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OUR MUSEUM

Mesa Journal-Tribune September 23, 1932

Tortilla Flat, located on the Apache Trail between Mormon Flat and Fish Creek,

has its first school building.

Creation of a new district in Tortilla Flat was recently accomplished and carpenters last week finished construction on the building. School opened Monday morning with registration of 14 pupils. Mrs. Spence Dingle of Mesa is the instructor. The school serves the children of Tortilla Flat, the Canyon Lake area, and Horse Mesa Dam.

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Our Schoolhouse Museum Today

The original schoolhouse survives to this day where it was moved to Horse Mesa Dam after the flood of 1943.

At Tortilla Flat, the replica school sits where the original was located, at the end of town by the old hanging tree. Today, it houses a tiny, but mighty museum, and our town guest book.

There are as many stories about Tortilla Flat as there are people who have visited.  The mysteries and legends of the Lost Dutchman's mine continue to fascinate and inspire people to this day.

Visit the reinvented museum, which was redesigned and updated in 2021.

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Guide to Visiting Our Museum

Just inside the door you'll find our guestbook, and a sampler of those who have visited before you.  The welcome plaque tells the history of everyone who has "owned the town".

On any given day, you can see names of guests from all over the world!

Follow to the left for a chronological journey through time, and our history.  

  • The History of the Superstitions

  • Native American and Water History

  • Our Display Case of Amazing Artifacts

 

As you progress, each section is marked in seasons, each new season begins after a fire or flood destroyed the town... and we rebuilt. again.

A sample of what's in each season...

  • Season 1 - The very beginning of our town

  • Season 2 - The Apache Trail and dam construction

  • Season 3 - The flood of '43

  • Season 4 - Mid-century service station and motel

  • Season 5 - The new, old western town

  • Season 6 - The era of building a global family

  • Season 7 - The modernization of an old town

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OUR STORY

There are probably as many versions of Tortilla Flat’s history as there are people to tell the tales. You may have heard a few of them yourself.

In a sincere effort to present a factual history, many previous owners were spoken with, and many stories were verified with historians and other authorities.

During our research, it often happened that uncovering one tidbit would uncover another, which would in turn uncover others.

Undoubtedly, there is still a lot of information out there yet to be discovered. We don’t pretend to have the whole story, but, of what we have, we feel we have a pretty good grasp on the real story.  We have compiled our story into the new museum in a chronological account from as far back as we could dig stuff up!

For you history buffs, here's a bunch of history that we believe may or may not be true.

In the beginning …Tortilla Flat was a small grassy valley in the Superstition Mountains, with a babbling creek running through it. Nature placed the Flat between mountain passes that came to be used by the early Native Americans on their way to and from the central Arizona mountains and the Salt River Valley. The trail their journeys created became known as the Yavapai, or Tonto Trail.

Pre-American History

Cabeza de Vaca was a Spanish explorer in America in the early 1500’s. In 1528, during an expedition to Florida, he was shipwrecked on a Texas island, and enslaved by Native Americans. He escaped and made his way into the Southwest and eventually into Mexico by 1536. His wanderings brought him into contact with the Pueblos, and his later reports in Mexico gave rise to the legends of the Seven Cities of Cibola, – or the Cities of Gold. These legends were the catalyst for bringing Spanish explorers and prospectors into the Arizona territory.

As part of the Coronado expedition into Arizona, Marcos de Niza traveled westward along the Gila River as far as what is now the Phoenix metropolitan area. He may have been the first Spaniard to see the Superstition Mountains.

What has all this to do with Tortilla Flat, you ask? Because of its location, Tortilla Flat, even presently, is affected by the search for gold in the Superstitions. Each Spanish expedition inspired others looking for the vast wealth in gold.

In the late 1600’s through the Mid- 1700’s, Jesuits priests were located throughout the Southwest. Allegedly, the Jesuits had amassed a fortune in gold and didn’t want to share it with the King of Spain, who, in turn,  convinced of treachery, ordered the deportation of all Jesuits in 1767.

