NEWS ARTICLES

Growing up in a mining family that goes back generations, Mayor Mila Besich knew the Oak Flat Campground as the place where she attended union picnics as a girl and in earlier years her parents stood in a clearing to hear the World Series on the radio.

This is truly a magical place. From sun up to sun down, every day is a new experience. In this episode, we’re southeast of Phoenix in the city of Superior at Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Arizona’s largest and oldest botanical garden.

I was looking at class offerings at Boyce Thompson Arboretum in Superior, Arizona when I came across this word. Loosely translated, it means “forest bathing.” Forest bathing not in the sense of a tub of water in the woods, but the practice of spending time in nature for the purpose of enhancing health, wellness, and happiness.

Wild Arizona facilitated 20,000 volunteer hours and $350,000 to fund the initial removal of invasive species, while upgrading and maintaining the Lost Trail that connects the Town of Superior to the Arizona Scenic Trail.

Event highlights include live cooking demonstrations, food sampling, entertainment, gardening demonstrations, and an interactive art installation. Wine and beer gardens at the festival will feature libations from statewide vineyards, breweries, and distilleries.

Bridges in Arizona are truly beautiful things. From natural bridges to historic suspension bridges to covered bridges, our state has a bit of everything. Two beautiful bridges are hiding in the beautiful Boyce Thompson Arboretum in Superior, and a short and easy hike takes you across both of them.

The 11th Annual Prickly Pear Festival hosted by Pete Casillas and Regenerating Sonora met a few challenges this year: torrential rain storms, a lack of prickly pear fruit….and a few logistical challenges as they opted to change the venue for the annual event.

(SUPERIOR, AZ) - The mining of precious minerals in the 1800’s is a rich part of Arizona’s history. While Arizona is known for the copper boom, there are many other minerals - like silver and other metals - that played a key role in the mining industry and later led to the population boom in our state.

U Turn (1997): Big Hollywood directors such as Oliver Stone have cast Pinal in their movies. His thriller “U Turn” doesn’t change the name of Superior and uses landmarks throughout. Some of those structures remain today. It follows Sean Penn as a traveler who gets caught up in a murder plot involving an incestuous married couple. The movie gained moderate success but was mostly panned by critics.

The Boyce Thompson Arboretum near Superior is Arizona’s largest and oldest botanical garden, with 4.75 miles of trails. With over 3,900 plant species from around the world, the riparian area attracts Sonoran Desert wildlife and over 270 migrating bird species. An Audubon Society “Important Bird Area.”

Imagine the trip from Phoenix to the Copper Corridor towns of Globe and Miami taking all day. That was the reality in the early 20th century before U.S. 60 replaced the tortuous Apache Trail route. While traffic to the Renaissance Festival in February and March sometimes still makes the trip feel like a lurching marathon, U.S. 60 shaved the drive time down to about an hour and a half. Convicts built parts of the highway, including the Claypool Tunnel near Superior, which was blasted from solid rock in the rugged cliffs above Queen Creek Canyon. While known for its fabulous views, the narrow, edge-hugging road with hairpin turns and queasy drop-offs proved too dangerous for modern travel needs. It was retooled in 1952 to its safer current alignment, which includes the slick (yet claustrophobic) Queen Creek Tunnel.

Coming out of the Superstitions, we stopped in Superior for Halloween, how appropriate! We stayed at the Copper Mountain Motel, where a lovely family made sure we had everything we needed and helped us get to and from the trail. We spent Halloween on the porch of our room eating pizza with some SOBO friends: Machine, Tim Tam, and Commando. The next morning on my walk to get coffee, a guy stopped me in the street and asked me to help move some furniture onto a pickup truck. I agree and we moved a dresser and a bureau onto an old Ford while his wife yelled at him the whole time. I couldn’t tell if he deserved it or not lol. The man offered me $5 for my time, and I declined.

Superior’s beginnings weren’t so different from many other Arizona settlements. The town—then called Queen—sprang up to supply the nearby silver town of Pinal. That mine boomed, then went bust. Copper was discovered near Superior, fortunes were made, and, eventually, that mine closed. But then, in 1924, a copper magnate gave the mountain town a gift that would become its crown jewel: Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Today, the living museum shelters 19,000 plants within 135 acres of gardens, from the Heritage Rose Garden, abloom with 19th-century roses, to the new Wallace Desert Garden, where columnar cacti reach skyward. Don’t miss the Australian Deserts Exhibit, which is home to century-old eucalyptus trees, including Mr. Big, the largest red river gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) in the United States.

