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THE MOUNTAIN COLLECTION

Bringing Land Rover Luxury to the Mountains

At Land Rover Chandler, exceptional service extends beyond our showroom. Whether you’re in the Valley or Northern Arizona, our dedicated concierge team provides personalized assistance for sales and service, delivering a premium modern luxury experience from the comfort of your home.

Award-Winning Golf

Designed by renowned architect

, Talking Rock’s award-winning championship golf course offers an exceptional playing experience set amid Prescott’s stunning high-country landscape. Full Golf Memberships are currently available.

Homes as Rare as Their High Country Surroundings

Northern Arizona’s high country offers a uniquely beautiful landscape, mild four-season climate, and a rare opportunity to live within it. The Frontier Series at Talking Rock presents a limited collection of thoughtfully crafted golf homes, offering elegant design and refined living within a private, gated golf course community.

Bill Rosengarten | The Ranch Brokerage

Jay Morrish

DESIGN THAT PERFORMS.

Performance-Driven, WELL Designed™ interiors shaped by craft, terrain, and intention—designed for optimal wellness and built to honor the landscape you chose and the life you’ve built within it.

Colin Egglesfield Celebrates Being Cancer‑Free

Actor and television host Colin Egglesfield is celebrating a milestone that fills him with gratitude and joy: he is officially cancer‑free. In January 2025, at age 52, Egglesfield was diagnosed with prostate cancer, marking the third cancer diagnosis of his life after previously overcoming testicular cancer twice. Facing cancer again could have been overwhelming but the care he received at City of Hope Phoenix transformed fear into confidence and uncertainty into hope.

From the moment he arrived, Egglesfield was supported by a multidisciplinary team known for its innovative, highly personalized approach to cancer treatment. His care plan was built around his unique medical history and needs, a level of specialization that proved essential as he confronted cancer for the third time.

“At City of Hope, we design treatment plans around the individual, not just the diagnosis,” said Paul Gellhaus, M.D., Urologic Surgical Oncologist and Medical Director of the Genitourinary Program. That individualized strategy guided Egglesfield through treatment with clarity and compassion.

“Colin’s experience underscores the power of early detection and informed decision‑making,” added Alan Bryce, M.D., Chief Clinical Officer and Medical Oncologist specializing in men’s cancers. “Prostate cancer is one of the most treatable cancers when caught early.”

Today, Egglesfield is not only healthy, he’s energized and deeply grateful. His experiences have shaped his work as a motivational speaker, where he is now using his voice to advocate for prostate cancer awareness, encouraging men to prioritize screenings, start conversations, and overcome the stigma that too often surrounds the disease. As he celebrates this powerful milestone, Egglesfield is honoring the team that helped him reach it and shining a light on the lifesaving impact that City of Hope Phoenix had on his cancer journey. This stands as a powerful testament to hope, innovation, and the life‑changing impact of patient‑centered cancer care.

“Tomorrow is not guaranteed,” Egglesfield often says. “Gratitude is everything.”

LEFT: Colin Egglesfield with Dr. Alan H. Bryce, chief clinical officer and medical oncologist specializing in genitourinary cancers. MIDDLE: Colin Egglesfield at City of Hope’s Walk for Hope, held annually at City of Hope Cancer Center Phoenix in Goodyear, Arizona. RIGHT: Colin Egglesfield with members of his care team at City of Hope Cancer Center Phoenix.

Nearly three decades building across Arizona has taught us one thing: the finest homes aren’t just built — they’re earned. DLB Custom Homes brings sophisticated design, enduring quality, and a personal commitment to every project, from Scottsdale to Prescott. DLB Custom Homes was founded on trust. And it still runs that way.

Let’s build something that lasts, reach out to start the conversation.

tracy@iconiclife.com @iconiclifemag

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!

When we decided to launch the inaugural Mountain Collection issue, it became clear that everyone on our team has deep and meaningful ties to Northern Arizona. It is where some went to college, where some spent summers exploring the outdoors, where some learned to ski and snowboard, and where all of us have escaped the hustle and bustle of city life for the beauty and tranquility of the mountains.

