In Scottsdale, rustic Old West meets modern-day luxury
Sipping a glass of chardonnay on the terrace of Mountain Shadows Resort, I gazed at the unmistakable hump of granite that gave Camelback Mountain its name.
At dusk a lilac haze etched the mountain in stark relief against the sky. Looking at it brought to mind a novel that my grandfather, the ultimate student of Old West lore, introduced me to when I was a child. Today, my paperback copy of Zane Grey’s “Riders of the Purple Sage” is dog-eared and well-worn from many reads.
Those who know me are aware I am a passionate lover of the American West, which makes Scottsdale, “the Gateway to the West,” a natural destination.
If you want to see for yourself, a good place to start is Old Town, where the city began in the late 1800s. Its Old West flair is apparent day and night.
By day, shop for both Native American art and jewelry (be sure not to miss the Native American-owned Art Market) and authentic western apparel.
By night, don those western duds and head for the
Rusty Spur
Saloon where there’s live country/ western music nightly.
You may have to belly up to the bar for your cold one, as the Rusty Spur’s tables are occupied pretty much whenever it’s open. Don’t let that stop you; it didn’t stop western icons John Wayne and Clint Eastwood, who were known to frequent the Rusty Spur when in town.
CHECK OUT MUSEUMS
Cattle drovers, ranch hands, town marshals, gunslingers and other denizens of the Wild West probably didn’t do much museum-going, leaving that to those dudes from the East.
However, you should make museums a part of your Scottsdale experience, especially if the museum is as intriguing as Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West.
A Smithsonian affiliate, the museum has exhibits that showcase the culture and rich history of 19 American states, plus Western Canada and Mexico.
The majesty and scope of the West can be seen in traditional paintings such as the one of a Hopi woman atop her horse gazing at the horizon and a less traditional painting of a tuxedoclad pianist sitting atop a mesa, playing his piano and staring at the same expansive view.
For a different take on the majesty of the West, book a tour at Frank Lloyd Wright’s