ARIZONA WHITE MOUNTAINS / WELCOME

Stretching over Arizona's Mogollon Rim and towering White Mountain region, two of the state's most scenic counties offer friendly small towns and world-class recreational amenities. Gila and Navajo counties share a centralized location in the state, drawing new residents, vacationers, and seasonal visitors to breathtaking landscapes and unspoiled wilderness. Boasting the world's largest Ponderosa Pine forest, Gila County is the "second route" to Sedona, Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon and the gateway to the hauntingly beauty "Indian Country" and Monument Valley. Just a panoramic drive from Metropolitan Phoenix along Highway 87, the leading community of Payson serves as a thriving center of commerce and the Rim Country gateway.

Although Holbrook is the seat of government for Navajo County, the White Mountain region claims the town of Show Low as its commercial hub. Other friendly towns in this alpine wonderland include the sister communities of Heber-Overgaard and the incorporated town of Lakeside-Pinetop. Covering over six million acres, Navajo County is Arizona's fourth largest. At the same time, more than 66 percent of this land is preserved in Indian reservations. State and federal government holdings total another 15 percent, and individual or corporate ownership accounts for 18 percent. The county borders extend north through the Navajo and Hopi reservations to the Utah state line, south to the White Mountains and the Apache Reservation, and along the Mogollon Rim.

Services

In spite of its rustic flavor and relaxed pace of life close to nature, this region provides a caliber of services associated with larger urban areas. For example, Payson High School Students can earn college credit through innovative partnerships with the two-year institutions including Eastern Arizona College. Two community college systems maintain campuses in this area. Gila Community College in Payson and Northland Pioneer College in Show Low provide a wealth of affordable, convenient opportunities for higher education close to home. In addition to two-year degree programs, certifications, career and vocational training, and college-track programs, these campuses house extension services for Northern Arizona University based in Flagstaff. Through these extended university programs, students can continue their studies toward a four-year degree in a variety of disciplines. Well-stocked libraries, some with special dial-a-story features for the younger set, support the commitment to lifelong education and self-improvement. Students of all ages can add new skills, embark on a new hobby, or simply enjoy the intellectually stimulating atmosphere.

State-of-the-art healthcare is available throughout the White Mountain and Rim Country region, anchored in Gila County by Payson Regional Medical Center. From obstetrics and pediatrics to geriatrics, the hospital forms the cornerstone of a network of services and specializations. Within this patient-focused system, individual care is directed by the physician, coordinated by the nurses, and involves every applicable hospital department. Nearly 45 licensed beds, 95 medical professionals and specialists, and approximately 300 employees are dedicated to the finest possible care. The promotion of health and wellness is emphasized, evident in the community outreach programs, health screenings, support groups, and educational efforts.

The White Mountain communities are served by two regional healthcare leaders, the White Mountain Regional Medical Center in Springerville and Navapache Regional Medical Center in Show Low. Providing 24-hour emergency care and comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services, WMRC is committed to the most advanced care including medical imaging services and cardiac and pulmonary studies. NRMC in Show Low proudly offers technologies that are usually reserved for hospitals in larger cities, including laparoscopic surgery, cardiac catheterization, advanced imaging, and cancer care. The medical center strives to create a true healing environment by incorporating innovations such as live music, pet therapy, and healing gardens. Community programs underline the stated mission of "quality healthcare, optimal wellness." NRMC is constantly investing in upgrades and expansions to meet the needs of a growing population, most recently adding a new $2 million Cath Lab and Angiography Suite that was built and managed by the Heart Center of Northeast Arizona.

Lifestyle

From the fabled Rim Country of the late Western novelist Zane Grey to the snow-capped White Mountains and its alpine communities, Gila and Navajo counties offer an idyllic home. Warm and friendly neighbors, colorful annual events, pine-covered hillsides, abundant wildlife, and some of the West's finest recreational sites ensure an unrivaled quality of life. Providing a wonderland of natural resources and unrivaled beauty within a reasonable commute from Arizona's largest metropolitan center, the Rim Country has developed its own cultural attractions that include the Payson Choral Society and the Rim Civic Orchestra. The Rim Repertory Community Theater combines with the activities promoted by the Payson Fine Art Guild, the Payson Art League, and the Tonto Community Concert Association to ensure a calendar of exciting dates. In the summertime, residents enjoy free weekend concerts under the stars at local parks.

Fine museums dot the area, preserving a rich heritage of ancient and modern history that includes the intriguing displays at the new Museum of Rim Country Archeology. Novelist Zane Grey lived in this region for years and brought its mystique to life in 60 books, although more than 130 movies were based on his writings. Today, the replica of his cabin at historic downtown Payson is a treasured reminder of a colorful past. Payson is the official home of the "World's Oldest Continuous Rodeo," and Western traditions play an important role in both counties. The new Payson Events Center not only serves as a showcase for the rodeo but hosts a number of other major events throughout the year.

Recreational opportunities are undoubtedly the strongest drawing card to the Rim Country and Arizona's White Mountains, where each of the four seasons heralds a new set of sporting adventures. During the spring and summer months, residents enjoy golfing, horseback riding, swimming, water sports, boating, league sports, tennis, fishing, hiking, bicycle touring, mountain biking, off-roading, and camping. The area is dotted with private and public campgrounds and picnic areas, many surrounded by trout streams and creeks or paths through lush forest. The vast expanse of Roosevelt Lake stretches for 23 miles to host many championship bass tournaments that attract thousands of competitors each year. Other popular bodies of water include the Blue Ridge Reservoir, Bear Canyon Lake, and Knoll Lake. Winter sports enthusiasts can look forward to downhill and cross-country skiing, tobogganing, snowmobiling, snow shoeing, and snow tubing.

Seasonal hunting is popular, with nimrods and archers in pursuit of large and small game. Famous sites like Tonto Natural Bridge State Park combine with unique attractions like state and national fish hatcheries for memorable weekend hikes and picnics. Gila County encompasses scenic small towns north of Payson like Pine and Strawberry that celebrate annual events in style, nestled along a picturesque highway that meanders through forested beauty and eventually leads to Flagstaff and the Lake Mary area. Forest Service campgrounds in the 7,000-foot Mogollon Rim area and the White Mountains region are plentiful, encouraging everything from summer weekend getaways to snow camping.

The housing selection in this panoramic region is as attractive and diverse as the landscape, ranging from rustic cabins to upscale enclaves and magnificent homes secluded by tall pines. Well-kept properties line the neighborhoods of rapidly growing towns like Payson and Show Low, although subdivisions dot the entire region with clusters of handsome homes. Christopher Creek just outside of Payson offers a location close to convenient services and amenities that perches just below the rarified elevation of the Mogollon Rim for a true blending of city and country. Organizations, groups, and clubs tend to be active in the communities of both counties, underlining the high quality of life with an atmosphere of warmth, friendliness, and a genuine sense of belonging.