Sedona...a place to avoid (Phoenix, Flagstaff: college, camp, income)

[Debbie SE MI]

I was in Sedona last Aug (for the first time) and again in Oct, It is one of the most beautiful place I've see. Yes it's is a tourist trap but surronded by wonderful scenery. We had lunch at Wildflower and sat outside, I seen only the beauty of the area. As soon as my home sells I will be on my way to northern Arizona, most likely the Cottonwood area. If I could affort Sedona I would move their.
Anyone want a home in SE MI? I have lowered it $34,000 since Feb 07. only $109,900...
Debbie SE MI

[CaliBoy]

I visited Sedona two years ago. My parents and grandparents raved about it. I drove in from the north on 89, I believe. And along the way, there were some beautiful sights to see on the way in. Unfortunately, I wouldn't say that what I experienced in Sedona was dreadful, but it wasn't really eventful either. It just seemed disjointed, patchy and sprawled to me. I guess I was expecting something much more intimate.

Though I did come across some magnificent homes and nice intimate spots. As a whole, Sedona, or my anticipated wonder of Sedona, was a let down. Having driven across the country several times (doing it again in a few weeks), there are many other places that serve the eye, spirit and intimacy some people here have alluded.

Again, I cannot comment on living there or the new age people the OP referenced. Personally, I think the commentary about new agers and tourist were rather harsh. Even though the stab at city planners was pretty funny.

Originally Posted by GoodbyeCalifornia

Nothing is static and unless you can figure out how to erect a bubble over your favorite spot to protect it, inevitably change is going to take place.

Not quite. Thank President Theodore Roosevelt for setting up our National Park system. The closest thing to a protective bubble we have here in the United States. If it not for his foresight, we'd be seeing condos on the edge of the Grand Canyon and amusement parks in Monument Valley.

[motuorg]

Originally Posted by Debbie SE MI

If I could affort Sedona I would move their.
Debbie SE MI

Actually, one of the protective features of Sedona is the high price of housing. Imagine if there were affordable housing the onslaught there would be there!
I hope it never becomes affordable.

[Phoenix lady]

The initial post kinda exemplifies the East/West coast "split." Very different ways of looking at things. Here in the West, Calif. and Arizona there's alot of holistic/new age type stuff going on. You know that when you move here. It's not Long Island.

Sedona is beautiful but too touristy for me. As far as energy vortexes, there are places on the earth that have more "energy" or whatever you want to call it--it's a fact. Every place has its' own "vibe," whether it be a country,city, state, place you work, etc.. It doesn't have to be looked at through "new age eyes." I think alot of the new age movement is based on half truths, some truth, but alot of pushing it towards what you want it to be.

[Magnum Mike]

As an Arizona native, I'd have to agree with what MotUorg said about this "New Age" and "Vortex".. whatever it is, that has taken over Sedona. I know growth is inevitable no matter where you go, and I know a lot of us wish Sedona would go back to what it was in the past. I think it will, like many other trends, New Age and Vortex will eventually go away in the future.

I still enjoy visiting Sedona and the beauty of Oak Creek Canyon.

[ZonyPony]

Originally Posted by Magnum Mike

As an Arizona native, I'd have to agree with what MotUorg said about this "New Age" and "Vortex".. whatever it is, that has taken over Sedona. I know growth is inevitable no matter where you go, and I know a lot of us wish Sedona would go back to what it was in the past. I think it will, like many other trends, New Age and Vortex will eventually go away in the future.

I still enjoy visiting Sedona and the beauty of Oak Creek Canyon.

Hear, hear!

The New Age fad followers will most likely all get priced out of Sedona eventually, then have to relocate into a soon-to-be-announced vortex in Mexico...

[Magnum Mike]

Originally Posted by ZonyPony

Hear, hear!

The New Age fad followers will most likely all get priced out of Sedona eventually, then have to relocate into a soon-to-be-announced vortex in Mexico...

Yeah, a fad that will fade!

[motuorg]

Originally Posted by Phoenix lady

As far as energy vortexes, there are places on the earth that have more "energy" or whatever you want to call it--it's a fact..

