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Grand Canyon Railway Recognized for Green Practices

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Historic train nicknamed ‘French Fry Express’.

The Grand Canyon Railway is a heritage railroad thats carries passengers between Williams and the Grand Canyon every day over a historic route in place since 1901. But today, the railway is being recognized for something new – its green practices.

Grand Canyon Railway “is a community asset that is treasured by so many,” said Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Julie Pastrick, adding that not everyone is aware of the company’s environmental values.

It starts with Grand Canyon Railway reducing automobile traffic and emissions at Grand Canyon National Park.

“By our numbers, it always fluctuates, but we believe we keep approximately 60,000 vehicles out of the national park by folks instead taking our train to Grand Canyon,” said Sam Langner, Grand Canyon Railway community relations manager.

The Railway, owned and operated by the Xanterra Travel Collection, also retrofitted its steam locomotive in 2009 to operate on a mix of recycled vegetable oil and diesel fuel. The oil is collected from Xanterra’s restaurants at Grand Canyon and Williams.

The mixture is 40% to 50% cleaner burning than diesel fuel alone and the 1930 locomotive’s exhaust has an aroma of French fries, earning it the nickname French Fry Express.

“Wherever that idea came from, it’s just brilliant,” Pastrick said.

The next big idea for Grand Canyon Railway is studying the feasibility of converting a diesel-electric locomotive to a regenerative battery locomotive. Regenerative battery technology allows a recharge of the locomotive batteries from the braking systems while the train is traveling downhill, according to Grand Canyon Railway General Manager Jeff D’Arpa.

The Grand Canyon route could be ideal for this technology since the trip goes downhill from Williams at an elevation of 6,770 feet to roughly a midpoint below 6,000 feet and then uphill to the South Rim at 6,800 feet.

Grand Canyon Railway is considering applying for a U.S. Department of Transportation grant for the locomotive conversion, D’Arpa said.   

The battery-powered electric locomotive could be charged with solar panels at its locomotive shop in Williams, according to Langner.

Xanterra’s motto is “legendary hospitality with a softer footprint,” he explained.

As part of that ethic, Xanterra has its Operation Shrivelly Apples, which collects outdated fruits and vegetables, and other food waste from its restaurants to feed the mules at the Grand Canyon mule barn.

“There’s always an interesting twist that out teams implement,” Langner said.

A Xanterra partner — Kastlfel— makes T-shirts sold at Xanterra’s South Rim gift shops from recycled plastic bottles. It takes about six 16-ounce plastic bottles to make one shirt, keeping those bottles out of the landfill, according to Kastlfel.

In February, Grand Canyon Railway was recognized by the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce as its Green Business of the Year. The award, now in its third year, brings awareness to area businesses and non-profits that reduce operational impacts on the environment.

“We hear from our business community frequently about how much they’re doing to preserve our environment and keep our quality of life high here,” said Pastrick.

That includes water conservation, lighting to protect the dark sky and recycling. “It’s really a joy to be in a community where environmental awareness is high and businesses care,” she said.

Incidentally, the nation will celebrate Earth Day on April 22. It has been celebrated since 1970, marking the beginning of the modern environmental movement. QCBN

By Peter Corbett, QCBN

Photo by Peter Corbett: Grand Canyon Railway’s steam locomotive moves along the South Rim.    

Grand Canyon Chamber Shares Campaign to Promote the Region

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“We went from business competitors to working together to strengthen businesses and communities working together.”

With some grand ideas and deep enthusiasm about partnerships, leaders at the Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau met with the local business community and the Grand Canyon Rotary Club to hear how “All Roads Lead to the Grand Canyon.”

In the marketing presentation, Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce Past President and Buck Wild Hummer Tours Manager Stoney Ward and incoming President and Pink Jeep Grand Canyon Tours General Manager James Trautman outlined their strategies after attending the Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Phoenix last July.   

“We won the Arizona Tourism Award. Our presentation created interest because people liked the fact that we weren’t just wanting to advertise for Tusayan and the Grand Canyon but for Kingman, Flagstaff, Williams, Page and Sedona,” said Ward, who pointed out that both he and Trautman operated competing tour guide businesses. “We went from business competitors to working together to strengthen businesses and communities working together.”

They brought attention to the interactive Digital Visitors Guide featured on the Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce website, which offers 65 pages of information about the area, including hiking, maps, videos and links to helpful facts to plan a Grand Canyon and Northern Arizona vacation.” 

“Having been raised here in Northern Arizona, I see a bright future for the Northern Arizona cities,” said newly elected Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce Vice President Miranda Baldosky. “We are striving to create a network of businesses that want to work together and help build each other up.”

