Casa Grande Ruins Visitor Center — Attraction in Coolidge

We usually go for a hike on New Year's, but due to an injury in the family we decided to visit Casa Grande ruins. While waiting for the next tour we went through the museum and gift shop. Kinda surprised at how the quality of items, better than most, in my opinion. The staff and volunteers were friendly and the tour was given by a volunteer. There was also a short film, and we learned quite a bit about the area. We had to leave before we got see it all due to the injury. We're probably go back as different tour guides give different talks and...

I like that the visitor center is not only right next to the monument, but you actually have to go through it to get out to the monument. Makes it very easy to not forget to get gifts, and I found some nice postcards for the little ones in my life and a neat mug. Very cool that this ancient desert wonder still exists. I feel like without intervention 130 years ago it might not still be standing today, though. Best part: its free to see. They do happily accept cash donations and all proceeds from the gift shop funds the maintenance of...

Be aware that there is a gate that closes before the stated time of 4 pm as listed on the National Park Service app. We pulled up at 3:45 and it was closed. I immediately called and listened to all the stuff on the recording; that took two minutes. So then I emailed and got back a notice that the gates were automatically closed at 3:45. I responded with request for them to reflect that on their website. They said they couldn’t change that because visitors who arrived in a timely manner were still allowed to...