In some ways, Northern Arizona can feel like our own little secret, special in different ways to each of us. For me, I think about the time I spent exploring the Prescott National Forest with my dad and playing junior golf tournaments at Antelope Hills. Every July meant watching or participating in the Fourth of July Parade around the square in downtown Prescott and attending the Frontier Days Rodeo. I know these memories and experiences aren’t unique to me, but they feel deeply personal, and I hold onto them like treasures.

As Arizona has matured and more development has taken place, Northern Arizona has continued to grow and attract people who come to make memories of their own both full-time and part-time. Whether as a summer escape to the cool pines of Flagstaff, a wellness retreat in Sedona, or a day trip for kayaking and wine tasting on the Verde River, Northern Arizona is attracting more new visitors and residents. This demand has resulted in an explosion of design, architecture, culinary experiences and art at an unprecedented level.

Our team has long known how special Northern Arizona is. That is why we felt duty bound to bring the same dedication to written and visual storytelling, luxury lifestyle and Living Beautifully to readers in these areas. We feel honored that our partners and clients share this same vision and have leaned in to be a part of building something special together.

We hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as we have enjoyed bringing it from concept to reality.

Have a wonderful summer and enjoy celebrating the 250 years of American independence!

Warmly,

meg@iconiclife.com

@iconiclifemag

MOUNTAIN HIGH

There is nothing like being in the mountains.

To this day, I’m in awe of the fact that our beautiful state of Arizona, with its incredible terrain and natural diversity, offers everything within a short drive. From desert landscapes to mountain living, a magical story unfolds.

Perhaps that is why Northern Arizona has always held a special place in my heart. My husband and I purchased a home in Munds Park more than two decades ago, and it remains our family’s happy place. It is where we slow down, reconnect and embrace a different rhythm of life, one defined by nature, simplicity and meaningful moments.

As we developed this special Mountain Collection edition of ICONIC LIFE, I found myself reflecting on what makes mountain living so appealing. Certainly, it is the breathtaking scenery, endless outdoor adventures and refreshing mountain air. But beyond that, it is a lifestyle rooted in authenticity. The mountains invite us to be present. They encourage us to gather with family and friends, spend time outdoors and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us.

There is a quiet luxury here. Across Northern Arizona, beautiful communities and extraordinary projects have been brought to life by talented architects, builders and designers who draw inspiration from some of the most remarkable surroundings imaginable. From Sedona to Prescott, Payson to Flagstaff, and everywhere in between, their work reflects a deep respect for the landscape while elevating the mountain lifestyle through thoughtful design and craftsmanship.

In this special edition, we celebrate the people, places, homes and experiences that define mountain living at its finest. Within these pages, you’ll discover beautiful architecture, inspired interiors, outdoor adventures, culinary destinations and the unique communities that make Northern Arizona such a sought-after destination.

What I appreciate most is that, despite its growth and popularity, Northern Arizona has not lost its soul. The towering Ponderosa pines, star-filled skies and changing seasons continue to remind us of life’s simplest and often most meaningful luxuries.

Whether you already call the mountains home or simply dream of escaping to them, I hope these pages inspire you to experience the beauty, tranquility and extraordinary lifestyle that makes Northern Arizona so special.

With Gratitude,

Bonner David Galleries

ROBERT LADUKE
GARY ERNEST SMITH
CLAUDIA HARTLEY
RICH BOWMAN
JENS LORENZEN
FRANCIS LIVINGSTON

TRACY THOMAS | President & CEO

MEG PERICH | Publisher

ERIN SUWWAN | Publication Designer

MADELEINE PERICH | Marketing Coordinator

NANCY ERDMANN | Features Editor

RENEE M. DEE | Publisher Emeritus

CONTRIBUTORS

Amalie Rhebeck, Madeleine Perich, Jillian Vaughn, Nakayla Shakespeare, Autumn Anderson, Christina Valhouli, Nora Burba Trulsson and Tom Bedell

Advertising Queries, contact meg@iconiclife.com.