“The event was well organized and it was great to see the excitement,” said Greg Espinoza, group sales manager of Squire Resorts at the Grand Canyon. “The Digital Visitors Guide is using technology to the fullest, not just for Tusayan but for our neighboring cities. Their visitors are our visitors. We should work together since we share the same customer(s).” QCBN

By V. Ronnie Tierney, QCBN

Photos by V. Ronnie Tierney, Fresh Focuses Photography: Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce Past President Stoney Ward presented the new Digital Visitors Guide.

Williams Judge Takes a Break from Courtroom on Honey Creek Farm

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Judge Krombeen says his approach to justice is holistic. “I take the same approach as I do to our farm.”

Feeling as comfortable on the bench as he does officiating a wedding at the edge of the Grand Canyon, Williams Justice Court Judge Rob Krombeen says he is living the sweet life, literally, tending to Honey Creek Farm.

“I feel we are living the sweet life because of the fruitful contributions we make toward sustainable farming on our property and the relationships we build with our customers as we improve their quality of life through the products we provide,” he said.

Judge Krombeen and his wife, Sheila, turned their multi-acre property into a business venture nearly two years ago. They raise chickens, cows and pigs and make soaps and honey.

He believes working on the farm is good for him. “I deal with a lot of conflict at the court and I embrace it, but I love seeing and working with my animals and our farm because it’s good for my mental health and physical wellness.”

Krombeen attended a private school in Western Michigan before heading to Prescott to study and work at Yavapai College. He then joined the United States Air Force and was stationed in Germany and Italy, where two of his three children were born. “My son was born in Italy and my daughter was born in Germany. As a young family, living overseas had a deep impact on us.”

Prior to serving as Justice of the Peace for the Williams Precinct of Coconino County, Krombeen worked for the Williams Police Department for 23 years.

“My greatest achievement during those careers was the ability to serve the public and have the opportunity to make a positive difference in people’s lives, particularly those experiencing difficult personal challenges.”

Judge Krombeen says his approach to justice is holistic. “I take the same approach as I do to our farm. We have helped young mothers find help and have assisted people who have been evicted from their homes.”

“I’ve worked for Judge Krombeen for the past four years,” said Coconino Superior Court Deputy Court Administrator Shelly Bacon. “He was the first person to reach out and welcome me and even offered to help me find a place to live. I admire his thoughtfulness as well as his ability to be a full-time judge, grandfather, farmer and beekeeper.”

Another one of Judge Krombeen’s holistic approaches is utilizing the spent grain from a local brewery. “Honey Creek Farm has partnered with Grand Canyon Brewing + Distillery to supplement our animals feed with their spent grain. This not only keeps waste out of the landfill but also is a nutritional supplement to the food we provide our livestock.”

In the last 13 years, he has officiated about 200 weddings, several at the Grand Canyon, the courthouse and other venues. “I kept records until last year. I had to quit because it was too much paperwork.”

Judge Krombeen is a graduate of the Verbal Judo Institute and an instructor with Vistelar, teaching verbal defense and influence skills to staff and members of the judiciary. He also serves as a training faculty member with the Arizona Justice of the Peace Association, Arizona Magistrates Association and National Judges Association.

He also is involved with Young Life and the Williams Economic Development Committee. And, he opens his courtroom to school-aged children from all over the region to learn about the criminal justice system.

The Krombeens have three children and eight grandchildren.

GUILTY PLEASURE

Having something like ice cream and dwelling on the moment and not dwelling on the guilt.

MEMORABLE SUNSET

I pay attention to the sunsets. The last memorable one was two months ago. The sky was on fire and stunning in the most beautiful way. I was in my backyard.

FAVORITE MEAL  

Sweet and sour chicken on Jasmine rice.

LAST LATE NIGHT

Sheila and I stayed up late three weeks ago to binge watch a series that we enjoyed, Clarkston’s Farm. It’s about Jeremy Clarkson, a British personality who bought a farm in Central Southwest England. It’s done with humor but has actual take-always for a startup farmer.

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED

The best advice was from my father who didn’t tell me but showed me that things that are hidden are still worth doing exceptionally well. People do things to get attention; my dad showed me sometimes the things that never get noticed are the things worth doing well. QCBN

By V. Ronnie Tierney, QCBN

Photo by V. Ronnie Tierney, Fresh Focuses Photography: Judge Rob Krombeen believes working on his Honey Creek Farm is good for him. “I deal with a lot of conflict at the court and I embrace it, but I love seeing and working with my animals and our farm because it’s good for my mental health and physical wellness.” 

