Definitely a great State Park to visit. Lot's of areas to explore and visit. If you plan on visiting Jerome, I highly recommend you plan in the time to take the opposite end of 89A to leave. It would be a long full day of driving, but there are plenty of places to see, so start your day in Jerome early. If you enjoy a leisure and scenic view, don't go out the same way you came in. At one end you have Hampshire Avenue where the street is built right on the peak of the mountain. There are open areas to look around on both side, but you'll notice a few houses on either side of the road where the backs are on stilts. The other end has beautiful winding roads of trees and breathtaking scenic views. The best times to visit are Late Spring and Mid Autumn, however, anytime from Mid April to Early October, is great for visit. Note the town does get very busy, and traffic can sometimes be an issue. If you plan a leisurely day and are patient, your experience will go a long way. Pack snacks, and mind your fuel, but you can generally do the "Jerome Loop in about 2 to 2.5 hours in drive time. [IE: (Clockwise Route) Leave Prescott via 89A (East), then to RT-260 (South) in Cottonwood, Then to I-17/RT-169 (Southwest) from Camp Verde, Follow RT-69 (North) from Dewey-Humboldt, back to 89A in Prescott.] Whether you choose the clockwise or counter-clockwise route, it's probably best to plan going through the twisty and winding roads of 89A that are west of Jerome, during the daylight hours. So if coming from Sedona, you may want to take the loop...
Read moreJames S. Douglas built the Mansion on the hill just above his Little Daisy Mine in 1916. Douglas designed the house as a hotel for mining officials and investors as well as for his own family. It featured a wine cellar, billiard room, marble shower, steam heat, and, much ahead of its time, a central vacuum system. Douglas was most proud of the fact that the house was constructed of adobe bricks that were made on the site.
He also built the Little Daisy Hotel near the mine as a dormitory for the miners. The concrete structure still stands.
This former home is now a museum devoted to history of the Jerome area and the Douglas family. The museum features historical exhibits of photographs, artifacts, and minerals in addition to a video presentation and a 3-D model of the town with its underground mines. One room, the Douglas library, is restored as a period room. There are more displays outside along with a picnic area offering a beautiful panoramic view of the...
Read moreThank you Andrea from Louisiana for coming to Arizona's State Parks during a global pandemic and being disappointed that you had to wait 30 minutes to walk into a museum in Jerome to further the spread of Covid-19. The rangers have no choice but to work because the governor will not close anything down in Arizona, despite the massive surge, lack of hospital space left for the ill, and the devastating death count. If the rangers don't work, they get fired and don't get unemployment; so, there they are, trying not to get sick and take it home to their families so that you can look at pretty things. I hope your entitled little self survived the trauma of the wait and the rudeness of a stressed, overworked ranger at the park. Jerome State Park is gorgeous and has two super cool guys working there. If you don't want to wait, and if you enjoy spreading the virus, come now. If you want to wait a few months when people have been vaccinated, that...
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