Before their departure, they supposedly hid their treasure in various places throughout the Southwest and according to legend, the Superstition Mountain region was one of these places.

In the Old West
In 1821, Mexico gained independence from Spain. An influx of Mexican prospectors poured into the Superstition Mountain region. Don Miguel Peralta was a wealthy landowner and miner from northern Mexico. Reportedly, his expeditions recovered immense quantities of gold from the Superstitions in 1847 and 1848. All but one member of the expedition was killed in a battle with the Apaches at a site commemorated as Massacre Grounds, located at the west end of the mountains.

Along with all the prospectors came settlers, which created the need for military outposts for protection against increasing hostilities with the Apaches. Military personnel, prospectors, cattle ranchers, and, of course, the Natives, used the Yavapai Trail as a route going into the Tonto Basin area. Because of its location, the availability of water, and grass for horses, it’s safe to assume Tortilla Flat was a good place to camp along the trail.

Even so, historians say the Yavapai Trail was a difficult trail to traverse. There was other trails that were easier going. This was largely because of the Herculean task to cross Fish Creek Mountain and Fish Creek Canyon.

Legends that there was a small settlement of prospectors and/or Native Americans located at Tortilla Flat in the 1880s, while colorful and fun to believe, seem to be just that – legends.

Historians agree that if such a settlement existed, it would appear on the old trail maps of the area, which were typically very detailed. The maps show no such settlement. Also, legal records, such as those of the U.S. Forest Service, give no mention of a settlement prior to 1904.

There was no road to Tortilla Flat prior to 1904, until construction crews built one to Roosevelt Dam. No road — no stage stop.

Though no one seems to know exactly what year Mr. Cline named Tortilla Flat (see written history), the figures indicate the flat could have been named as early as 1867. Whether it was or not, (and, it seems unlikely because of Mr. Cline’s young age at the time) someone else doing the same computations would have also realized the possibility, which may have led to legends that Tortilla Flat, as a permanent settlement, was established in 1867. Another legend says 1886. Both dates probably fall within the time period Mr. Cline drove cattle.

Going by available records Tortilla Flat got its start because of road construction to Roosevelt Dam (1904).

 

Once established as a freight camp, there seems to have been some number of people living there on their own. Forest Service records show the Tonto National Forest being established in 1905 as kind of a “package deal” with Salt River Project. The Forest Service was needed to manage the land and protect watershed for the dams. The freight camp at Tortilla Flat, as well as the other camps along the road to the dam, were therefore, on U.S. Forest Service land. Those folks who decided to take the wheel, and become caretakers of Tortilla Flat kept up the lease on the land up till and including today.

This has been a brief skimming of the history of Tortilla Flat. Visit our museum for an expanded journey through time!

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FROM THE ARCHIVES

Famous Visitors

Over the years, many noteworthy and famous people have stopped in to take a look around, browse the gift shop, take a load off and/or eat a good meal. Here's a list from the "Then and Now" book of some people you might recognize…..

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TEDDY ROOSEVELT and his entourage passed through on their way to the dedication ceremonies at Roosevelt Dam in 1911. Legend has it that he stopped for lunch, was very gracious to the proprietors and sat on the front porch smoking a cigar after enjoying lunch in the clear air and spectacular scenery.

CLARK GABLE stopped at Tortilla Flat on his way to and from Roosevelt Lake, which he visited often. It’s reported that he always had tomato juice to drink.

GLENN FORD and IDA LUPINO made the movie “Lust for Gold” in Tortilla Flat and even brought their own saguaro made of aluminum with them.

ALAN LADD and LORETTA YOUNG reportedly shot some scenes for a western movie in the mid-thirties.

BARRY STORM, author of “Thunder God’s Gold” lived at Tortilla Flat from 1942 – 1945, then moved to a cave not far from town.

JOHN WAYNE was also reportedly a frequent visitor.