Grand Canyon Train Picks Up Steam After Pandemic Setback

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Tourism boost creates growth issues for Williams.

This past winter, while icy roads cut vehicle traffic to Grand Canyon 22% in the first quarter, Grand Canyon Railway (GCR) powered through all the snow with a 5% increase in ridership.

Train travelers were treated to a snow-blanketed South Rim and photographers scored images of a century-old steam locomotive puffing smoke into the frigid air.

“We’re chugging along and only seeing more and more people coming out to visit,” said Sam Langner, Grand Canyon Railway vice president of sales. “It’s good to feel like we’re back to pre-2020 business.”

The Williams-based heritage train bounced back from a pandemic slowdown that cut its passenger count 18% in 2020. Last year, GCR was just 1,500 passengers shy of the 191,000 passengers it carried to the South Rim in 2019.

That’s good news for Xanterra Travel Collection, which owns and operates the train and has hotels on both ends of the 64-mile route between Williams and the Canyon. It’s also good for Grand Canyon Village, since the train keeps roughly tens of thousands of cars out of the congested National Park each year.

GCR’s rebound is also good for the economy of Williams, known as tthe Gateway to Grand Canyon since 1902. Through the past 34 years, the railway has been a key driver of the Williams economy.

“It’s been positive because [GCR] helped put Williams on a stable financial basis,” said Williams Mayor Don Dent, adding that it has extended the tourist season beyond the summer months.

Preservation of the city’s historic district and Route 66 road trippers have also been a factor in a renaissance of Williams since Interstate 40 bypassed the town almost 40 years ago.

But the prosperity from the railway’s growth and other new attractions — Bearizona and Canyon Coaster Adventure Park — have created challenges for Williams. That includes a shortage of worker housing and a sewage treatment system that’s nearing its capacity.

The city’s sewer plant serves a population of about 3,200 residents, but at times it also serves close to 3,200 overnight visitors in hotels, recreational-vehicle parks and 200 vacation rentals, Dent said.

“We’re about to max out our sewer plant,” and the city is likely to enact a moratorium on sewer hookups within the next 60 to 90 days, he said.

That will stall development at a time when Williams needs new housing.

GCR is one of the city’s largest employers, with 350 workers. Some commute from Flagstaff, Parks, Ash Fork and Chino Valley. The railway’s main office is in the 1908 Williams Depot and Fray Marcos Hotel. A satellite office is in Flagstaff.

Passenger service to the South Rim ended in 1968. GCR revived rail service in 1989 with modest traffic. It carried 84,203 passengers in 1991. That increased steadily to 238,380 by 2006, according to a National Park report.

Mayor Dent, 71, a Williams native, said the mountain town suffered economically when it was the last community on Route 66 bypassed by I-40 on Oct. 13, 1984. It was the day the music of the Mother Road died. Locals no longer had to worry about semis barreling through town, but traveler spending declined at Williams gas stations, restaurants and motels.

Things looked especially grim when plans emerged to tear up the railroad tracks to Grand Canyon. Williams got a court injunction to halt salvage of the rails and ties, Dent said.

Luckily, a pair of angel investors, Max and Thelma Biegert, acquired the remaining railroad assets and developed GCR. But it was a struggle.

“I don’t think they turned a positive nickel for a number of years,” Dent said of the Biegerts, adding that GCR’s new Williams hotel in 1995 improved its bottom line.

Passenger traffic doubled to 170,481 from 1991 to 2001 and increased another 40% by 2006.

Xanterra bought GCR from the Biegerts in 2007. The company, which operates lodging at Grand Canyon and other national parks, has grown GCR into one of the nation’s most popular heritage trains.

“The [Grand Canyon] National Park is the magnet that brings folks in,” Langner said. “On the sustainability side of things, we keep just over 60,000 cars out of Grand Canyon National Park annually.”

That is 5% of the 1.2 million vehicles that entered the park last year. But Xanterra has other sustainability initiatives.

Last year, Xanterra completed the $35 million Maswick South Lodge, adding 120 rooms. It was the first new hotel in the park in a half century. The lodge is 40% more energy efficient than the buildings it replaced, and uses reclaimed water for landscaping, Langner said.

GCR also retrofitted its steam locomotive in 2009 to run on recycled vegetable oil.

“It even kind of smells like French fries as it’s chugging along,” he said. “What always surprises folks about the railway experience is just how you are, in a sense, transported back in time. We’re so used to plugging into our phones, putting in the headphones and not paying attention. This is an experience that forces you to really take it all in.” QCBN

By Peter Corbett, QCBN

Courtesy Photo: The steam-powered train, shown in this 2019 photo, is chugging back to pre-pandemic ridership levels, boosting the Williams economy and keeping tens of thousands of cars out of the Grand Canyon National Park. 

