Across the Creek at Aravaipa Farms Bed & Breakfast Country Inn

Aravaipa Farms History

A history rich and diverse as the abundant wildlife has tied generations to this desert creek for thousands of years. Apache Indians who once lived here considered this a sacred place, a place alive and capable of imparting wisdom. The Apaches gave place-names to every detail of the landscape, and attached to each one stories teaching the value of right thinking and good behavior. They believed that once you knew the stories, the places would work on you whenever you opened yourself to them, and your mind would become smooth, steady and resilient. Aravaipa Canyon is such a place.

The year round waters of Aravaipa Creek flow between sheer cliffs in a spectacular wilderness area nourishing lush and plentiful cottonwoods, willows and sycamore trees.

Unfortunately, our dams, diversions and wells have wiped out more than 90% of natural desert habitat in the Southwest, only a fraction of that pristine environment remains, making Aravaipa all that more precious.

Aravaipa Canyon, with its outstanding scenery, desert fish, wildlife, rich history and opportunities for primitive recreation, was preserved in 1984 by an Act of Congress (and later expanded in 1990) to remain free from the influence of man and to be protected in this condition for all future generations.

During the 1800's, as the pioneer homesteaders moved into Southeastern Arizona, the encroachment upon Apache territory was met with great resistance. Famous Apache warriors, Cochise and Geronimo fought many a bloody battle for their homeland. Tragic history was made on the lower Aravaipa when Apache women and children were slaughtered by a gang of Pima Indians, Mexican Nationals and Anglo vigilantes. This aroused public indignation and eventually forced President Grant to assign General Crook to the Arizona territory for the purpose of ending the Indian Wars and capturing Geronimo.

With the end of the Indian Wars and Geronimo's eventual capture, Arizona territory was now free from Indian reprisal and homesteaders began to arrive in greater numbers to farm and raise cattle and sheep along the Aravaipa. By the turn of the century, 15,000 head of Angora goats were herded from Kingman, Arizona to Aravaipa Canyon, a distance of 500 miles tended by Basque sheepherders. Eventually, goats were replaced by cattle and cattle was king for the next 50 years.

Today, Aravaipa Canyon is home to approximately 40 families, some that have called Aravaipa home for generations along with newcomers with a passion for preserving the history and beauty of this wonderful canyon.

"There is a season for everything..." said Carol Steele, when a reporter asked why she lived and worked in such a remote and rural setting. Carol had spent a lifetime as the culinary and retail trendsetter in Scottsdale, Arizona working with the likes of Jacques Pepin and Diane Kennedy.

A native of Washington, D.C., Carol married at 17 and moved to Arizona with her husband and baby son Larry in 1958. A year later, the young family was planning to homestead in Alaska when Carol's husband was killed in an accident.

Carol stayed in Arizona and met and married cotton farmer, Warren Steele, in 1962. They moved to Sedona, Arizona where her husband developed the Village of Oak Creek Golf Course in 1968. Carol met JoAnne Goldwater, daughter of Barry Goldwater, and the two formed a partnership to build the shopping center, La Posada, which they operated until 1975. Carol then lived in Mexico with her son, Larry, for a year designing and manufacturing house ware items - dishes, glasses and furniture - with Mexican craftspeople, and shipping the products back to the U.S.

A divorce in 1976 and a move to Scottsdale, Arizona where she opened the first of several upscale retail stores and restaurants - C. Steele Marketplace. Inspired by the food halls of Harrods in London, the store and subsequent incarnations created by Carol set a new standard for dining, takeout and house wares shopping.

".... and this is the season to commune with nature while utilizing my skills and talent to share with my guests this wonderful part of the Southwest".