Naco, AZ
Last Saturday we left Tucson and drove about a hundred miles southeast for a visit to the quirky little town of Bisbee, AZ. About five miles south of Bisbee is a little community of Naco, right on the Mexican border. We read that Turquoise Valley Golf and RV Park, located there, was having a special rate for RV parking with unlimited golf, so we decided to take advantage and enjoy some golf rounds.
Site 52 in Turquoise Valley RV with the golf course behind us
The golf course is right across the street behind our site in the RV park. In fact, we can see the sixth tee from our windows. Now parking about a quarter mile from the border may seem a bit dangerous, but like our stay near Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument we feel very secure. As we approached the area we could see an unmanned blimp hovering nearby equipped with cameras and other monitoring equipment.
The fence along the border has sensors on each pole and is well lite at night.
Poles nearby also contain cameras and monitoring sensors.
And if that were not enough, the Border Patrol has a large facility just two miles away with a parking lot full of many of their vehicles. We have seen a couple of these facilities in our recent travels and they have all had a very large number of vehicles parked there. Couple that with the many vehicles we see driving around the border and you wonder just how many vehicles the Border Patrol has in their inventory!
The weather here has been very nice during the first week of our stay so every afternoon we have taken advantage of our location and enjoyed a round of golf.
Mule Mountains in the background on the eleventh tee
A hard-working caddie enjoys the view
We may be just a few hundred yards from the border but that’s not the danger that concerns us while on the course. The first local rule on the scorecard at Turquoise Valley states:
“A ball lying within a club length of a rattlesnake may be moved two club lengths without penalty and without disturbing the snake.”
There is much to do and see in the Bisbee area but we’ll save some of our early adventures for the next blog.
Oh, the Places They Go! 
Whoo, those fences and those cameras do mean business! I don’t see that many cameras in our border. Yet somehow a few managed to sneak in. We too feel safe here except sometimes I feel I am being watched all the time (no kidding).
I don’t see how anyone gets through with all the fencing. I wonder if they can go under it!? At night it is all lit up. I am surprised we don’t see more border patrol cars around here. We saw a lot more border patrol in the Why and Organ Pipe Cactus area. John read where they caught guys trying to cross here in Naco at the proper border crossong with a quarter million dollars of heroin on board just before we arrived. The dogs found it…crazy people!
There’s more vigilant border patrol here as it is easy to swim across the river with no fencing such as those in AZ. I heard too they are using drones to carry those drugs…
I forgot about the river!! The drones may explain the necessity of the blimps!!
We have driven through that Park your in & been to Naco a couple times. In the years we spent Ranch Sitting in that area McNeal we never felt threatened or uncomfortable being close to the border. For a nice easy drive in that area I would suggest Coronado Peak in Coronado National Monument Park. Great views & it’s not far from you. There’s a great cave hike along the way as well. If you do the cave be sure to take along a couple good flashlights. Ramsay Canyon west of Sierra Visit is another nice spot. For a really great Jeep drive I’d recommend the Chiricahua Monument with a drive up & over the Chiricahua Mountains down to scenic Portal at Cave Creek. From there you can slip into New Mexico & take the highway back through Rodeo & Douglas. Lots of things to see & do in that whole area you are in right now.
That’s some dangerous golfing! Looking forward to your 1000 steps report!
We were in Bisbee a few months ago as well, We did the Queen Mine tour which was pretty interesting. We saw the blimps too, it would be interesting to see the control center for those and see just what exactly they can do.
The mine tour looks neat but I am not sure I could do it with my claustrophobia. It would be interesting to really have a chance to experience a little of what those poor miner went through. Yes, it would neat to see the control room for the blimp and all the cameras we see around. Lots of eyes on the area.
They stop about 150′ into the mine for a quick chat and to let anyone who does not think they can make it to leave. When we did our tour there was one person who left the tour at that point. I get the same way in caves but this one has pretty high ceilings and did not bother me.
That’s good to know since we are staying another week. We may have to think about the tour. Thanks!
Interesting post. Like seeing someone enjoying mild temps. 4 here this am and feels like -16. Enjoy.
