Willcox: A Blend of Wine and History
In the 1930s, Willcox was the largest range cattle rail shipping point in the United States – earning the town the title of “Cattle Capital of the World”. Today, the town continues to thrive as an agricultural community, especially noted wine tasting rooms and award-winning vineyards.
Willcox is home to the Cowboy Hall of Fame, the Chiricahua Regional Museum and Research Center, and the Rex Allen Museum. Also, nearby are some of the most awe-inspiring natural landscapes in the southwestern United States, making Willcox and the surrounding areas a truly unique blend of culture, nature, and western history.
Explore Willcox and savor the authenticity of its seven local wineries, the incredible biodiversity of the 375 species of birds found in the Chiricahua Mountains, and the jaw-dropping natural creation known as the Chiricahua National Monument.
APPLE ANNIE’S
July 1 – October 31 visitors can pick apples, peaches, pears, vegetables, pumpkins, and more at Apple Annie’s Orchards and Country Store.
Join Apple Annie’s early in the season for juicy peaches and shortly after for pears and apples galore. Each season the produce farm is brimming with crisp vegetables ready for the picking. Stroll into the pick-your-own produce fields to fill your bucket and your table full of nutritious hand-picked veggies for you and your family. At the Country Store, browse the sensational assortment of butters, salsa, jams, jellies, and other great gifts.
Let your nose guide you to homemade pies and breads as they fill the store with the sweet smell of apples and cinnamon. Bakery delights in serving baked goods made with hand-peeled apples from the orchards.
CHIRICAHUA MONUMENT
The Chiricahua National Monument is a “Wonderland of Rocks” waiting for you to explore. The 8-mile paved scenic drive and 17-miles of day-use hiking trails provide opportunities to discover the beauty, natural sounds, and inhabitants of this 11,985 acre site. See beautiful Ryolite formations, lots of wildlife and Faraway Ranch.
From day hiking, camping, and rock gazing, to historic tours, incredible geologic formations, and wildlife all around, the Chiricahua National Monument has something for everyone. Families, small groups, and individuals will all have no trouble enjoying many visits to the park.
COCHISE STRONGHOLD
Cochise Stronghold is located in the Dragoon Mountains at an elevation of 5,000 feet. Cochise led the Chiricahua band of the Apache tribe during a period of social upheaval in the 1800’s. The history of Cochise and his relationship with the settlers and army is complex and turned to violence.
For ten years, Cochise and his warriors harassed the whites by raiding lonely ranches and attacking stagecoaches and miners. Cochise retired. He died peacefully on the newly formed Chiricahua reservation in 1874. His son, Taza succeeded him as chief. Upon his death, he was secretly buried somewhere in or near his impregnable fortress. The exact location has never been revealed or determined.
FORT BOWIE
Fort Bowie National Historic Site was established in 1862 after a series of engagements with the Chiricahua Apaches, the most violent of which was the Battle of Apache Pass in July 1862. The fort was named in honor of Colonel George Washington Bowie, commander of the 5th Regiment California Volunteer Infantry who first established the fort.
Fort Bowie was the combat post of the southwest in the Apache wars of the 1860’s ending in 1872. A great historical place to see if you love the west or westerns.
HISTORIC DOWNTOWN
This historic district was developed from the 1880’s through the 1930’s with most of the building intact. You can visit the store where Geronimo shopped and the house around the corner where the army officers stayed on their way to the various forts in the area. See the saloon where Warren Earp – the brother of Wyatt Earp – was killed in a gunfight.
From the Willcox Commercial, the oldest continually operating store in Arizona, to the restored Southern Pacific Depot (built in 1880), and everything in between, relive the historic heritage of Willcox on Railroad Avenue.
WINE TASTING
Tasting rooms in Willcox are open to the public, so just come right in and make yourself at home. There are several hotels and B&Bs in the area, so if you can stay for a couple days that allows you to visit more tasting rooms and at a more leisurely pace.
Most tasting rooms are open from Thursday/Friday through Sunday, roughly 11am to 5pm. Some tasting rooms are open on additional days, or even all week. Check Willcox Wine Country’s website or the specific wineries webpage for more information on hours of operation. Come ready for a good time, good wine and good company!
WILLCOX: A BLEND OF WINE & HISTORY
Over Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, the community welcomes cranes and other species migrating to the area with an annual festival, Wings Over Willcox – which draws people from all over the world. Hikers, cyclists, campers, golfers, and other adventure-seekers area drawn to the high desert.
Chiricahua National Monument has more than 20 miles of hiking trails through a wondrous world of rock formations. Cochise Stronghold has a five-mile hiking trail, rock climbing, petroglyphs, and more.
Willcox is also a great starting point for history buffs to tour Cochise County, starting with Fort Bowie National Historic Site. The annual Rex Allen Days celebration, a tribute to the famous western movie star, features a rodeo, parade, carnival – just right for the family; while the Willcox Cowboy Hall of Fame tips its hat to Willcox’ ranching influence. Historic downtown Willcox is home to the first grocery store in Arizona (now home to a new wine tasting room), plus antique shops, locally owned restaurants, wine tasting rooms, boutiques, and specialty shops.
RESOURCES
Looking for more information on Bisbee? Check out the resources below.
| 1 | The Willcox Visitor Center is a great starting point to learn about all of the area attractions. | Visit |
| 2 | Visit the City of Willcox website for information on city services, departments, economic development opportunities, and more. | Visit |
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