Note March 2021: Construction at final, which is most certainly missing. If you get a completion code, count it as a find. Note of Feb 2019: I was honored that a fellow cacher chose this Wherigo to feature in their event while visiting Tucson. See GC82C49. This is quite a compliment! I hope everyone had fun.
Are you a neon sign enthusiast? Please visit my neon sign blog!Click HERE.
Tips about Wherigos: 1) As with all Wherigos, make sure you have uploaded the most recent version of the cartridge before you go. Often COs make changes to the cartridge and if you have the older version you will have glitches when you go to use it. So just upload it again the day you plan to run it. 2) If you are at a zone and there is a glitch of some kind, step 30 feet away and try to enter the zone again. 3) Save frequently during cartridge use. 4) To learn more about Wherigos: http://www.wherigo.com/
To play the cartridge, you will need a Wherigo-enabled device. (For Andriod the app is called "WhereYouGo") Info here.
This WIG starts by heading north on Oracle, then heading west on Miracle Mile, then swinging around south on Oracle again, to make a loop. The final is nearby the starting location. All location stops should put you with the stops on your right, and no U-turns. Daytime on a bike takes about 45 minutes.
In April 2012, restored vintage neon signs were installed and unveiled along Tucson's historic Miracle Mile. This strip was once one of the main business areas in Tucson to attract automotive travelers. For many, this drive defined their Tucson experience; for others, it shaped their first impression of the Old Pueblo. Swimming pools, flickering neon and lush grassy courtyards welcomed visitors to motels with names like La Siesta, Frontier, and El Rancho. Restaurants served steak and music for under $2.00.
While not all of the businesses advertised still exist today, the signs serve as vibrant reminders of Miracle Mile's glittering past and Tucson's heritage as a popular stop for tourists within the Southwest. These classic neon signs evoke an era of fast cars and a slower pace of life.
Restoration of these treasures represented a collaborative effort between the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation (THPF) and Pima Community College. Many of the restored signs were rescued by individuals as the buildings were being demolished, and then generously donated to the THPF. (THPF, 2012).The conditions of the signs vary, from newly restored and functioning to poor, painted over signs with the glowing neon forever stilled.
If you know of a historic Tucson sign that is in storage or in a backyard please contact the foundation at info@preservetucson.org
CO would like to thank Ranger Fox and his Wherigo\\kit for his help with creating this cartridge. Sources for materials in this Wherigo: preservetucson.org/projects/neon-art-walk, library.pima.gov/librarianfiles, preservetucson.org/sites/thpf/files/project-doc/the_neon_pueblo_tucsonsignguide.pdf, and The Arizona Daily Star, April, 2010.
FTF: RS Arizona !