Preparing for Hikers, High Heat at Grand Canyon

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Symposium presenters discuss injuries and illnesses.

Hikers often misjudge Grand Canyon treks, says Dr. Tom Myers of North Country Healthcare. “They either overestimate what they think they can do or underestimate the wilderness.”

Myers discussed heat illness and hyponatremia, a condition that occurs when the level of sodium in the blood is too low, at the National Park Service Preventive Search and Rescue (PSAR) Symposium last month at Grand Canyon National Park.

Other sessions included presentations from park staff about downhill injuries, risk assessment and personal preparedness, law enforcement, search and rescue efforts, radio communications and more.

Implemented in 1997, the PSAR program is made up of a team of volunteers from around the country who come to the Grand Canyon to serve as trail educators and support providers to hikers who have questions or need help. The program was established to combat heat-related illnesses. Officials say it also has eased stress on inner canyon staff members.

PSAR volunteers patrol the upper part of the Bright Angel and South Kaibab corridor trails at the South Rim Grand Canyon. They ask hikers how far they plan to go, how much water and food are they carrying and how aware are they about summer high temperatures. They also carry basic medical gear and radios to report emergencies. Last year, PSAR had an estimated 53,000 contacts with visitors.

Serving as a PSAR volunteer for at least 15 years, Flagstaff resident and former physical therapist Sel Wasson says he is involved because of the environment, meeting and talking to interesting people from around the world, and the opportunity to see wildlife. “My most memorable experience on the Bright Angel Trail was a bighorn sheep that walked right up to me on the trail and stopped just a few feet in front of me. It was one of the most awe-inspiring experiences I’ve ever had.”

Grand Canyon PSAR Supervisor Meghan Smith and Joshua Tree National Park Service PSAR Coordinator Anna Marini planned the symposium. “We had an amazing turnout and I’m so grateful to all the participants who made time in their busy schedules to come,” said Smith. “It’s just proof of how important PSAR is.”

Attendees totaled about 150, with 31 national parks and monuments represented, along with 45 PSAR volunteers, park rangers and park managers.

Grand Canyon PSAR volunteer Brandon Trapp said it was great to see people from different national parks across the country show up. “There were two tracks, one for managers to learn about how to start programs for their parks and the other for volunteers to learn operational procedures and how to interact with people and hone their skills. It was great to see both addressed.”

“This is an awesome opportunity to collaborate with other national parks at the Grand Canyon,” said Jennifer Proctor with the National Park Public Risk Management Program. “We pride ourselves in doing things really well and it’s super important for us to connect with other parks and places to get new ideas.” QCBN

By V. Ronnie Tierney, QCBN

Photo by V. Ronnie Tierney, Fresh Focuses Photography: NAU Regents’ Professor Emeritus Stan Lindstedt gave a presentation about preventing downhill injuries.

Former River Runner Develops All-Natural Skincare Products for Arizona Outdoor Lifestyle

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Wandering the West collection available in Prescott and across the country.

Winter conditions in Northern Arizona can be brutal on your skin. DeeAnn Tracy, who has been developing all-natural, plant-based skincare products for the high elevation outdoor lifestyle since 1993, knows that well. The outdoorswoman grew up in the northland’s four seasons.

“Northern Arizona’s sun and wind are particularly brutal on skin because of the high elevation. We’re up on the plateau, and the elements are more intense here,” said Tracy, owner of Peak Scents.

“With so many days of sunshine here, we naturally have more exposure to the sun,” she said. “It’s that sun and wind that makes it so dry here in Northern Arizona.”

Tracy grew up in Flagstaff and spent time under the extreme sun as a river runner in the Grand Canyon. “My background as a rafting guide helped me see the need for non-chemical sun protection. I could wear sunscreen, but it would get in my eyes – I couldn’t see! Also, guests would get rashes [from some types of sunscreen], so I developed something non-chemical.”

Before her river running days, Tracy trained at Winter Sun Trading Company, a Southwest botanical shop owned by her mother, ethnobotanist Phyllis Hogan.

“Growing up in the herbal apothecary, I learned the way herbs could protect and heal our skin,” said the Flagstaff High School graduate. “After school, I ran Winter Sun. Customers would ask me for all-natural skincare products, but there were not many available at that time. So after hours, I started developing my own line.”

