Back in August, my husband and I spent a week in Payson, Arizona. The trip was basically a get-out-of-the heat excursion for us as it was sweltering that time of year in the Phoenix area. While there, we decided to do a little sightseeing. Last month, I told you about our visit to the Payson Museum where we learned about the small plane crash in Hell’s Gate with the MGM lion aboard.
This month, I’m going to share with you a more writing related post – our stop at the Zane Grey cabin. For those who might not know, (Pearl) Zane Grey wrote more than ninety books, some published posthumously. He began his career as a dentist and, besides his love of hunting and the great outdoors, he was also an avid fisherman. His wife Dolly managed his career, typed his manuscripts from his handwritten pages, and accepted his wandering ways, which included not only traveling most of the year but his various romantic dalliances.
Besides his famous westerns, Zane Grey also wrote hunting books, children’s books, and baseball books. His most famous western, Riders of the Purple Sage, has been made into more different movie versions than any other book ever. Here’s the part I like: most of his western books contain a strong romantic element. Way to go, Zane!
The cabin in Payson is actually a replica as the original one sadly burned down in the tragic Dude Fire of June 1990 when six firefighters lost their lives. And, actually, that was considered the second cabin. The very first one was built in 1918 when Zane Grey came to the rim country and fell in love with the area. Most years, from then until 1929, Zane came to the cabin in the fall for the hunting season. He didn’t return after that because of a license dispute (the season dates had changed), and the cabin was left abandoned until 1963 when the Goettl family purchased and restored it. After Mr. Goettl died, the family turned the cabin into a private museum. After this cabin was destroyed in the 1990 fire, a replica was built in the town of Payson. It was meticulously constructed to duplicate the original in every detail, helped along by photos and consulting advice from Zane Grey’s son.
What I found most fascinating about the cabin was it’s design — basically one large room with “nooks” for sleeping, writing (he sat at a chair with a writing desk and composed by hand), eating, and relaxing. I particularly like the player piano in the corner, and some of my P&P fillies pals will understand why ? The kitchen is small and cramped and built off the main cabin so that heat from cooking didn’t make the cabin sweltering in hot weather.
I wish I’d been fortunate enough to see the original cabin, but I have to say, visiting the replica was quite fun and really informative. I felt so inspired afterward, I bought a book about Zane Grey in the giftshop and saved the most recent movie version of Riders of the Purple Sage to my watchlist.
Cathy McDavid has been penning Westerns for Harlequin since 2005. With over 55 titles in print and 1.6 million-plus books sold, Cathy is also a member of the prestigious Romance Writers of America’s Honor Roll. This “almost” Arizona native and mother of grown twins is married to her own real-life sweetheart. After leaving the corporate world seven years ago, she now spends her days penning stories about good looking cowboys riding the range, busting broncs, and sweeping gals off their feet — oops, no. Make that winning the hearts of feisty, independent women who give the cowboys a run for their money. It a tough job, but she’s willing to make the sacrifice.
I love visiting authors’ homes. Off the top of my head, I can recall homes of Nathaniel Hawthorne, Thomas Wolfe, Margaret Mitchell, Mark Twain, Joel Chandler Harris, Edgar Allen Poe, Ernest Hemingway, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Charles Dickens, and William Shakespeare.
Wow, that’s great, Janice. The only other author home I’ve visited is Margaret Mitchell who wrote Gone With the Wind 🙂 What fun!
I was so fortunate to be able to visit the original cabin many times when I was a young girl. Our Girl Scout camp was not far from there, plus my Grandma was a HUGE fan of Zane Grey and had read all of his books, so she enjoyed going there as well. I was heartbroken when it burned down. I also visited his cabin along the Rogue River in Oregon, but the one near Payson was my favorite. I haven’t been able to visit the one the Goettls restored yet but it’s on my list.
As an aside, I can totally relate to your getting out of town in August – it’s been a scorcher this year for sure!
Hi Karin,
The tour guide told us that Zane Grey owned 5 houses across the country. I think the one in Oregon is also very famous. Yes, the fire was terrible. You are fortunate to have visited the original cabin.
