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Potato Patch LbNA #46746

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Apr 16, 2009
Location:
City:Jerome
County:Yavapai
State:Arizona
Boxes:1
Planted by:Old2AK
Found by: Lost Sailor
Last found:Jun 2, 2023
Status:FFFFFFFFFFF
Last edited:Apr 16, 2009
The Mingus Mountain Scenic Road, a portion of Highway 89A between Prescott Valley and Jerome, Arizona, rises abruptly from the expanse of the valley to the 7023' summit. Descending from the top of Mingus Mountain there are spectacular views of the Mogollon Rim, the San Francisco Peaks and the red-rock sandstone cliffs. This scenic road makes a smooth transition into the history of the mining area as it meets the Jerome-Clarkdale-Cottonwood Historic Road.

A favorite picnic and camping area for kids who grew up in Jerome and vicinity was the Potato Patch, near the Mingus summit. I was told that the ranching family who homesteaded the area (the Grahams) cleared the area of pine trees and raised potatoes there. It's hard to believe, since the place is strewn with volcanic boulders--but maybe they liked their potatoes firm back then!

When I was about 11 and my sister 8, our father took us to the Potato Patch for an Easter egg hunt. He hid a couple of dozen eggs so cleverly that we couldn't find a single one. As sundown neared, we gave up and asked Dad to help us. He couldn't find any either; by that time it was too dark! On the drive back down the hill to Jerome my sister said, "Daddy, you're sure lucky. You could have an Easter egg hunt all by yourself."

In the 1930's, probably with labor from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the Forest Service installed picnic tables and fire pits at the Potato Patch. Now, it's a picnic area and campground, open May 1 to November 1, and is accessible from the Woodchute Trail road (Forest Road 106), which intersects the scenic road at the summit.

If you're going from Prescott Valley toward Jerome, this drive-by letterbox is just past the summit marker. There's a good stopping place on the right--a narrow pullout beside a rustic stone and log railing.

A metal guardrail starts maybe 20' below the pullout. From here, you can see some of the Potato Patch picnic tables in the woods across the road. The end of the guardrail—which sports three gold diamond-shaped reflectors—curves back on itself. Look (feel) in the guardrail groove for a camouflaged Lock 'n' Lock box, about 8" back. Stamp in, then enjoy the rest of your scenic drive!