Veteran western movie star BEN JOHNSON would frequently visit Tortilla Flat.

PAUL HARVEY and his daughter had a “good day” in Tortilla Flat. Sources said he was a very nice man.

THE DIRTY DOZEN made an impression by how polite they were.

The famous founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, COLONEL SANDERS and his wife were charmed by Tortilla Flat.

DON JOHNSON and BARBARA STREISAND came for a visit during our rebuilding phase. They were very much incognito and reportedly enjoyed our patio BBQ and Cowboy Band.

TED de GRAZIA, the honored Native American artist came through and we hope he was inspired by the scenery.

BUCKY KITCHEYAN, Geronimo’s grandson also stopped by and he was said to be a gracious man. His business card holds a place of honor among thousands on the restaurant’s walls.

ROBERT CORBIN, the Arizona Attorney General in the 1980’s dedicated the rebuilding of the restaurant and bar in July of 1988.

And last but not least – each and every one of YOU locals and those from abroad who have left their dollar bills on the walls of our restaurant (which includes currency from over 80 countries) – thank you so much for your contribution to our history (and wallpaper)! Just so we don’t leave anyone out, additions are always gladly accepted!

For more history and information, the book “Tortilla Flat Arizona Then and Now” is available for purchase in our gift shop.

Our Written History (in videos)

You can read more about the history here with links to our written history video collection.

Gertrude Ritcherson's Letters Video Series

Part 1      Part 2      Part 3

Part 4      Part 5

In 1913 young Gertrude Ritcherson visited Roosevelt Dam. We’ve obtained a copy of her diary entry while on the trip. If you would like to watch the series posted on social media please click the links above. Enjoy 7 days in the life of a young girl and her journey across the valley with her family starting August 26, 1913.

Read her journal here

Bill Goforth Remembers Video

Part 1

and Part 2

In 1994 contact was made with Mr. Bill Goforth. He was living in Dove Creek, Colorado. At the age of 94, he was still able to share many fond memories of Tortilla Flat. 

Read Bill's letter here

Barry Storm Video

In 1942, author and songwriter Barry Storm drifted into town. Stories of the Lost Dutchman captured his imagination. Barry rented a cabin and wrote a successful book. Publishing had to wait due to the town being wiped out by a flood in 1943. Because of this, Barry moved into a cave above town. His book entitled, “Thunder God’s Gold” was published in 1946. Movie rights were soon sold to Columbia Pictures. Barry revised the book and Columbia Pictures produced it as “Lust for Gold.”

Leo Burnett Video

Leo Burnett is a legendary advertising agency based in Chicago, they created icons like Tony the Tiger and The Pillsbury Doughboy. In May of 1977 Tortilla Flat got a letter from the agency about using our name in a commercial.

The Santee – Perkins Exchange Video

During the Great Depression, Phoenix’s WPA office was producing a guide for Arizona but there was a problem with Arizona: nobody knew how Tortilla Flat got its name. Ross Santee of the Federal Writers Project mailed Tortilla Flat’s postmaster a letter asking for clarification on the name. Twelve days later, the postmaster general of Tortilla Flat sent a reply. Watch the video to see how the Santee-Perkins exchange influenced the naming of Tortilla Flat.

Read the letters and see the Arizona Guide here

C.E. Cherry Video

Carlton Eugene Cherry wrote us a letter in 1981. In his seventies then he reminisced about his childhood. He included photographs of his family and their “two horsepower recreational vehicles.” He wanted us to remember this: "People ‘vacationed’ to Tortilla Flat long before automobiles and RVs came along.”

Thank you, Carlton for visiting Tortilla Flat and keeping history alive.

Building New Archives

As we continue to be the caretakers of Tortilla Flat, we welcome your stories, experiences and photos to create a stronger legacy for the town.

Please send photos, letters, and stories to:

teamtortillaflat@gmail.com

Here are some of the submissions our friends have sent in.

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