"A day in the valley"

Organizers weren’t sure how much interest there would be for the Arizona250 celebration at the San Rafael Ranch, held on April 11. After all, the ranch is located deep in the San Rafael Valley east of Patagonia, almost to the Mexican border and accessible only by a long drive on dirt roads. 

The San Rafael house and buildings in the San Rafael State Natural Area are in tough shape. The roof of the ranch house has been leaking. There is only one working bathroom, located in the basement.    The roofs have blown off part of the barn and some of the older buildings. A fire two years ago burnt down the corral.