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| The Cottonwood Old Town Association |
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The Old Town Association (OTA) of Historic 89A in Cottonwood, Arizona is optimistic about a super year during 2009. More events have been planned, more businesses have moved in, more affiliations have been made, and more officers are in position to help make it all happen. These are promising and exciting times for Old Town, USA.
Repeat OTA events scheduled for 2009 include the traditional Chocolate Walk, October Safe Night, and the 2nd annual Walkin’ On Main: a Walking Tour of History, Art & Wine, in collaboration with the City of Cottonwood’s Parks & Recreation Department.
New events scheduled for 2009 include a quarterly Classic Car Cruiz’In with shifting era appeal. The 50s themed Doo-Whoppin’ Sock Hop Cruiz-In will be Saturday, June 27th. A monthly Second Saturday Art Walk features new art galleries and antique stores along with the old favorites, from 1-8pm, along Historic 89A. The first Annual Yard Sale will allow merchants and residents mutual participation.
Also new this year, the annual Memorial Run honoring bikers lost in the last year will have its first stop at Kactus Kate’s on Historic 89A, Saturday May 30th. The OTA is also negotiating for inclusion in the Verde Valley Toy Run this Fall, plus other annual motorcycle runs. In 2010, there is a plan to add an annual Easter Weekend Cookie Walk, and bring back the Spring Art Walk & Film Festival, recognizing Old Town’s filmmaking history.
For tourists coming in, there is no end to the entertainment. Cottonwood is the hub of the wheel, the heart of the Verde Valley, the books to be read between the bookends of Prescott and Flagstaff, Jerome, Sedona, Page Springs’ and Camp Verde’s wineries, the Verde Canyon Railroad, Blazin’M Ranch, a multitude of State and National Parks, and Ancient Indian Ruins.
Added to Cottonwood’s appeal are: the newly renovated Old Town Center for the Arts featuring guest sounds of top notch talent such as R. Carlos Nakai, F-Stop Restaurant’s world fusion cuisine now offers Friday and Saturday Dinners A La Carte or Prix Fixe, Crema with fresh gelato, now serves meals and music too, the Old Town Jail’s upcoming renovation may possibly house the Verde Valley Wine Consortium, and there’s a new Self-Guided Walking History Tour compiled by The Cottonwood Hotel. Other music venues include Bear’s Earth Gallery, Heart and Soul, Kactus Kate’s, The Green Garden, and, spontaneously, other Main Street locations.
Adding to the ease of arrival, ADOT (AZ Dep’t of Transportation) has approved remarking of Historic 89A signage through town plus the towns of Jerome, Clarkdale, and Sedona and Oak Creek areas. Flagstaff and Prescott now have local flights if you don’t have a private plane for the Cottonwood Airport, which is also the site of RedRock Skydiving Jump Zone.
The OTA is collaborating with Ledbetter Law Firm to update and reinstall neon lighting to the antique Shep’s Liquors sign, converting it to welcome folks to Old Town, and possibly to be a directional to the new parking lot. The old Willy’s is reopening under new ownership as Bing’s Burger Station with outside retro signage, soon to be another nostalgic eatery. Other established restaurants include Nic’s and the Tavern Grille, Hog Wild, and the newer Thai Palace, Green Garden and Conchos Mexican.
During your stay, accommodation options include: The Historic Cottonwood Hotel, which has been lodging to stars including Mae West and John Wayne; The Sundial Motel for its old stone courtyard and artistic flair; and The Annabel Inn, Cottonwood’s first Bed & Breakfast and an eco-friendly 3-Leaf European Cottage.
Lisa Pender of Little Lisa’s is continuing her duties as OTA President, Annabel Sclippa of The Annabel Inn has replaced Karen Piper of Desert Rose Designs as OTA Vice President, Patt Manheim of the Manheim Gallery has taken over as OTA Treasurer, Nick Hunseder has become the OTA Secretary and has taken over oldtown.org for Richard Stites of Javadog Gallery, and Trecia Taylor of Orion Bread has taken the newly-made position of OTA Event Coordinator.
As a not-for-profit group, none of these people receives any compensation, but the love of seeing their community grow in fun and new ways. “We are excited about our relationship with the Chamber of Commerce in Cottonwood, the new Cottonwood Community Gardens, and the future bike trails around Old Town, of which plans are being drawn. As the OTA, we are happy to be a resource for guests wanting to come spend a few days exploring all that Old Town Cottonwood, Historic 89A, and the Verde Valley has to offer, and to be a resource for merchants wishing to establish here.” – Annabel Sclippa, VP of OTA.
The OTA general mission is: “The Old Town Association exists to create and promote community events along Historic 89A in Old Town Cottonwood. We hope to encourage the growth of tourism for the economic development of entrepreneurs and a return, for the sake of family and community, to Main Street America.”
For LINKS to any business in this article, visit us at oldtown.org
For media information, including request, or submission, of photos: please contact Annabel Sclippa, OTA, VP, at (928) 649-3038 or e-mail.
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