The National Park Service isn't the only thing in Arizona celebrating its centennial in 2016.
This year marks the 100th year since the settlement of Bundyville (also known as Mount Trumbull) — a remote ranching town at the base of Mount Trumbull on the Arizona Strip in Northwestern Arizona. This Saturday (September 3), an anniversary celebration will be held from noon to 6 p.m. No reservation or fee is required — all you have to do is show up.
A Dutch oven feast will kick off the event. In addition, there will be activities, re-enactments and reminiscing about the town’s history.
In 1916, the Bundy family homesteaded the land after searching for an area to call their own. A small community developed after residents built a schoolhouse in the center of the town. It was used not only for educational purposes, but also for church services and town meetings. Ranching and farming were the settlers' methods of sustaining their lives.
Today, a handful of families still own homes near the schoolhouse, which is now used for gatherings. Every year, the Bundy family hosts a reunion. Common conveniences such as internet, phone service and running water are still nonexistent in the town. Ranching continues to be a means of getting by, and food is typically brought in from larger neighboring towns, such as St. George, Utah.
That being said, if you join the celebration, you’re guaranteed a full dose of Southwestern history.