You never know what fascinating secret places are hiding in the Grand Canyon State – until you look! Hidden in the rocky hills around Yarnell is an inspirational little park that you’ll want to visit the very next time you’re passing through.
Driving through this tiny community is a picturesque journey through a giant boulder field.
Nearby, the boulder-rich hills aren't very good for building, but they do hide a secret park that's become a regular pilgrimage for those who've discovered the magic within. Take a look at this hidden gem and discover the magic for yourself.
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The park was built as a shrine in the 1930s and continues to amaze those with devotion as well as curiosity seekers, and art and history enthusiasts.
The story of this shrine park dates back to the Depression era and includes one local family who inspired others with their vision for a shrine in the hills. They heard about an artist in Tucson that was living in a tent under a bridge (some accounts say he was also a dishwasher, and still more say he was in Phoenix and not Tucson). They brought him to Yarnell where he sculpted the first statue, St. Joseph, the patron saint of workers, out of a concrete block.
Today the park includes a solid walkway with handrails that guide visitors up the hill and past the statues and the Stations of the Cross. In all, the pathway is about a quarter mile long.
A tomb was constructed out of an existing cave; its entrance often filled with offerings from folks who make the pilgrimage.
In 2013, during the Great Hill Fire of Yarnell (one of the deadliest fires in Arizona history), the statues in this shrine all miraculously survived. Reportedly, the top of the Cross of The Crucifixion was completely gone, burned by the fire, and had to be replaced. After the fire, and when all was said and done, Jesus was discovered with arms outstretched and pinned to air. A new cross was commissioned soon after.
The Shrine of St. Joseph of the Mountains is located on Shrine Road in Yarnell. (Yarnell is located on AZ-89A, 33 miles southwest of Prescott and 31 miles north of Wickenburg.) The cost to enter this unique park is free, however, donations are appreciated and accepted. Have you made the pilgrimage up to this rocky shrine to see these remarkable statues? We’d love to know – and to see your photos!
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