Editorial Queries, contact editorial@iconiclife.com.

8145 E. Evans Road, Suite 7 Scottsdale, AZ 85260

480.577.0399

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THE LIST

BRUNELLO CUCINELLI

Walnut Wood and Krion® Mahjong Set ($10,200) via BRUNELLO CUCINELLI.

Chess 7-in-1

Deluxe Wood Game Set Heirloom Edition ($430) via Anthropology.

Emily Lex Studio

Flowers Watercolor Workbook ($24) via Emily Lex Studio.

NO SCREENS,

Analog activities to help you unplug and unwind.

please

Stream Sapphire Wi-Fi Streaming Turntable

via Audio Advice.

Dog Icon Embroidery Kit ($58) via Anthropology.

Victrola
($1,499.99)

MUST HAVES

Handcrafted Buffalo Leather Journal. Handcrafted in Arizona from richly colored buffalo leather. $175 to $195 via The Buffalo Collection.

Decorated Stick Woman. Hand-decorated gourd adorned with turquoise and coral jewelry and a Thunderbird medallion. $3,995 via The Buffalo Collection.

Western Soul, Cabin Style

Handcrafted Western pieces from The Buffalo Collection, designed to elevate cabin living.

Discover handcrafted cabin essentials inspired by the spirit of the American West. From statement furnishings to unique décor, The Buffalo Collection offers timeless pieces that bring warmth, character, and rustic luxury to any retreat. Here are some cabin must haves that will help you create a space that is both refined and practical.

Buffalo Fur Bench with Vintage Buckles. Handcrafted in the USA with a maple frame upholstered in a full bison robe. $7500 via The Buffalo Collection.
Buffalo King Chair. Custom-built featuring a full bison robe draped over the back. $19,500 via The Buffalo Collection.

D.A. Day A at

Winemaking in Arizona? The Verde Valley Gains Attention for its Viticulture.

Aday at D.A. Ranch Estate Vineyards is an escape from the heat and an unexpected wine-tasting experience. Tucked between Oak Creek and House Mountain in Cornville, within the Page Springs corridor near Sedona, the 170-acre property unfolds as a lush oasis of green pastures, cottonwood trees, ponds and vineyards.

Since 1876, D.A. Ranch has been part of the story of Arizona’s Verde Valley. Pioneer Gertrude Gates established the original Delta Alpha Ranch as a working cattle operation, where Jersey cattle grazed the rolling landscape that still defines the property today.

More than 100 years later, the Petznick family, whose own history is deeply rooted in Arizona ranching, became the next chapter in that story. They thoughtfully restored the historic ranch, honoring its agricultural heritage while transforming it into the destination visitors experience today.

Guests wander up to the tasting room or outdoor bar, where the glass, bottle or flight pours estate-grown wines from the Verde Valley. Live music drifts across the lawn, while food trucks and charcuterie add to the rhythm of a place designed for lingering and passing the afternoon.

Sitting between 3,000 and 5,000 feet in elevation, the Valley benefits from significant temperature swings; warm, sun-drenched days are followed by notably cool nights. The region’s terroir is an intricate mix of volcanic basalt, decomposed granite and limestone, which drains exceptionally well and forces vines to work harder, concentrating flavor and structure into each grape.

Unlike more humid wine regions, the Verde Valley’s arid climate reduces the likelihood of disease, enabling cleaner farming practices and more expressive fruit. At the same time, intense high-desert sunlight thickens grape skins, enhancing color, tannin and complexity.

What truly sets the region apart, however, is its adaptability. Rhône, Spanish, and Italian varietals thrive in the Valley because the conditions mirror those of parts of southern Europe, yet the wines retain a distinct Southwestern, mineral-driven identity. Add to this the presence of reliable water sources like the Verde River and Oak Creek, along with a growing community of serious vintners committed to quality over scale, and the region’s emergence as a noteworthy wine destination becomes all the more compelling.