After graduating from Northern Arizona University, Tracy studied at the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine to learn more. Today, her experiences with her mother’s herbal apothecary, botanical medicine schooling and a love for the outdoors have come together to innovate skincare products that give people results without harmful chemicals.

“Unfortunately, the outdoors that we love so much wreaks havoc on our skin,” the herbalist said in a video on the Peak Scents website. “I drew on my background in herbal medicine and started making herbal-based, toxin-free skincare products for outdoor enthusiasts who need it the most.”

Tracy designed the plant-based skincare products to protect skin from harmful UV rays while keeping it moisturized and hydrated. The woman-owned business handcrafts creams, mists and facial serums with pure herbs, vitamins and minerals.

“We source from a wide variety of suppliers and try to source as local as possible,” she said. As a result, many of the all-natural, toxic-free ingredients are native to the area.

“A woman on the Hualapai Nation harvests the pinyon pitch [an ingredient in the Pinyon Pine Balm]. The distiller for our sage essential oil is out of Utah. Kate Waters of Wild Heart Farms in Rimrock is growing roses for us next season. I used to do foraging, but I just don’t have time to do it anymore.”

It’s no wonder. Tracy runs a business concurrently with handmaking the plant-based skincare goods and developing formulas for new collections.

Peak Scents offers five collections, including:

Power Repair is her first skincare line, created to help fellow river runners, which has a foaming cleanser, toner, serum, sunscreen and face mist.

Organic Rose Phyto³ is formulated with rare selections of restorative proprietary ingredients like plant stem cells, peptides and powerful superfruit extracts.

Body Nürish offers facial masks, body scrubs and formulas that are created to keep dry, mature, sensitive skin radiant and glowing.

The Super Salve Co., a sister company founded by Tracy’s sister, Denise, in 1990, offers natural herbal skincare for the whole body.

Wandering The West Apothecary is created with plants that grow in the American Southwest. Formulas feature the highest quality herbal extracts, oils and butters that soothe and calm dry, chapped skin.

“Wandering the West was born out of a gift line for visitors; now it’s in natural product stores across the nation,” Tracy said. That happened in 2016 when an airport gift shop group reached out to Tracy to design a collection of skincare products that would fit the needs of visitors to Arizona.

Wandering the West collection is available at Fite and Son’s Mercantile and Ice Cream in Prescott, airport gift shops at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, Rainbow’s End and Winter Sun Trading Company in downtown Flagstaff, Indian Gardens Cafe & Market in Oak Creek, L’Auberge de Sedona and Xanterra giftshops in Williams and the Grand Canyon. The popular collection is also available online and in the Flagstaff shop.

The five-person team at Peak Scents includes Tracy and her husband, Eric Brown, who is involved in production.

Peak Scents has partnered with American Rivers to help protect wild rivers and conserve clean water for people and nature. The company also partners with Greenspark and Eden Projects to offset their carbon footprint. In addition, Peak Scents donates to Eden Projects to plant a tree with every online purchase.

Last August, as part of Peak Scents’ commitment to reducing waste, the business brought in a line of refillable products, including hand and body soap, lotion, massage oil, dish soap and laundry products. Shoppers can bring their own containers or buy refillable containers at the shop. “It feels good to reuse containers,” Tracy said.

What’s next for Peak Scents? “When I slow down, I want to be a beekeeper,” said Tracy with a smile. “Then we can use the beeswax in our collections.” QCBN

By Stacey Wittig, QCBN

Products can be ordered online at peakscents.com. Peak Scents Plant Based Skincare Collections

1000 E. Butler Avenue, Suite 101, Flagstaff

M-Th 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Fri: 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Sat: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

928-556-9499

peakscents.com

Architect Mary Colter’s Legacy Captured in Stone

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Grand Canyon buildings continue to inspire a hundred years later.

She was tough, funny, fearless, dogmatic, imaginative, and her Grand Canyon architectural marvels continue to intrigue historians and fascinate visitors, including the only inner canyon lodging facility, Phantom Ranch, which turned 100 years old this year.

Meet Mary Jane Elizabeth Colter, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on April 4, 1869. She was 33 years old when she was hired as an interior designer and architect by the hospitality forerunner Fred Harvey Company, a contractor for Santa Fe Railway. That was in 1902.

A few years later, Colter was asked to design the Hopi House, an indigenous-influenced architectural design that launched five other projects at the Grand Canyon: Lookout Studio, Bright Angel Lodge and cabins, Hermit’s Rest, Desert View Watchtower and Phantom Ranch, named after nearby Phantom Creek.

She also designed the men’s dormitory at the Grand Canyon and Colter Hall, the women’s dormitory.

