Area 15.98 km² Phone +1 520-896-2425 | Year built 1929 Added to NRHP 28 March 1996 | |
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Hours Closed now Saturday8AM–5PMSunday8AM–5PMMonday8AM–5PMTuesday8AM–5PMWednesday8AM–5PMThursday8AM–5PMFriday8AM–5PMSuggest an edit Similar McFarland State Historic P, Roper Lake State Park, Catalina State Park, Tubac Presidio State Hist, Buckskin Mountain State Park | ||
Oracle state park
Oracle State Park is a state park of Arizona, USA, preserving 3,948 acres (1,598 ha) in the northeastern foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains. The park is named after the nearby town of Oracle. Oracle State Park serves as a wildlife refuge, and is open weekends, from 8am - 5pm. In October 2011 Arizona State Parks agreed to reopen Oracle on a limited basis with a $40,000 budget if the park's Friends group can raise $21,000 in additional funds. The park has more than 15 miles (24 km) of hiking trails, including 7 miles (11 km) of the Arizona Trail.
Contents
- Oracle state park
- Oracle state park video
- HistoryEdit
- PlantsEdit
- WildlifeEdit
- Kannally Ranch HouseEdit
- Center for Environmental EducationEdit
- References
Oracle state park video
HistoryEdit
For 75 years a ranching family owned the property that now comprises Oracle State Park. The family gave the property to the Defenders of Wildlife organization in 1976, and ten years later, the land was donated to the state of Arizona to create a preserve.
PlantsEdit
The most common plants in Oracle State Park are prickly pear and cholla cactus, scrub oak, mesquite, many wildflowers, and the occasional piñon and juniper. A solitary saguaro cactus is located in the park. The original ranch house, which was converted to be the park headquarters, has some cypress trees nearby.
WildlifeEdit
Bird species include red-tailed hawks, golden eagles, prairie falcons, black-throated sparrows, Gambel's quail, cactus wrens, pyrrhuloxia, northern mockingbirds, northern flickers, common poorwills, northern cardinals, and great horned owls. Many mammals inhabit the park, such as ringtails, javalinas, cougars, rock squirrels, desert cottontails, black-tailed jackrabbits, mule deer, and white-tailed deer. Reptiles and amphibians found in the area include the western box turtles, Arizona alligator lizards, Colorado River toads, bull snakes, and western diamondback rattlesnakes.
Kannally Ranch HouseEdit
The Kannally Ranch House is a historic house museum with original art and historic photos. The four-level adobe home was constructed between 1929 and 1933, features Mediterranean and Moorish architectural influences and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Center for Environmental EducationEdit
The purpose of the park is to "protect the designated wildlife refuge and act as an environmental learning center." Before closure the park offered natural history and environmental education programs for school and adult groups, including trail walks, workshops, presentations and special events.