Patagonia (Arizona) - town in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States

Patagonia is a small town in South Central Arizona.

Understand

Patagonia was founded as a supply center for nearby mines and ranches. With the closing of the mines, it has found new life as an artists' community and tourist attraction.

• Patagonia Visitor Center, 317 Mckeown Ave, 31.539979°, -110.753394°, +1 520-394-0060. M-Th 10AM-4PM, F 11AM-4PM, Sa 10AM-4PM.

Get in

Patagonia is bisected by State Route 82, about a 25-minute drive north of Nogales, and a 15-minute drive south of Sonoita.

• Ken's Shuttle Service, +1 520-604-6939, kensshuttleservice@gmail.com. For visitors needing transport to or from the Tucson airport, as well as to hiking areas as far away as Coronado National Memorial, this service is friendly and reliable. 2016-04-13

Get around

The town is very small and pedestrian-friendly. To explore the attractions outside of the town center, you'll need a car.

See

• Harshaw ghost town, Harshaw Rd (8 miles SE of Patagonia), 31.467533°, -110.707617°. Harshaw was a mining town founded in the 1870s, and after several cycles of booms and busts, was finally abandoned in the 1960s. Several building foundations remain, as well as the cemetery. Located in the Coronado National Forest, it is accessible via a well-maintained dirt road; some buildings are on private property but can still be viewed from the road.

Do

Festivals and events

• Annual Mariachi Festival, Patagonia Lake State Park (see listing below). May. A one-day festival featuring musical performances by a number of southern Arizona mariachi bands. Food available, or bring a picnic. $15 per vehicle
• Patagonia Fall Festival, McKeown Ave, 31.539613°, -110.75435°. Mid-October. An annual three-day festival featuring juried arts and crafts, music, and food. Held in the park area by McKeown Ave, which is closed off to traffic for the event. Parking in the center strip by 4th Ave, with shuttles operating from the parking area to the festival. Free

Parks and outdoor activities

• Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve, 31.527977°, -110.775214°, +1 520-394-2400. Apr-Sep W-Su 6:30AM-4PM; Oct-Mar W-Su 7:30AM-4PM. Managed by the Nature Conservancy, this wetland area is another good spot for birdwatching. $8 (adults), $5 (members and Cochise County residents)
• Patagonia Lake State Park, 400 Patagonia Lake Rd (Hwy 82, south of Patagonia), 31.49225°, -110.86327°, +1 520-287-6965. Popular for fishing, camping, bird watching, and hiking. $10 per vehicle
• Circle Z Ranch, 1476 Hwy 82, 31.499639°, -110.811791°, +1 520-394-2525. Offers guided horseback riding excursions, with or without accommodation.
• Biking There are some excellent well-maintained dirt road in the neighboring Coronado National Forest, and the paved roads have little traffic.
  • Patagon Bike Rental, +1 520-604-0258, patagonbikerental@earthlink.net. Rents out road and mountain bikes. $35+/day, $60+/wknd, $90+/wk

Buy

Eat

• Velvet Elvis Pizza Company, 292 Naugle Ave, 31.541392°, -110.753047°, +1 520-394-2102. Th-Sa 11:30AM-8:30PM, Su 11:30AM-7:30PM. Pizza with a more southwestern and healthy flair, featuring unusual ingredients like chorizo, and using wholewheat crusts.
• Wild Horses (formerly Home Plate), 277 McKeown Ave (attached to the Stage Stop Inn), 31.540194°, -110.75304°, +1 520-394-2344.

Drink

• Gathering Grounds, 319 McKeown Ave, 31.539933°, -110.753566°, +1 520-394-2009. S-W 7AM-4PM, Th-Sa 7AM-8PM. Coffee shop and deli, with wi-fi.
• Wagon Wheel Saloon, 400 West Naugle Ave, 31.539369°, -110.756599°, +1 520-394-2433. Local cowboy bar, serves decent food.

Sleep

• Duquesne House Bed & Breakfast, 357 Duquesne Ave, 31.538374°, -110.75412°, +1 520-394-2732, theduquesnehouse@hotmail.com. A historic adobe inn built in 1898 on Patagonia's original main street. $105-$130/night
• Spirit Tree Inn, 3 Harshaw Creek Rd, 31.493146°, -110.683697°, +1 520-394-0121, info@spirittreeinn.com. Have mountain bikes available to rent. Boarding is available for horses, and dogs permitted depending on temperament. $105-$195/night
• Stage Stop Inn, 303 W Mckeown Ave, 31.540212°, -110.7527°, +1 520-394-2211, info@stagestoppatagonia.com. Has an onsite restaurant, outdoor pool, free wi-fi. Non-smoking and pet-friendly. $79-$109/night
• Patagonia Lake State Park, 400 Patagonia Lake Rd (Hwy 82, south of Patagonia), 31.495232°, -110.854586°, +1 520-586-2283. Full electric hookups are available, as well as water and toilets. Reservations are recommended particularly for three-day weekends; for location description, see listing above. $17-$25/night

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