On Saturday, October 16th, the Keep Arizona Beautiful clean-up took place with a check-in station at Superior Municipal Airport. Mayor Mila Besich came in support to see the volunteers off. Volunteers arrived around 8am and they prepared to head out with their trash bags and pickers, eager to clean trails with the help of the US Forest Service and representatives from LOST and Local First Arizona.

SUPERIOR – The Superior Chamber of Commerce is excited to bring back two of the town’s most popular events: the Superior Burro Run and the 33rd Annual Apache Leap Mining Festival. Held over the weekend of October 22-24, 2021, these one-of-a-kind events will celebrate Superior’s rich history as a mining town with a series of fun, family-friendly activities, ranging from pack burro racing to a hands-on mining competition and more.

The Superior Chamber of Commerce is excited to bring back two of the town’s most popular events: the Superior Burro Run and the 33rd Annual Apache Leap Mining Festival. Held over the weekend of October 22-24, 2021, these one-of-a-kind events will celebrate Superior’s rich history as a mining town with a series of fun, family-friendly activities, ranging from pack burro racing to a hands-on mining competition and more.

SUPERIOR- The Town of Superior, Arizona is known as a destination for it’s unspoiled nature, rich heritage and elevated outdoor adventures. But what you may not know is that Superior is also planting the seeds of entrepreneurial opportunities by partnering with SEED SPOT.

About the Hike: Picketpost Mountain is an awe-inspiring butte that rises almost 2,000 feet above the town of Superior, Arizona. The mountain's name originated from an early military camp established at the base of the mountain by General George Stoneman in 1870. According to Wikipedia, the soldiers nicknamed the mountain “Picket Post” due to its usage as a sentinel point to guard their camp from attacks. This military camp eventually grew into the present day town of Superior.

SUPERIOR, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) -- Jaime's Local Love is featuring local businesses across Arizona that need a little extra love because of the pandemic in her Show the Love series.

This week, Show the Love ventures to Superior, Arizona to check out a winery and the largest and oldest botanical garden in the state.

“We chose Superior because it echoes the natural beauty and rural nature of our home in Young,” Owner James Bruzzi said. “We see the potential in downtown Superior and we are proud to be a part of its renaissance.”

The Pinto Creek Bridge project on U.S. Highway 60 between Miami and Superior. The existing steel arch bridge in the background was built in 1949 and no longer meets modern highway safety guidelines. It is being replaced with a concrete bridge as part of a project managed by the Arizona Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Completion is set for mid-2021. The original bridge cannot be safely or economically rehabilitated for other uses, so it will be demolished.

SUPERIOR — There’s a plant at Boyce Thompson Arboretum that has survived the tumults of life on earth for 280 million years. It’s an unfathomable amount of time and has led scientists to classify cycads, an ancient family of plants that look similar to stocky palm trees, as “living fossils.”

For those looking for a day trip out of Phoenix or Tucson, consider heading up into the Superstition Mountain foothills to one of Arizona’s most stunning gardens – a 353-acre oasis in the uplands of the Sonoran Desert called Boyce Thompson Arboretum.

You can forget about a pricey plane ticket to Australia and opt for a secret walkabout right in the Grand Canyon State! Boyce Thompson Arboretum in Arizona features stunning gardens that'll whisk you to another country. And it's all without the airfare.

Ayer Lake at Boyce Thompson Arboretum is home to the endangered desert pupfish and the Gila topminnow.

There is plenty to do in Superior, Arizona!

The inaugural Flavor of Arizona Festival is on Saturday, April 15, 2023, from 10 am – 3 pm at Boyce Thomspon Arboretum. The festival will showcase Arizona agriculture and purveyors of locally produced food and drink —from mesquite and prickly pear to farmer’s market delights—and award-
winning Arizona wines.

The Flavor of Arizona Festival, which will be held on April 15th at Boyce Thompson Arboretum, is a one-day event that brings together some of the state's top restaurants, breweries, distilleries and wineries to showcase their signature dishes, drinks, and flavors.

The 34th Annual Apache Leap Mining Festival takes place March 10-12, 2023 in the historic mining town of Superior, Arizona. This event is a chance to celebrate the town’s rich mining history, with a focus on the past, present and future of mining in the area. Named after the red escarpment on the east side of town, this event is a favorite among locals and visitors from across the state.

Located in Superior, Apache Leap is another popular rock-climbing destination in Arizona. With plenty of easy and moderate climbs to choose from, it's a great spot for beginners looking to get their feet wet.

