![]() Buy a Tortilla Flat postcard and mail it from there so it has the town's name as the postmark. Nestled in a corner of the Mercantile is a tiny post office where you can drop postcards, letters and packages. Post office: Because Tortilla Flat is a real town, it has a post office.Mercantile and Gift Shop: Everyone needs a souvenir from Tortilla Flat, right? The Mercantile has you covered with Native American jewelry and pottery, postcards, T-shirts, coffee mugs, books on history and cooking, Tortilla Flat memorabilia and Southwestern artwork.The homey little store is where you can pick up a sweet treat such as a scoop of prickly pear gelato or homemade fudge. Tortilla Flat General Store and Ice Cream Shop: The general store is the last surviving original building from the 1940s.There's plenty to occupy a visitor for an entire afternoon. The town is just two blocks long but don’t let that fool you. Tubac: Explore one of Arizona's oldest communities in a day trip What is there to do in Tortilla Flat? In the summer, Tortilla Flat is open 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Tortilla Flat is open year round. The summer season is June 1-Sept. 'We are curators of history': Meet the new owners preserving Tortilla Flat's heritage When is Tortilla Flat open? Guests who enter the jail have to solve three puzzles to get out. There is also a new town jail, and Field says it's more like an escape room. Visitors can browse crafts from over 24 local vendors. More local artists are now featured at the The Mercantile and Gift Store. And that's exactly the point,” said Chris Field, director of operations at Tortilla Flat. “So when you look around this place, it looks like nothing was done. Renovations include a remodeled museum and bathrooms, new electrical wiring in the kitchen, a new boardwalk and signs, a remodeled retail store and colorful murals scattered throughout the town. The new owners have been careful to preserve the town’s Western heritage. Owners Katie Ellering and RTDK Management, who bought the town as a 20-year lease from Tonto National Forest in September 2019, recently spent half a million dollars on improvements. It eventually became a stagecoach stop bringing travelers, businessmen and adventurers out West.Īrizona wildflowers: Hikes and scenic drivers where you can see the blooms What's new at Tortilla Flat? Tortilla Flat was a place of rest for dam workers and visitors on their way to the construction site, 26 miles to the north. Tortilla Flat came to prominence when Roosevelt Dam and the road leading to it - State Route 88 - were being built in 1903. With its setting nestled between mountain passes and alongside the Salt River, the shady oasis has long welcomed weary travelers looking to refresh, refuel and relax. Just to be clear, author John Steinbeck’s book by the same name has nothing to do with the Arizona landmark.Ībout 53 miles east of central Phoenix on the southern edge of Tonto National Forest, the area that became known as Tortilla Flat has for over 1,000 years served as a way station in the rugged Superstition Mountains. ![]() Here’s how to take a day trip from Phoenix to Tortilla Flat. With food, live music, vintage buildings including a post office and museum, souvenirs, lots of Southwest history and of course the famous prickly pear gelato, it's easy to see why Tortilla Flat is a fun place to spend an afternoon. The goal of the renovations was to bring the facilities up to modern standards while maintaining the historical ambiance. The town's new owners have poured $500,000 into improvements to the old buildings that line Tortilla Flat's two blocks on State Route 88, also known as the Apache Trail, east of Apache Junction.īut don't expect anything to be shiny or modern looking. This historic former stagecoach stop offers a scenic escape from the city and an authentic taste of the Old West. Looking for an easy day trip from Phoenix? Visit Tortilla Flat. View Gallery: Tortilla Flat, AZ: Easy day trip from Phoenix on the Apache Trail
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