According to the Grand Canyon National Park Website, NPS.gov, Mary Colter designed buildings that would become part of their surroundings, that “would create no discordant note against the time-eroded walls of this promontory. To obtain this result, Colter insisted that the rocks not be cut or worked…so they would not lose the weathered surfaces so essential to blend in with the Grand Canyon walls.”

Flagstaff residents Allen and Carol Naille lived at the Grand Canyon for 13 years. Allen worked for Fred Harvey Company in several positions before assuming the position of general manager there, eventually moving to Flagstaff to accept his role as president of the company. In all, he worked for the company for 25 years. Carol was in charge of the Grand Canyon library.

“Mary Colter was a woman in a man’s world and her characteristics made her unique,” said Carol, who had a friend whose father knew and was employed with Colter. “She worked with men but was able to get her way. She stood up to men but she was tactful. She had to be. Also, at the time, Fred Harvey Company had all male managers. I believe she was an amazing person because of her talent and her ability to get along with the men she worked with. I’ve always admired her.”

In a Jan. 23, 1904, article, the Minneapolis Journal referenced Colter, describing artists as people who develop themselves. “There is no necessity of seeking for art genius. When it occurs it will make itself apparent.”

Though much has been documented about Colter’s design style and how she was adamant that things were done her way, little is known about her personal life.

“You don’t hear many stories about her other than her work. I would like to know what drove her to do what she did,” said Edward “Ted” McClure, librarian at the Grand Canyon National Park research library. “She traveled all over the Southwest looking at Native American construction and patterned her design for the Desert View Watchtower on what she saw. I think what is most important is that she was her own woman in a man’s world.”

Senior Contributing Editor at Preservation Magazine and author Arnold Berke in his book, “Mary Colter Architect of the Southwest” titled his first chapter “Drawn by the Desert: An Incomprehensible Woman in Pants.” Berke wrote, “She possessed a special genius for interpreting the past to create new buildings and interiors that, with their striking forms and fanciful atmosphere, have enchanted generations of travelers crossing the American Southwest.”

Colter “may well be the best-known unknown architect in the United States who helped to create the National Park Service rustic style,” stated Preservation Magazine.

Though historians, architects and visitors find her work fascinating, the Desert View Watchtower stands out, built on the South Rim with views of the Painted Desert to the east, the San Francisco Peaks to the south and the Colorado River as it exits Marble Canyon to the north.

“After exploring archaeology sites in the Four Corners region, Mary Colter closely supervised the design of Desert View Watchtower, a majestic recreation of an ancient stone tower rising from the eastern rim of the Grand Canyon,” said Grand Canyon Conservancy Director of Marketing Mindy Riesenberg.

“The conservation of the historic murals inside the Watchtower was completed in 2019 and the second phase of the development of an Intertribal Cultural Heritage Site at Desert View started this winter with work on a new amphitheater on the rim of the canyon. In the next few years, the area will see many changes, including redesigned pathways, a new tribally-
run welcome center and expanded capabilities for hosting cultural demonstrators,” said Riesenberg.

Other structures built under Colter’s architectural ingenuity outside the Grand Canyon include La Posada in Winslow, El Navajo in Gallup, New Mexico and La Fonda in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She also has her mark on the restaurant at The Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal.

Colter died at age 88 on Jan. 8, 1958. T-shirts and stickers commemorating the 100th anniversary of Phantom Ranch can be found at shop.grandcanyonlodges.com. QCBN

By V. Ronnie Tierney, QCBN

Jeff D’Arpa is the Man Behind the Adventure

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Grand Canyon Railway general manager enjoys working where others play.

Going to work in places where he could play is what Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel General Manager Jeff D’Arpa had in mind while growing up, and that’s exactly what happened.

With ski resorts, national parks, hotels and now the Polar Express and Grand Canyon Railway in his professional queue, D’Arpa has completed 25 years with the Xanterra Travel Collection.

In his new position as Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel General Manager, D’Arpa oversees 280 to 340 employees and said, “The team I work with is outstanding and makes this a manageable assignment. To be able to incorporate trains and hospitality at this scale is a unique opportunity and I cherish the challenge it provides me.”

D’Arpa’s career began at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah, where he began working in the ski shop. “My goal was to manage a ski or golf resort,” he said.  Again his dream was fulfilled as he stepped into the role of restaurant manager at Deer Valley.

When the snow melted, D’Arpa took off to work at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon as a food server in the summers. He stayed busy hiking the Grand Canyon trails and climbing the corporate ladder.

Starting as a food server for Xanterra Travel Collection in 1996, D’Arpa was able to work his way up to management.