Outdoor recreation season in Superior, Arizona kicks off with a heehaw as the BRAY Superior Jackass Dash burro run and festival thunders back into town on Saturday, October 22.

Arizona is a hiker’s paradise in the fall – but many of the best trails are long, steep, or a combination of the two. Fortunately, there are also plenty of kid-friendly fall hikes in Arizona that offer the same magical views for only a fraction of the effort. Here are seven of our favorites: 1. Boyce Thompson Arboretum Main Trail (Superior)...

Don't hold your breath waiting for rain in the desert. Instead, breathe easy knowing that the desert fragrances after a storm help keep you healthy and happy, according to new University of Arizona research.

(Superior, AZ) Imagine you’re traveling through the desert in 1913. Tired, hungry, and in need of a bit of rest, you happen upon a little town called Superior in Arizona. You see a large two-story building made, oddly, of concrete. Intrigued, you hitch your horse and walk into the building where you are immediately struck by the grand staircase leading up to the second-floor rooms. It’s quieter than most places you have stayed at before because there are no wooden walls that snap and creak as they shrink from baking in the desert sun all day.

This year's event adds new murals to the city's historic downtown. SUPERIOR, Ariz. — The Superior Chamber of Commerce is hosting the second annual "Mural Madness" event this Saturday. The old mining town has several different murals within its downtown that are open for the public to see. According to a press release from the Chamber of Commerce, a $5 map can be purchased at 165 W. Main St. in Superior to view all of the murals.

The Superior Chamber of Commerce will be presenting its 14th annual Home and Building Tour on January 29-30, along with a free antique show at the recently restored Magma Club. In addition, the activity-packed weekend will feature live music, guided hikes, a pancake breakfast, handmade pottery for sale from the Mexican village of Mata Ortiz and historian speakers who will bring the former mining town’s past to life.

About the Arboretum: The botanical gardens boast 392 acres of beautiful landscapes, 3,900 different species of plants and is open year round with the park changing with each season. I've been lucky enough to visit at different times of the year and every time the landscape changes bringing something new to look at! I highly recommend going in spring when there is water running through the creek and the saguaro start to bloom!

11. November - Boyce Thompson Arboretum (Superior) When you think of fall foliage in Arizona, the first place that comes to mind is probably Flagstaff. While the aspen trees up there are undeniably gorgeous, southern Arizona has its fair share of changing leaves, too! Boyce Thompson Arboretum boasts a striking display of seasonal hues. November is the perfect time to stroll through the gardens and take in the enchanting scenery. Learn more here.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum: Although flames of the Telegraph Fire lapped right at the edges of Boyce Thompson Arboretum near Superior in June, the park was saved by valiant efforts of firefighters. To honor that accomplishment, pay a visit to Arizona’s oldest and largest arboretum.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum invites Valley residents to head to Superior for an evening of discovery at its Arb After Hours event, scheduled for Aug. 13 and Sept. 10. This new event invites guests to explore select gardens and exhibits in the evening, with light bites from local Superior restaurant, Porter’s Cafe & Spirits, plus local wine and beer and non-alcoholic beverages.

Before I could put the Interceptor under the proverbial knife, I needed to make certain it was the motorcycle I’d imagined. A trip east from Phoenix to the sleepy little desert mountain town of Superior, Arizona, was the first trip.

Superior: Jade Grill
This intimate place is a roadside gem serving a surprisingly diverse range of items from Chinese pork ribs to Korean beef wraps to Thai grilled salad. Owner Lucy Wing was a successful food writer and editor in New York before returning to her hometown of Superior to give something back. Her passion for barbecue is obvious in the flavorful slow-smoked meats and she’s an artist with the spices and seasonings.

This cross proudly stands atop the hills overlooking the small Arizona town of Superior.

Around the time of its creation, much of the town’s residents were devout Catholics. So, on May 3rd, 1936, a group of miners set out to construct this monument overlooking their homes and workplaces, to be blessed by a town priest, after its completion. At the base of the cross is a small window for offerings or candles—presumably, before prayer.

Queen Creek Canyon, which is right outside the town of Superior, is a fantastic spot for beginners. The many routes have a mix of easy and more challenging climbs, and you can stick to the level that suits you. Oak Flat Campground offers some of the toughest bouldering, and you will enjoy looking at the volcanic rock, too.

