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Sonoita / Elgin Arizona Wildlife

Welcome to Sonoita & Elgin, Arizona

“a short drive from where you are,

 to where you want to be.”

The Sonoita / Elgin Arizona Chamber of Commerce invites you to visit the most beautiful and spectacular part in southern Arizona. Located in the heart of Arizona’s Wine Country at a cool elevation of 5,000’, the Sonoita plain is surrounded by breathtaking 9,000’ mountain peaks. Considered high desert grassland, Sonoita is breathtaking with rolling hills, lush grasslands, Arizona ash and oak trees, and colorful wildflowers: No cactus here! With summer temperatures in the high 80’s and twenty inches of annual precipitation, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the cool climate change as you climb out of the desert along scenic state Highway 83, just 45 minutes south of greater Tucson.
Sonoita/Elgin offers a wide variety of things to explore and enjoy:

• Taste your way through 9 Award-winning Wineries
• Say hello to an Alpaca
• Go Horseback Riding
• Find treasures in our unique Shopping areas
• Dine in one of several fine Restaurants
• Relax in a Comfortable Bed & Breakfast, Inn or Guest Ranches
• Watch the antics of an array of Wildlife and Birds
• Hike your way around the “neighborhood” and collect excellent photos
• Scenic bicycling
• Nearby fishing and boating lakes
• Very friendly people

Sonoita/Elgin is just 45 minutes or less from other activities as well:

• Tombstone
• Kartchner Caverns
• Parker Canyon Lake
• Bisbee
• Patagonia Lake
• Sierra Vista and Ft Huachuca
• Tubac
• Tucson

Take time to browse our website and search through our many member business listings. Then plan your next trip to visit us.

Visit Our Members Directory for More!

About Sonoita and Elgin Arizona

The communities of Sonoita and Elgin were established in 1882 along the newly developed Santa Fe railroad running the length of Sonoita creek and extending between the towns of Benson and Nogales. The area was first settled almost a half century earlier due to the vast cattle ranching and mining potential.  The Sonoita/Elgin communities were preceded by the establishment of Fort Buchanan and Fort Crittenden. These short-lived forts were founded to protect settlers in the newly occupied region, but were soon abandoned: Fort Buchanan in 1861 due to the outbreak of the civil war (subsequently destroyed to avoid the fort falling into Confederate hands) and Fort Crittenden in 1873, near the close of the Apache Wars. The history of the Sonoita-Elgin Valley goes far beyond the current epoch. Archeological evidence has demonstrated ancient occupation of the area as far back as 2000 BC, as well as, documented Hohokam, possible Sobaipuri (ancesteral relatives to the Pima, Tohono O’odham and Akimel O’odham tribes) and of course the Apache settlements, which was a barrier to new settlement for a number of years. During the 16th and 17th centuries the region saw a new wave of settlement and exploration in the form of Spanish missionaries and explorers, including such important historical figures as Fray Marcos de Niza and Father Eusebio Francisco Kino. Whether searching for gold, scouting a potential mission location, or mapping the unknown, an indelible mark was left by all  that have come before, and has added to our colorful history and unique identity. Originally an area devoted primarily to mining and ranching, in more recent years a change has taken place. Although cowboys and miners continue to be a part of our western community, the Sonoita-Elgin Valley has seen a move from traditional ranching to some new avenues of development. The Sonoita-Elgin region now hosts numerous year-round visitors from around the world.  From adventures in outdoor activities like hiking, bird-watching, camping and landscape photography, to enjoyable indoor activities of shopping and wine tasting in friendly award-winning wineries, Sonoita/Elgin offers it all.  Our tasty restaurants and comfortable B&B’s encourage you to stay and explore our community for yourselves.   We have something for everyone.

A Special Thank You to all the contributors who made our Annual Community Christmas Party a great success:

Monetary Donotions - Platinum Sponsor

$400 Mountain Empire Rotary Club

Gold Sponsors

$200 SBBI
$200 Arizona Rangers Sonoita Company

Bronze Sponsors - $50

The Little Burro
La Hacienda de Sonoita
John & Debra Fink

Sponsors - $20

Sonoita Realty
Mountain Empire Realty
Patagonia-Sonoita Rotary Club Fund
Xanadu Ranch GetAway

Thanks to everyone who gave their time and effort:

Karyl and the Wilhelm family for their help and oversight for making this years event a great sucess.

Prairie Chicks Catering (She spent hours and hours & the use of all her equipment/linens, etc. which she cleans on her own time)

AZ Horseback Experience (for horsedrawn wagon rides)

Kassie Wilhelm-time driving

“Santa” you know who you are J

Santa’s Elves: Loftin Cudney, Sage Bigford, Savannah Klasen, Shane Gronlund, Kristian Wilhelm, Wulf Steklis, Beverly Becker (our only adult elf)

Photographer (Santa & child) and picture printout She spent from 6-8:30 getting and printing pictures-hope she ate!) Katherine Cudney (If you still need digital photos : kbcudney@msn.com)

Kitchen & party help: Fred LeVeque for Santa chair and help in kitchen, Kevin Wilhelm, Debra & John Fink, Karrie Schroeder

Help gift wrapping and decorating: Over 150 toys purchased, wrapped and given by Santa: Sheree Gronlund, Kathy Perry, Jeanie Fleming, Jeannie Mathews, Beverly Becker, Linda Wood, Valerie Hing Joyce Owens, Kristian Wilhelm

Decoration Donations: Dancing Santa and Santa by the tree: Melinda and Leonard Anderson

Entertainment: Joel Elliot, Suzanne Klasen

Santa Cruz Fair & Rodeo Association for use of Pioneer Hall (gratis)

Stay a while, and enjoy all that our community has to offer.

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