He served as regional general manager of Zion National Park in Utah, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon National Park before becoming director of resort operations at the Grand Canyon Railway in Williams.

Chief Parks Officer Gordon Taylor has worked alongside D’Arpa for many years. “He certainly has integrity, intelligence and the energy to get things done.  I am a very lucky man to have the honor to call Jeff both a teammate and a friend.”

Along with his responsibilities at the Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel, D’Arpa also oversees the Grand Hotel in Tusayan and the Tusayan Trading Post.

Born in Yonkers, New York, where he spent his formative years, D’Arpa moved to Florida when he was 16. While working at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, D’Arpa would visit Flagstaff in the mid ‘90s. “I always enjoyed the atmosphere, lifestyle and community. I also had some great friends from back East relocate to Flagstaff, making our transition to the area quite easy.”

Married to Lisa, the couple has two daughters and spends their free time hiking, skiing and cycling. D’Arpa also enjoys playing drums. “Weekends are never long enough,” he said.

The Grand Canyon Railway Hotel is located in Williams and has daily round-trip excursions to the Grand Canyon. The Polar Express will run through Dec. 30. For more information, call 888-848-3511.

Biggest Influence
I’ve been fortunate to work for Xanterra’s Chief Parks Officer Gordon Taylor since 1996. He has trusted and supported me through all my years with Xanterra, allowing me to grow and enjoy many achievements both personally and professionally.

Character Qualities Most Admired
Hard work and honesty.

Favorite Places to Visit
The bottom of the Grand Canyon and top of Humphreys Peak. To have these gems in your backyard and not make regular pilgrimages to enjoy them wouldn’t make sense to me.

The Last Time I Laughed My daughters make me laugh all the time. Somehow they are the funniest humans alive. Any of their TikTok videos put me in stitches.  QCBN

By V. Ronnie Tierney, QCBN

Saying ‘I Do’ to Micro-Weddings

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With concerns about public health and travel, brides and grooms are choosing small, intimate celebrations

Event planners are busier than ever and, not surprisingly, smaller weddings have taken the lead, especially in Northern Arizona.

“We’ve had a lot of micro-weddings of 50 people or less since March this year,” said Prescott-based Luella House Weddings and soon-to-open historic Willow Creek Inn owner Nancy Bewley. “I think it’s because small weddings make sense to people right now. People can spread out and the couple can have those who are most dear and closest to them attend, plus the expense is lower and the event is more manageable.”

Rhonda Messal, of Fort Worth Texas, planned her micro-wedding at Moran Point at the Grand Canyon last May. A total of four guests attended.

“I thrive on simplicity. I chose to have a small wedding because I’m a simple girl who was raised in the mountains of Colorado and I prefer a more minimalist approach to things,” said Messal, a human resources executive. “Getting married on the rim of the Grand Canyon and taking in God’s beautiful creation was simply amazing, and keeping it small was so hassle-free.”

Choosing to have her wedding at the Grand Canyon in April, April Margulies, owner and founder of Trust Relations Agency in Williams, said, “With COVID, there was no telling when things would open up again and we didn’t really want to wait to find out. My parents would not have been comfortable traveling at the time, so asking anyone to attend seemed unfair. In the end, it was a great excuse to keep the moment intimate and just focus on each other rather than planning and executing some complicated event.”

According to Las Vegas-based Cactus Collective Weddings owner McKenzi Taylor, 2021 weddings have become much more intimate affairs and micro-weddings have gone from second-best to many couples’ first choice.

“Gone are the days of the 300 person guest list, the splashy banquet hall and multi-tiered wedding cakes, at least for most post-pandemic couples who are more conscious of the health of their guests as well as the health of their bank accounts.

Williams Justice of the Peace Robert Krombeem confirms the trend as well. “With COVID making many of our hopes, dreams and plans for the future come to a screeching halt, we have seen a definite increase in small, spontaneous courthouse weddings.”

In Flagstaff, Sutcliffe Floral Owner Kelly Tulloss says she has seen a lot of brides have their weddings at Airbnb’s, out in the woods, backyards and courthouse weddings. “I think Flagstaff provides the perfect setting for smaller, intimate outdoor weddings, and they are very popular here.”

Churches also are seeing the shift to smaller weddings. Flagstaff’s Mountain View Church Pastor Nathaniel Bradford is preparing to officiate a micro-wedding consisting of the bride, groom, maid of honor and best man.

“Pastor Nathaniel and I are honoring the couple and their wishes to have just their immediate family present,” said Bradford’s wife, Cindy, who is the wedding coordinator at MVC. “They decided to keep their wedding small and simple and believe their love for each other and their faith is more significant than any crowd.”