I have never been lucky enough to visit any homesteads of authors. I think it would be a real experience.
It really is, Bonnie. I recommend it if you have the chance. So interesting to see how they wrote back when there was zero technology.
What an interesting place to see. I love seeing where famous writers used to work. I remember seeing the desk of Laura Ingalls Wilder and thinking how small and simple. No computers, monitors, or shelves of reference books. Writing has definitely changed over the years, the the call to share stories endures. Looking forward to seeing you this weekend in Phoenix, Cathy!
I know, Karen. The writing desk Zane Grey used while sitting in a hard wooden chair looked really uncomfortable and not very conducive to being inspired. What dedication is all I can say 🙂
It sounds very exciting and rewarding. My husband and I visited Will Rogers’ hometown, where he grew up and his museum in Oklahoma. It was w wonderful journey. We even saw a video of his speaking which was to have occurred just prior to his fatal flight into Alaska. He was quite a funny and adventurous individual.
Wow, Judy. What a great experience. I would love to visit Will Rogers’ hometown. Such an intersting person.
My dad used to read his book all the time.
I admit, I’ve only read one, and that was many years ago. But it was a good book, as I recall.
Thanks for sharing. That must have been so exciting to visit. I remember growing up, how I just devoured Zane Grey books. I grew up on a ranch, so it was little bits at a time.
Hi Lori. It’s amazing how his books and stories have really stood the test of time. Even today, people enjoy reading them.
How fascinating! Such a cool place. I have some vintage Zane Grey books. My grandma loved his books.
Hold onto those books, Denise. They may be valuable one day 🙂
That looks very cool!
It really was, Bridgette. Very glad we went.
I’ve been to Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’ home here in Florida. It was fascinating to see her old-style Florida home, her typewriter, and go through the whole house. And, when I visit my friend in TX, I stay in another author’s house!
Sounds like you have some amazing trips, Trudy. What fun!
Sounds like lots of fun. Thanks for sharing all the interesting facts about his life. So many I never knew. Yes, everything was simpler back then.
Thanks for sharing. It sounds like a great place to visit.
It was. I’m only sorry I never saw the original cabin.
My dad loved his books.
Zane Grey really was a pioneer of the western genre.
My grandfather read his books.
Don’t you wish you had those books your grandfather read?
Wow, this sounds so very interesting I have never visited an authors home . Thank you so much for sharing. Have a great rest of the day and a great weekend.
If you ever have the chance, Alicia, I highly recommend it.
So amazing My Son-in- Law read his books
I’m getting motivated to read another one. It’s been too long.
How fun, Cathy!
I was pretty young when I visited my grandparents in Boston; I wonder if there’s something similar for Louisa May Alcott (and I probably would’ve been bored stiff to see Walden Pond). Finding out which homegrown authors have such venues would be a good project for planned trips within the U.S. (Mark Twain, Madeleine L’Engle, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ray Bradbury…)!
Road trip, Mary! I love it. What a great idea 🙂
I did enjoy his books. I want to visit. Thanks
Hi Debby. It’s a nice, not too long, excursion. The Payson Museum is right there, too, and a very cool small museum.
Zane Grey is a favorite, but I have never seen any of the movie versions of Riders Of The Purple Sage. I’ll have to look it up. We will have to add this cabin to visit on our next trip out to Arizona.
I still have many to read, but I was lucky enough to find a set of hardcover Zane Grey books at a antique/junk store we used to visit in MA. They had a room with piles of books everywhere. I found one of his and it was still wrapped in parchment paper. I started digging and found about 30 books, all in perfect, unread condition and wrapped in parchment. That is not all of his westerns, but a pretty good start on them. It was many years ago, but I think I paid $.75 per book.
Thank you for the pictures of his cabin. What a perfect place it would be to escape to for a weekend or more.
I also love visiting old bookstores. What an amazing find you discovered. And quite the deal. You are really fortunate.
I’ve heard the most recent movie of Riders of the Purple Sage is the best. I think it was made in the 90’s? Not sure.