Linda and Earle, we feel badly (well, kind of) putting photos of us out in shorts with a sunny sky. The weather this winter has been perfect for us here in the west. We picked a good year to return. I guess it isn’t much better for you in NC. Stay warm:)
Have you seen any snakes yet? We had our first sighting at the park this past week. Seems like the warmer weather has brought them out early. Be careful while hiking. That is one lovely caddie you have there John. 🙂
We haven’t seen any snakes yet and hope not to:) We are very carefully if we need to look for a ball in the rough (which, of course, doesn’t happen often…haha!) Hopefully, your snake sighting wasn’t near your RV!
Nope, our snake sighting was near the pool area.
The blimp is named “Fat Albert.” We must really like them, as we lived near one in the Florida Keys as well. Watch out for those rattlers. We ran into one while hiking a few years ago…not fun! I know you’re enjoying this beautiful southern AZ weather!
That is a perfect name, Cathy! I noticed Fat Albert was up yesterday again. Let’s hope we don’t see any snakes. Boy, the weather has been perfect. We are going to stay another week since John is enjoying the golf and there are several things we haven’t seen and done yet. If you get this way at all, let us know so we can meet up:)
Sunshine! Warmth! Lovely!
Yours is the second post I have seen about Bisbee. I wish we could have gone there this year.
It is most definitely worth spending some time here. We are having a great time.
Gorgeous header. Just walking the course gives you a beautiful view of the mountains.
How far behind is that caddie. She looks like she is loafing!
HAHAHA….love the rattlesnake sign. I am going to send this to our son-in-law who LOVES to golf.
it is a beautiful view as we walk the course. Desert golf courses are so pretty anyway just because of the brilliant green among the brown, dry desert. The caddie was actually way out in front (so John could get the photo), normally she is a little behind:)
I don’t play golf but it is pretty cool for those who do to have a course you can see from your RV and one with a sense of humor. We saw a diamondback rattler on our hike yesterday. S/he was just calmly hanging out on the edge of the trail. Looked like s/he might have just eaten. Plus it’s not as warm here in Florida as it is where you are. Good call for where to be this winter. It’s amazing. Below zero in Virginia and Maryland………….what?
We are hoping to totally avoid those snakes, Sherry. Walking off the course takes care when looking for a wayward ball. Thanks goodness it doesn’t happen often:)
Yes, it was the right winter to come west. But I personally would rather have a cool winter in FL and keep the bugs and humidity down. The northeast is crazy cold right now. Poor people…like our children!
What a great experience and location, especially being surrounded by the scenery and sunshine. I loved the rattlesnake warning and have to admit, if my ball or any item was that close to a snake, I would just leave it, take the Mulligan, and keep on moving!
Haha! I am sure that is exactly what we would do if our ball and the rattler became friends:) We certainly have been surrounded by gorgeous scenery and lots of warm sunshine. Maine certainly has had its fill of the white stuff this year. It may take all summer to melt it all. Stay warm and safe up there:)
When I saw Bisbee I did not expect golf and border patrol. We don’t golf but I know that for those who do, the word “unlimited” is like cat nip! That is a lot of vehicles for an area covered by so much surveillance – maybe they are headquarters for the more remote areas nearby? We will be in Tombstone for one night next month and hope the nice weather continues 🙂
We can’t begin to understand who uses all the vehicles. We don’t see many driving around either and we are yards from the fence here in Naco. I guess they are ready of something big happens.
We, too, were surprised to learn about such a nice gold course with an RV park in this area. As matter of fact, we are staying another week since we are enjoying the area and course so much.
If you haven’t been to Bisbee yet, try to get down. We drove up to Tombstone yesterday since it was a cloudy, cool day. People told us not to bother and they were right. We did visit the Bootleg Cemetery which was fun. But we were both surprised at how unattractive the town was especially after Bisbee. Everyone recommended Bisbee.
Oh yay!! I’m so happy you guys are enjoying Bisbee. I’ve been looking forward to your updates, but am just now able to get online after leaving Organ Pipe Cactus NM. We loved it there! Thanks for the great hiking tips. Looks like you’re getting in some good golfing and caddying. Eric got a good laugh out of the rule pertaining to rattlesnakes on the golf course. 😉
Laurel, we are having a great time in Bisbee (and Naco). I had to laugh, also, when I read the local rules on the golf card and it said two club lengths from the snake! Too funny!
So glad you enjoyed Organ Pipe Cactus NM. I am anxious to hear how the campground stay was:)
We just passed one of those blimps and a whole lotta border patrol today around Marfa, TX. Very interesting.