Weddings in Sedona owner and Senior Planner Susan Perry says small weddings have always been popular in the Red Rock Country and continue to be. “We have a healthy range, from small elopement, to micro, to large custom weddings. Because we are such a popular wedding market, couples come from around the world to get married here.”

Meanwhile, Viola’s Flower Garden Wedding Coordinator Jessie Bangle says smaller weddings are here to stay. “Since COVID, people are sticking to 50 people or less, mostly for regulations, but also because these weddings are more intimate and less expensive. Going forward to 2022, we’re not seeing big numbers and the trend is unique styles of decoration and scaled-down weddings where the bride and groom can spend more time visiting with their guests.” QCBN

By V. Ronnie Tierney, QCBN

Brenda Halvorson Soars with The Papillon Group

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Helicopter company CEO has spent a lifetime enjoying the Grand Canyon from top to bottom.

From a young age, the late Seattle contractor and aviator Elling Halvorson was known for his bold business ventures like building the ATT relay lines from New York to Los Angeles and bidding on construction projects in remote locations like Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. However, his decision to take on the monumental task of building a water pipeline through the Grand Canyon led to the development of Papillon Helicopters and Grand Canyon Airlines.

What wasn’t risky for this risk taker was hiring his daughter, Brenda Halvorson, to serve as his assistant in 1986, a position that led to her current position today as CEO of Grand Canyon Airlines and Papillon Helicopters, the largest scenic helicopter tour company in the world.

“Realistically, I started working for my dad when I was a kid,” said Brenda, who lived at the Grand Canyon from fourth to sixth grade. “We moved here so my dad’s construction company could begin the Transcanyon Water Pipeline project, which entailed an immense amount of helicopter flights into the canyon. Soon after the project was completed, he started selling helicopter flights.”

When Brenda was 12 years old, she worked out of a 6’ x 6’ shack on the side of the road in Tusayan on Sundays, selling helicopter tours. “Dad always wanted me to come work alongside him when I got older,” said Halvorson. “When his assistant quit, he asked if I would fill that position.”

At the time, Halvorson, an avid skier and outdoorswoman, was on her journey as co-owner of Scott Sports. In 1991, she became vice president of Grand Canyon Airlines and Papillon Helicopter. “We had expanded our helicopter operations to Hawaii on the islands of Oahu, Kauai and Maui, so I would go over to Hawaii once a week out of every month and afterward, I would come to the Grand Canyon to work with the CFO on budgets and cost analysis to determine how we could do better.”

Today, The Papillon Group (Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters, Grand Canyon Helicopters, Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines and Canyon Flight Trading Company) corporate offices are housed at their Boulder City Aerocenter, an ultramodern $9 million terminal.

Halvorson loves her work, as well as the people she has hired to work alongside her. Some of her employees have been with her for over 30 years. “I had a really good knack at hiring the right people and taking good care of them,” she said. “They are my friends, and we built this together. I certainly didn’t do it on my own. I’ve got the best of the best and a rock-solid group of people who work here.”

Director of Operations and Chief Operating Officer John Becker has been with Papillon Group since 1994. “After retiring from the Army, I came to work here as a line pilot,” said Becker. “The Halvorsons have treated me like family. They are very ethical and fair to all their employees and safety is their absolute No. 1 priority.”

“Brenda is not only my boss, but my good friend, and our kids went to school together,” said Human Resource Director Isla Harvey. “This is a great family-oriented company. I’ve worked in many different positions here and my job has expanded to where I am now.”

“My dad put a lot of trust in me,” said Halvorson. “When I asked him for direction, he wouldn’t give me any. He would just say, ‘You can figure it out for yourself.’ So, I did.”

A year ago last month, her dad died unexpectedly at age 88. “He was my best friend,” she said. “I went to him when I needed to hear his voice, it brought me peace. He was my peace.”

She says the greatest gift her dad gave her was confidence. “He would always tell me to have faith and never give up and when there’s a will there’s a way. That’s what I really admired about him.” In his book, “Detours to Destiny,” the elder Halvorson wrote about never giving up and having the strength to forge forward.

Brenda cherishes her childhood memories of playing at Phantom Ranch during the time Elling was building the pipeline. “I loved it down there. We would take the helicopters down to the canyon from Yaki Point where dad had a heliport and play all day riding our trail bikes. It was so much fun.”

Today, Brenda says her life is full with The Papillon Group and family, which includes her husband, Mark, and eight grandchildren. QCBN

By V. Ronnie Tierney, QCBN