NEIGHBORHOODS: PINE AND STRAWBERRY
Joys of small-town living
The annual Tellabration which brings together some of Arizona’s best storytellers is a popular event in Pine. BY TERESA MCQUERREY ROUNDUP STAFF REPORTER
Resident or visitor, the communities of Pine and Strawberry, while not off the beaten path, are where to get away from the hustle and bustle. Small, quiet and friendly in a wonderfully old-fashioned way, the area offers a variety of home options. Second-home owners dominate the real estate market, which offers lots of homes in all price ranges nestled in the trees, many with sweeping views of the looming Mogollon Rim. Once beset by water shortages, the community formed a water improvement district and now has an ample supply — a rarity for a rural community anywhere in Arizona. The topography and the varied building patterns in the course of the community’s long pioneer history has created a mix of homes for vacationers, retirees and yearrounders. Strawberry has a greater share of ranching properties in the narrow, meadowgraced valley. The community has many horse properties and also lies along the road that leads to the trailhead of the Highline Trail and Fossil Creek. Summer festivals, rural ambiance, a mild climate and a state-of-the-art, full-service library add to the popularity of the tiny mountain hamlets. The two unincorporated communities host numerous festivals that attract throngs
The Strawberry School House is the oldest standing school in Arizona.
of visitors as well as summer and full-time residents who savor the small-town camaraderie and cultural heritage. Festivities kick off in May and continue through to the Fall Apple Festival, with holiday celebrations tacked on at the end of the year. Anchoring the events are the decades-old Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day arts and crafts festivals that draw throngs of visitors from around the state. The Strawberry Patchers’ Quilt Festival and Strawberry Festival are also popular summer attractions. While the Fire on the Rim Mountain
To Verde Valley
2014
To Flagstaff
Pine
To Payson and Phoenix
| Move to RIM COUNTRY | 37