Willcox (Tucson, Sierra Vista, Douglas: motels, properties, area)

[Jaybee]

My wife and I recently traveled to Tucson to spend Christmas with family there. We are quite familiar with the area, having visited numerous times over the last 3 or 4 years. The day after Christmas we drove east on I-10 to Willcox, a small town about an hour away-for the primary purpose of visiting the Rex Allen museum there.

We did get to the museum and found it to be about what we expected. A nice lady welcomed us at the door and providied detaills about Rex's life and show business career. I thought it was quite interesting-but then I was raised on a ranch with all things western. My wife and the kids were less interested. But that's not the point of this post.

I was quite surprised at the blighted appearance of Willcox. Not so much in the "core area", but in either direction along the I-10 Business Route. There were numerous boarded up buildings and abandoned business properties within cyclone fenced enclosures. What's going on there? I understand that a number of the closed businesses were older motels likely dependant upon the highway before the freeway bypassed the City. But I-10 is not new, so why is the boarding up/abandonment occuring now?

Last year while in the area we travelled to Douglass and saw similar conditions there. I realize the two situations may be completely unrelated. So, is the situation in Willcox (and/ or Douglass) a local economic condition, or just part of the larger national business slowdown? In any event, it sure looks like some redevelopment is in order.

[drb85650]

localized imo. Wilcox appears to be a farming community, but has a reputation locally as a haven for druggies and smugglers, generations of 'em . This is hearsay, but it's what I've heard from several.
Douglas is a border town that thrives as a bedroom community for card bearing workers in surrounding towns ie;Sierra Vista.