but not power— for itinerant migrants with
self-contained vehicles who seek to shelter in the area’s winter temperatures
in the 70s and 80s.” An annual
pass costs $180 or just $25 a month from
September 15 to April 15. Stays of up to 14 days in any
28-day period are free at five designated campsites but campers must move to a new site outside of a 25-mile radius after 14 days before returning after 14 days for another stay.
2. There Are
Other Ways to Camp in Quartzsite
There are
about 70 RV campgrounds with full-service hookups. They are there for those who
can afford them or who have opted to stay year-round.
3. There’s
Fun to Be Had with Fellow RVers
“In the
months of January and February, there are more than a dozen swap meets and a
Prospectors’ Panorama plus nine gem and mineral shows, craft shows, and the
largest gathering of RVers, the Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV Show…The Rubber Tramp Rendezvous sessions assimilate newcomers to the community, For nighttime fun, there are the Quartzsite Yacht
Club and the very popular Desert Bar in nearby Parker.”
4. The
Desert Has a Lot of Outdoor Experiences to Offer
The rugged
land around Quartzsite is ideal for outdoor activities and land sports in winter. Water sports are also available at Alamo Lake and on the Colorado River.
Quartzsite
Is a Destination in Itself
From 1863 to
the 1880s, when the Arizona Territory was still newly created, Quartzsite was
the site of a waterhole and later a stage station called Tysons Well. At one time, 39 mines were operating served by two landing stations on the
Colorado River.
5. This
History Is Preserved at the Quartzsite Historical Museum
“Unfortunately,
the Quartzsite Historical Museum, also known as the Tysons Well Stage Station
Museum and housed in the Oasis Hotel of mining boom times, was closed when we
were there. It was great that the outside exhibits were also interesting. We
got to see mining equipment, the Assay Office from the Margarita Mine, and
Barrett’s Miniature Village, created to scale with small rocks painstakingly
glued together, and the skeleton of the Giant Saguaro with
47 arms.”
6. Hi Jolly
Tomb and Cemetery Is the Most Visited Place in Quartzsite
“Hi (Hadji)
Ali was an Ottoman citizen of Greek-Syrian parentage who became one of the very
first lead camel drivers in the U.S. Camel Corps when it aimed to use camels as
a major means of cargo transportation across the American Southwest.” The efforts failed because they panicked the horses, burros, etc. But Hi Jolly stayed and prospered and, when he died, the town erected a Hi Jolly
Tomb around which the Jolly Cemetery grew.
7. Celia’s
Rainbow Garden Is the Largest Free Botanical Garden in the State
“Celia was a
miracle baby, born 12 inches long weighing only 1.25 pounds, to a couple who
was told they could not have a child.” Celia grew to be loved by everyone for
her ultra-positive outlook on life. But she caught a viral
infection at eight and a half. She died, the whole town mourned, and the city gave a plot of land for a garden in her memory. Volunteers built and maintain the garden for everyone to enjoy.
Quartzsite
Is a Great Stop for the Weary Traveler
Quartzsite
is at the crossroads of I-10 and I-95, midway between Phoenix and Palm Springs.
It is also three and a half hours from either Los Angeles or Las Vegas.
8. Stopping for
a Bite Will Leave No One Disappointed
“Silly Al’s
Pizza is the town’s watering hole. Be sure to order Al’s Special House Combo. Try lunch at the Mountain Quail Cafe, where Frances McDormand and the “Nomadland” crew had meals while on the shoot.
9. Shopping
Is a Must in this, the “Rock Capital Of The World”
“The name
Quartzsite comes from the quartz that abounds in the area. Other rocks and gems
are common, too…The Main
Trading Post and other shops with tons of jewelry and artwork remain open
year-round. You will love the Trading Post’s “World’s Biggest Buckle,” which
measures several feet in height and width.”
10. Having a
Talk with Town Legends Is a Thrill
We met Joanne Winer, wife of Paul, the
Naked Bookseller (he wore just thongs). He performed his own composition “Next
to the Track Blues” in the movie, now part of the soundtrack and the Nomandland CD. Sadly, he died after filming ‘Nomadland.’ Joanne
received the $1,000 for his role. Their Reader’s Oasis Books also serves as Paul’s Music
Hall, and the piano that he played in the movie is still there.
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