Pinetop-Lakeside

Founded: 1984 (incorporated as single town)
County: Navajo
Population: 4,030
Elevation: 6,805 feet
High School Mascot: Yellow Jackets

David Penrod built the first sawmill in what now is Pinetop-Lakeside in 1891, and until 1906, the community was inhabited mostly by members of his family (including his 13 children). But during that stretch, along came Walt Rigney, the proprietor of a saloon that primarily served soldiers at nearby Fort Apache. Rigney was so towering in stature that those soldiers gave him the nickname “Pinetop.” It stuck. And the local post office adopted it in 1895.

Although Lakeside’s origin story isn’t quite as exciting — it was named for the reservoirs that are prevalent in the region — the two small towns merged in 1984, tying together their shared heritage, as well as their reputations as summer resort destinations.

Covering just 11.24 square miles, Pinetop-Lakeside is a major draw for people looking to escape summer’s high temperatures. In the 1950s, Jim Snitzer became one of them when he began visiting with his mother, two brothers and sister.

“We wandered over the hills, and when we got thirsty, we drank out of a stream,” Snitzer recalls. “We would hold our teeth together to filter the water, and I guess it kept out any bugs. Logging was still a big thing then. They had tourist cabins [and] they had some rental boats, but tourism wasn’t nearly the business it is today. Winters were hard. Nobody was prosperous, and everybody worked very hard. They took care of each other.”

Snitzer moved permanently to Pinetop-Lakeside in 2005 to live on 4 acres on Rainbow Lake. His grandfather bought the property from Junius Hansen, a son and heir of Niels Hansen, who’s been called the “Father of Lakeside.”

Today, Snitzer volunteers for TRACKS, an organization that develops, maintains and improves non-motorized trails, as well as the White Mountain Nature Center, the Optimist Club and his church.

“Now, it’s a much more prosperous area, because we have all the summer people who come up, and that provides jobs for everybody who lives here,” he says. “People come up to get out of the heat, to get out of the crowds and just enjoy the climate and the countryside. There are 200 miles of hiking trails right around town, and there are motorized trails, too. People who come here either come for a reason, or they find a reason and stay. If you spend a year here and you don’t spend it inside your closet, pretty soon you’ll just fit in and see friends everywhere.”
 

WHERE TO STAY

Lake of the Woods Resort
With a private stocked lake, 26 cabins and seven condo-style units, Lake of the Woods Resort offers its guests an opportunity to feel at home while away from home. Among the amenities are kitchens or kitchenettes, decks, fireplaces and access to the resort’s grills. What’s more, guests can use the lake for boating or fishing at their leisure.
2244 W. White Mountain Boulevard, Pinetop-Lakeside, 928-368-5353, lakeofthewoodsaz.com

Corduroy Lodge
This boutique destination offers three ways to stay: in one of seven vintage Airstream trailers, in a lodge room or in one of three historic cabins. The property is on the historic Penrod homestead and affords guests the opportunity to lounge, play yard games or access one of several nearby hiking trails.
2012 E. White Mountain Boulevard, Pinetop-Lakeside, 928-940-2490, corduroyboutiquelodge.com
 

WHERE TO EAT

Munich Haus
It’s no secret that German chefs (and connoisseurs of the cuisine) have an affinity for sausages, from bratwurst and knackwurst to good, old-fashioned frankfurters. And then, of course, there’s German beer — which, according to the country’s traditional standards, must be made from only three ingredients: water, malt and hops. You might not expect to find these Old world standards in Pinetop-Lakeside, but Munich Haus, a family restaurant and beer garden, serves up the White Mountains’ most authentic German fare — even Reuben balls.
2044 E. White Mountain Boulevard, Pinetop-Lakeside, 928-367-4287, munichhauspinetopaz.com

Los Corrales
This family Mexican restaurant is one of the most popular in the White Mountains — and with good reason. Chile verde, chile colorado, carnitas, tacos and more are served in generous portions. In addition, there’s a surprising selection of seafood dishes, including campechana, a bowl of fresh octopus, scallops and shrimp.
845 E. White Mountain Boulevard, Pinetop-Lakeside, 928-367-5585
 

ATTRACTIONS

White Mountain Nature Center
The White Mountain Nature Center opened in 2004 as a nonprofit dedicated to highlighting the biodiversity of the White Mountains. As part of those efforts, the center hosts a raptor flight show, which gives visitors an opportunity to experience several birds of prey, including Garfunkel, a Eurasian eagle-owl; Speedy, a red-tailed hawk; and Astro, an Aplomado falcon. Shows run several times each week, and tickets are available online in advance.
425 S. Woodland Road, Pinetop-Lakeside, 928-358-3069, wmnature.com

Pinetop Olive Oil
Sharon and Dave Kirkey opened Pinetop Olive Oil in 2013, bringing olive oils from Spain, France, Italy and Greece, along with condiments and spices, to the White Mountains region. “If you’re looking to get healthy and eat healthy, just come into the store and taste — your taste buds will tell you [what you like],” Sharon said in an Arizona Highways story that ran in June 2022. “After customers have tasted a couple of them, they get an idea of what the differences are. Some are grassy, some are nutty, others are buttery.”
1684 E. White Mountain Boulevard, Pinetop-Lakeside, 928-367-6544, pinetopoliveoil.com