When you say it's a fact, what do you mean? Has it been scientifically proven? Has it been empirically verified through measurement etc? I think not. Did you ever see those people fainting when touched by those evangelical types? They approach with a whole lot of expectation...a whole lot! If you go to Sedona hoping to feel transformed, you will be. After having done formal meditation for many years, in the Buddhist/Zen tradition (oh yeah... here on the east coast we DO have access to that sort of thing) I have experienced from time to time profound and deep connections even while changing my babies diaper, cooking dinner, talking to friends, etc. The transformation is internal. If you need to find a vortex to feel it, that's great, but realize, it's in your own mind i.e. it has never been proven empirically. I know that when I say this, some people might say.."well you're just not sensitive to it." Perhaps. Some seek out Church..Synagogue... and some a Vortex. It is what you choose to view as sacred. My contention is not so much with the idea of Vortices (and other make it up as you go, naively conceived forms of spirituality), but its effect on what was a rather secluded, sophisticated, beautiful town.

[sunsprit]

Originally Posted by ZonyPony

Hear, hear!

The New Age fad followers will most likely all get priced out of Sedona eventually, then have to relocate into a soon-to-be-announced vortex in Mexico...

I doubt it. Once the "trustafarians" get into a place, they seem to grow deep local roots. They don't need local jobs or income, and have the financial ability to price out others when it comes to housing, etc.

Look at some of the (allegedly "energy") places they've "discovered" in Colorado, for example. For those of us who came to Colorado in the early 1960's, and saw the takeover of several small communities in the following decades, the effect has been rather permanent and adverse.

I first rode through Sedona in 1969, on an ill-fated cross country motorcycle camping trip when the crankshaft in my bike broke in Sedona. It was still a pretty sleepy small town then, and without much in the way of charm except for the surrounding countryside where I'd camped out. Getting assistance was very difficult ... I finally had to push my bike to a gas station, park it, and take a Greyhound Bus home to retrieve a car and trailer for my bike. Everyone I encountered in Sedona was unfriendly and highly negative toward a "biker" ... only I was clean cut, wearing a two piece all-weather Barbour Suit, and riding an R-60 BMW ... not the type of outfit and noisy bike you'd associate with an "outlaw biker" wearing colors and tat's and an attitude.

Years later (1992), I got weathered in on a cross country flight, and just needed to park my plane overnight at the airstrip. I couldn't believe all the nasty warning signs at the place ... it was one of the most unreceptive to visiting pilots unattended airstrips I've ever been to. On a plateau overlooking the town, and incredibly expensive for the long trip down into town and lodging. I decided to stay put and camp out from my plane (which is what I do most of the time, I had my full camping gear/food/water); that's how I found out that the place was patrolled at night by guard dogs, very unfriendly to strangers. I got chased out of my tent in the wee hours and uneasily slept the rest of the night in my plane.

I haven't been back since then, but my overall impression was that Sedona was targeted to acquiring tourist dollars like it did on my 1969 trip ... If you didn't obviously have a lot of them to leave at the place, and spend them freely, you weren't going to have much of a chance to enjoy Sedona.

There's lots of other places more unspoiled, untouched, and unbuilt up where the scenery is inspiring ... where I can go to get in touch with the forces of nature. They're all around us ... you just have to look for yourself and connect. Even sunsets on my ranch here in SE Wyoming are fabulous .... trail rides on my horses in the region can be "magical" ... and so on. The creek is flowing high right now due to some recent rains, and I'm going to camp out with the horses and sheep and livestock guardian dogs down there tonight in the wooded areas ... a whole 3/4 mile from my house, but away from everything; it's about like it was when the ranch was established in 1880. And I can pick up in the AM and leave without leaving a trace, too.

[motuorg]

Originally Posted by Magnum Mike

As an Arizona native, I'd have to agree with what MotUorg said about this "New Age" and "Vortex".. whatever it is, that has taken over Sedona. I know growth is inevitable no matter where you go, and I know a lot of us wish Sedona would go back to what it was in the past. I think it will, like many other trends, New Age and Vortex will eventually go away in the future.

I wish that were true Mike. I don't know of anything that "goes back" to the way it was. Maybe some parts of central Michigan and the Dakotas.