The Superior Chamber of Commerce is offering the “Great Gift Card Giveaway.” Beginning Jan. 10, chamber member businesses that serve the public — retail stores, galleries, restaurants, skin care, tours, massage, etc. — will be joining together to offer customers the opportunity to win a $100 gift certificate. Superior is 30 minutes east of Apache Junction, according to a release.

3 Places To Eat
A CASA DOÑA LOLA
Located off the main highway, this unprepossessing mom-and-pop shop is a great place to refuel with Sonoran fare after a morning hoofing it at the arboretum (see Things to Do). The salsa is house-made and the chilaquiles sport some of the tastiest chips and richest refried beans in Arizona.
649 Hwy. 60, 520-689-0179

US 60 is nearly 370 miles long, stretching from the New Mexico state lane to Quartzsite, just 30 miles shy of hitting California. Along the way it's dotted with plenty of interesting locales.

But there is one place that stands above them all, at least in its name: Superior.

This small town is like no other, boasting three distinct geophysical features. Lovely little Superior’s got plenty to offer its visitors, from stunning scenery to fantastic trails to a bit of Arizona history. Tucked up against the base of the Apache Leap Mountains and surrounded by Tonto National Forest, Superior is situated along the “division line” of three geophysical features – the Arizona-Sonoran desert, the valley and plateaus of Central Arizona, and majestic mountain ranges that boast waterfalls and winter snow.

SUPERIOR (3TV/CBS 5) – The COVID-19 pandemic is hitting governments hard mainly due to a drop in sales tax revenue.

In rural Arizona, communities are making sure they are not left out of any additional relief funding coming from the federal government.

Superior Mayor Mila Besich is working hard to keep her town functioning during the pandemic.

Superior sits at the crossroads of Arizona’s history. In the early 1870s, legend has it that 75 Apache Indians (probably actually Yavapai Indians, who were then called Mohave-Apaches) leaped off of Picket Post Butte rather than surrender to the U.S. cavalry. The cliff has been known as Apache Leap ever since and the small, shiny pieces of obsidian found in the area are called Apache Tears. The town, at the western edge of the Pinal Mountains, was once called the “Mayberry of the Southwest” by Sunset Magazine because of the friendliness and “niceness” of its people.

(Arizona News Connection) The Arizona Trail stretches 800 miles across Arizona, from Mexico to Utah. The trek is considered by many a "lifeline," under threat with fire season fast approaching.

Taking up a whopping 134 square feet, this tiny museum was built over 20 years ago by Dan Wight and Jake Reaney, owners of the adjacent Buckboard City Cafe; originally intended to lure tourists into the restaurant, it sets the world record for being the World's Smallest Museum, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.

As a child growing up on a farm in southeastern Pennsylvania, Lynne Nemeth developed an appreciation for the natural world that remained very much a part of her interests throughout the course of her life — so much so that she even turned her passion for nature into a career.

In segment two of AZ Highways, we stop by Superior's Los Hermanos and Phoenix's Taco Guild!

Just an hour outside of Phoenix, you’ll find some of the best barbecue in the state. Silver King Smokehouse & Saloon opened in Superior during the pandemic.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum. DIFFICULTY: Easy ELEVATION: 2,400 feet LENGTH: 1.5-mile loop
DIRECTIONS: From Phoenix, go east on U.S. Route 60 to Mile Marker 223, near Superior. TREES: Chinese pistache, combretum, sumac, walnut TIMING: Mid-November to early December; open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas) CONTACT: Boyce Thompson Arboretum, 520-689-2723 or btarboretum.org FEE: $15 for adults and teenagers, $5 for children ages 5 to 12

(Superior, AZ) Despite monsoon thunderheads threatening from atop the steep rock walls to the east, below in Superior, the 11th annual Prickly Pear Festival stayed dry and saw a strong turnout, with visitors taking advantage of the day’s unseasonably cool temperature of 82 degrees.

Visit local favorite Silver King Smokehouse & Saloon in Superior. The name pretty much says it all. This is the spot for smoked meats—sold by the ½ pound and pound—for lunch or dinner, Thursday – Sunday.
@silverkingsmokehouse on Facebook and Instagram

(Superior, AZ) The Boyce Thompson Arboretum in Superior, Arizona, is the oldest and largest botanical garden in the state. It was founded in 1924 by Col. William Boyce Thompson, who had a particular interest in plants and conservation.

The Legends of Superior Trails Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Superior, Arizona, will be hosting their signature fundraiser Hashbrowns, History and Hiking events this month. These events feature a hearty breakfast, a historical presentation and a guided hike on segments of the Legends of Superior Trails.

