by M. J. Joachim

Created on: November 17, 2009

Just outside of Mesa, Arizona, if you take State Route 88 (Power Road) north, winding into the mountains of the Tonto National Forest, you will find yourself very intrigued by the scenery. There are trails to hike, rivers for fishing, and lakes that treat boaters and swimmers alike. In the midst of these is a small town up for sale called Tortilla Flat, Arizona.

There are only six official residents in this town that was built in the early 1900's, used as a stopping point during the construction of the Roosevelt Dam. The town became especially popular once the dam was completed, as the dam itself became an extremely favored tourist attraction. Times were hard back then, and the people of the area needed jobs. They also needed nature to cooperate with them, and thus engineered a way to prevent the mighty Colorado River from causing trouble for their crops.

Up until the construction of Roosevelt Dam, the Colorado River seemed to be uncontrollable. It would dry up and overflow its banks without warning, destroying crops and livelihoods in the process. The solution suggested and agreed upon was to build a dam that would pool the water of the Colorado River. This project was one of the most extensive engineering projects ever undertaken in American History, but it served the people well, and became a very popular tourist destination, with several people journeying through the town of Tortilla Flat to get there.

Much of Tortilla Flat was destroyed by fire in 1987. However the restaurant/motel, general store/post office, and one room school house remain standing, ready to be seen by curious tourists who enjoy going back in time to the days of the old west, when traveling along the Apache Trail through the Superstition Mountain Range was treacherous at best.

More than that though, the town of Tortilla Flat is located in some of the most beautiful wilderness of Arizona. Towering rocky, mountains with creeks and rivers running through them lead to fresh water lakes and vistas. There amidst soothing foliage, dirt roads, and ancient history, sits a town that is one of the most popular day trip destinations for Phoenix area residents and history buffs alike.

If you go, be sure to bring your appetite, as the meals served at the old restaurant and saloon is satisfying and delicious. For more information, please visit the official website of Tortilla Flat, Arizona.

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