Tombstone, Arizona

We had some time before checking in at the Arizonian RV Resort on November 1st. Along the way there, we spent several days in the Tombstone area.
Other than hearing the name mentioned by several friends, and that Tombstone was the site of the gunfight at the OK Corral, we didn't have much idea about what we would discover when we decided to make this interim stop. 

Our first discovery was the terrific RV Resort where sites are large and the desert expanse surrounds you. Tombstone Territories RV Resort may be out in the middle of nowhere but we enjoyed the quiet and solitude, and the open desert. The abundant sunshine and just-right temperatures were welcome too. Morning walks (me), runs (he), swims in the pool adjoining the large club house building, and room for me to work on the next quilt project helped pass the time most pleasantly.

a place to spread out and arrange blocks

The sunsets were pretty spectacular each evening.


We also had time to explore the area and made several other discoveries while staying here. Despite its morbid name, Tombstone, implying little activity or life, the town has a colorful history that is being kept very much alive.
Most of this region is rich in silver and copper and attracted many prospectors hoping to strike it rich. In 1877 Ed Schieffelin explored the San Pedro hills for silver despite the warning that he would only find his tombstone since this was Apache territory patrolled by Geronimo. Ed, however, did find silver and as a joke named his first claim and mine, The Tombstone. When that vein dried out, he discovered his second vein naming that one Lucky Cuss mine after Ed's brother told him he was a "lucky cuss." 
Obviously Ed had a sense of humor.  

As the news spread, more prospectors converged and the town of Tombstone grew to become one of the richest silver camps in the west, yielding nearly 1,000 tons of silver. 
Today it remains a popular tourist attraction and an American Historical Landmark town.

Wyatt Earp was one of the prospectors trying to strike it rich here. And of course now lives on in the legendary gunfight that took place here in Tombstone at the OK Corral.
By coincidence we happened to visit the town on the very day, October 26th, and the 137th anniversary of the famous gunfight between the law-abiding Earps and the lawless cowboys, the McCleary-Clanton gang.


We caught the afternoon reenactment staged by a group of talented gunslingers, booed the bad guys (Clantons and McClearys) and cheered the good guys, the Earps and Doc Holiday, until it was over, the guns silenced, bodies motionless on the ground. 
Sometimes the "Law" in the Wild West needed a different approach when dealing with Outlaws who believed in their own system of justice. 

Despite the subsequent trial and days of eye witness testimony absolving the Earps, to escape further retribution, all parties that came out alive in the gunfight had to watch their backs or moved away. Those were the days...



Michael captured the OK Corral shoot-out on video:
Tombstone and the OK Corral

We spent a pleasant afternoon strolling along wooden plank sidewalks, passing gun slinging men in long trench coats and women in period long dresses, and observing stage coaches arriving in town. 

We learned about Tombstone's colorful history, forever preserved in this historical town, watched a movie in an old theater, saw the various displays in the museums, and enjoyed an ice-cream from an ice-cream parlor.


But there is more! We discovered yet another popular and international pastime that took place while we were in the area. Given the past cowboy, gun slinging tradition of this area, it is perfectly fitting that the Arizona Cowboy Action Shooting Championships were being held over the weekend.  
The story is that one morning I was gazing out of the window while enjoying my morning cup of tea and happened to notice our neighbor in the site next to us. He was dressed in what looked like a costume, similar to what I imagine Davy Crockett wore with soft leather top and pants with tassels. I thought that perhaps he was preparing for a Halloween event since Halloween was later that week. Then I noticed that he had rifles laid out on the picnic table and was meticulously cleaning and polishing one of them! Yikes!

It turned out, when I approached him wide-eyed to inquire what exactly he was doing, that he is a competitive sharp-shooter and that is how I learned about the Bordertown event being held down the road. He encouraged us to come and take a look. 
We did. 
It was fascinating to stroll through the event, watching sharp shooters compete in various rounds with different guns, shooting at targets in succession. All competitors were dressed in some manner of period costume. There were women as well as men competing. We strolled around fascinated to peek into a world that was totally foreign, marveling at the speed and accuracy as the bullets pinged and zinged their way through the various props. 

There were tents and booths with all the items that sharpshooters require for their hobby, from bullets to costumes and the caddy to carry all their equipment. This was very much a family-friendly event, with families and kids milling about to support and cheer their competitors.


Here is a link to more information about Bordertown and the Single Action Shooting Society. 
And here is the link to The Town too Tough to Die, Tombstone.