People run along Highway 60 during the 8th Annual Oak Flat Run to Oak Flat, a campground that is part of the Tonto National Forest near Superior, Ariz., on Feb. 19, 2022.

If you’re looking for a dose of small-town charm in the new year, take a road trip to Superior. The former mining town, with its budding food-and-beverage scene, is about an hour’s drive from Phoenix.

SUPERIOR – A few hours before high noon, about 80 competitors – in this case, donkeys – strolled through Main Street before wandering over to nearby old mining trails. Around 1,000 human fans lined up along the dusty avenue, cheering the animals as they went hoof-to-hoof in either 3-, 6- or 12-mile races.

The Boyce Thompson Arboretum near Superior is Arizona’s largest and oldest botanical garden, with 4.75 miles of trails. With over 3,900 plant species from around the world, the riparian area attracts Sonoran Desert wildlife and over 270 migrating bird species. An Audubon Society “Important Bird Area.”

10th Annual Superior Prickly Pear Festival | Saturday, August 14 | Throughout Superior, AZ | It's hard to believe it, but 2021 marks the tenth year of the Superior Prickly Pear Festival held in Superior. The one-day event put on by Regenerating Sonora celebrates the incredible and edible Sonoran desert and starts with a prickly pear foraging and a pancake breakfast. Guest speakers will be discussing food education and harvesting, and there will be retail vendors, food trucks, and a beer garden with live entertainment. Local restaurants will also be serving a desert-related dish or beverage. The fun goes on until 10 p.m.

Take a drive to Boyce Thompson Arboretum — about an hour away from Casa Grande in the far northeast corner of Pinal County — and you’ll still be in the middle of the desert. Or more precisely about 10 deserts represented in different sections of the 353-acre garden.

Watch the Full Episode by clicking on the 'Read Article' button below. Located about 70 miles east of Phoenix, Superior started at a mining community and today offers visitors quaint shopping and easy access to the Tonto National Forest.

Along the way you’ll have a few other options to explore, such as Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Arizona’s oldest and largest botanical garden was created to study drought-tolerant plants from around the world. But just because they study drought doesn’t mean they practice it. Their flowers get some extra love with a water hose when needed. Masks are required.

You will find fresh red chile and green chile and people come from far and wide to purchase their homemade tortillas, which adds to the authenticity of their recipes. It is not uncommon to find people purchasing multiple dozen tortillas to take home. In addition to their daily menu, they feature specials and also have a full bar and beer selection. Los Hermanos can also provide catering for event either off site and or in their ballroom. The tortilla factory also sells fresh masa for tamales, nix tamale and other traditional ingredients for your kitchen at home.

The town of Superior is about an hour's drive east of the Valley. It's a town rich with Native American history and the state's mining industry. FOX 10 photojournalists Joe Tillman and Brian Kae take us on a unique tour with Superior Tour Company through this beautiful landscape near the Tonto National Forest.

Main Street climbs uphill until it dead-ends into the pink stucco arches of the Pinal County Administrative Building. Cypress trees jut into the sky; behind them, red cliffs loom. The setting is cinematic. Superior appears in The Gauntlet with Clint Eastwood and How the West Was Won with Gregory Peck and Henry Fonda. In Oliver Stone’s 1997 Wild West noir U Turn, Sean Penn’s car breaks down in Superior, where he gets sucked into a deadly love triangle with Jennifer Lopez and Nick Nolte.

Head for Boyce Thompson Arboretum, and you’ll never look at the desert the same again. Located just an hour from Scottsdale, this shady sanctuary harbors thousands of drought-tolerant plants from cacti to succulents to a forest of hardy trees, all collected from arid regions across the globe. Founded by wealthy mining engineer, Colonel William Boyce Thompson, the arboretum is crisscrossed by easy hiking trails (some wheelchair accessible) that explore a variety of themed gardens and even a small lake.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Price: $15

Location: 37615 E. Arboretum Way, Superior, AZ

Why You Need To Go: Wander through dreamy desert landscapes for a fabulous afternoon under the sun.

The Town of Superior, Arizona is excited to unveil a new tourism marketing brand to increase awareness of Superior as an international bucket-list destination.

by Mila Besich, Mayor, Town of Superior

From my earliest childhood memories, art was everywhere in Superior, reflecting our town’s soul and its penchant for creativity.

I remember large murals on the buildings and within our school and vividly recall the day in 1982 when the “Helping Hands” statue on Main Street was dedicated during Superior’s Centennial...