Historic Yuma
January 3, 2025
Historic Yuma
January 3, 2025
$131
Eighty years before the Pilgrims stepped foot on Plymouth Rock, Europeans lived in Yuma—the safest place to cross the mighty Colorado River for hundreds of miles. Yuma is rich with multicultural heritage and amazing historic sites, including the notorious Yuma Territorial Prison, our first stop on this exciting tour. Authorized in 1875, with a construction budget of $25,000, the Yuma Territorial Prison only operated for 33 years, but that was long enough to leave behind a fearsome legacy. A total of 3,069 prisoners, 29 of them women, lived within the prison’s granite walls, surrounded by the powerful Colorado River and the unforgiving desert. After exploring the prison, we’ll head to the Colorado River State Historic Park—home to the Yu-ma Quartermaster Depot—once the beating heart of all military outposts in the American Southwest. At this site, beginning in 1864, on high ground above the Colorado River, the U.S. Army warehoused a six-month supply of food, clothing and ammunition for forts in Arizona, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas, along with more than 900 mules and their teamsters. Ocean vessels brought goods to the Gulf of California, where they were transferred to steamboats for the trip upriver to Yuma, then later dispersed overland by the legendary 20-mule teams. We’ll explore these historic sites, along with downtown Yuma, and we’ll stop by Lute’s Casino for lunch on self. A great favorite with the locals, Lute’s was built in 1901 as a general store, turned into a pool hall in 1920, and is now a no-frills greasy spoon—dishing up cheeseburgers, sandwiches and some traditional Mexican dishes. There is much to explore in Historic Yuma—don’t miss out on the fun!
Depart: Mesa 7 a.m. Scts 7:30 a.m. Phx 7:45 a.m. NW 8:30 a.m. R: 7 p.m.
Departure Locations — We can only guarantee pick-up from the locations listed below. If you’re requesting pick-up from an unofficial location, please call our office at 480-497-2478 to confirm. It never hurts to ask!
Northwest Valley:
Sundome Plaza
13547 W. Camino Del Sol
Sun City West, AZ 85375
Located in the heart of Sun City West at the Sundome Plaza Shopping Center.
Scottsdale:
La Quinta Inn & Suites
8888 E Shea Blvd
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
The Scottsdale pickup location can be easily reached via AZ 101/Pima Freeway. Exit the freeway at Shea. The La Quinta Hotel is located at the northeast corner of AZ 101 and Shea Blvd.
Phoenix:
Paradise Valley Community Center
17402 N. 40th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85032
The Paradise Valley Community Center is easily found on 40th Street, north of Bell Road. No overnights. No Late-nights
Mesa:
Mesa Doubletree Hotel
1011 W. Holmes Ave
Mesa, AZ 85210
This is the Fiesta Mall region, and the Hilton Hotel is easily viewed from the U.S. 60/Superstition Freeway. Exit the freeway at Alma School and head east to Holmes. Park and wait for the bus at the west end of the hotel parking lot.