Expect roughly 20 wineries in total in the region. In addition to D.A. Ranch, you can visit multiple distinct wineries in a single day, yet still feel like you’ve only scratched the surface. In keeping with responsible, alcohol-free driving practices, the Arizona Wine Wagon, Taste of the Valley Tours, and SIP Sedona offer buses and shuttles for smallgroup tastings of the Valley.

1900 Dancing Apache Rd., Cornville, AZ 86325 www.daranch.com

Photos courtesy of D.A. Ranch

La Dolce VESPA

The Italians savor la dolce vita…the sweet the life. It’s all about lingering over a perfectly pulled espresso or enjoying a finely crafted pinsa with a friend. Ultimately, it’s finding joy in everyday experiences rather than rushing through them, which is also oh, so Sedona.

Named for the iconic scooter, Vespa Healthy Italian Café takes its cue from authentic Italian bistros grounded in the virtues of the European pause. The interiors reflect a simple, modern aesthetic, while the service is friendly and unhurried.

Vespa imports premium ingredients directly from Italy and uses local organics to ensure every item reflects true Italian standards rather than an American interpretation. The café’s coffee program is anchored in expertly roasted Italian beans, producing a rich, velvety espresso. Flaky cornetti (a lightly sweet and soft Italian pastry like a croissant but more delicate and often filled), delicate biscotti and house-made desserts are baked using imported Italian flours and chocolates.

Savor the sweet life in this charming, healthy Sedona café.

Pressed sorrisi (like a panini) are layered with cured meats, artisanal cheeses and pure imported olive oils, creating clean, balanced flavors. The café’s single pasta, never over-sauced Lasagna al Forno, embodies the idea that doing one dish exceptionally well outweighs offering many.

The signature offering is the pinsa Romana. Made from a blend of wheat, rice and soy flours and fermented for up to 72 hours, the dough becomes airy, crisp and highly digestible. Using Italian “biologico” flours, often stone-milled from ancient grains, enhances both flavor and nutrition. Those with a preference (not intolerance) for gluten-free may find this a very acceptable option.

Behind it all is a story of heritage and passion. Vespa is led by father-and-son duo Matteo and Leonardo Zacchino, who bring generations of authentic Italian tradition together with a commitment to exceptional hospitality and restauranteur-ship. Tutto Santi in Scottsdale is another venture for them.

Locals gather at Vespa for a morning coffee and a moment of connection. Why not visit Italy when you’re in Sedona?

Photos by Jose Pacheco

Rooted in

TRADITION

Since 1888, Prescott Frontier Days World’s Oldest Rodeo has united generations through rodeo, tradition and a Fourth of July celebration unlike any other.

For more than 135 years, Prescott, Ariz., has come alive each Independence Day with the sights, sounds and spirit of the American West. Prescott Frontier Days®, Inc. – World’s Oldest Rodeo® is not just a rodeo; it is a living testament to heritage, community and the enduring thrill of cowboy culture.

The rodeo first began in 1888 as a casual gathering of local ranchers and cowboys, competing in contests drawn from their daily work. But Prescott Frontier Days quickly distinguished itself from informal competitions.

“The event was formally organized by a committee, invited cowboys to compete, charged admission to cover expenses, awarded prizes to contestants, and documented and archived the event,” says Donna Werking, marketing director and public relations at Prescott Frontier Days. These five pillars laid the foundation for what we now recognize as a professional rodeo and secured Prescott’s place in history.

Over the decades, the rodeo has evolved into a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA)-sanctioned event, attracting competitors and spectators from across the country while staying true to its Western roots. Defining moments, such as partnerships with

premier stock contractors and the growth of the Fourth of July Parade, have cemented its reputation as a top destination for rodeo enthusiasts and patriotic revelers.

Prescott Frontier Days offers much more than a series of rodeo events; it beats at the heart of the community. The week-long celebration unites locals and visitors alike, highlighting authentic cowboy culture and igniting festive Independence Day traditions. From the grand entry to patriotic tributes and the ICONIC Fourth of July Parade, one of Arizona’s largest, the rodeo transforms the city into a vibrant hub of Western pride.

The event’s enduring success depends on the dedication of more than 500 volunteers across 15 committees, alongside staff, sponsors and partners. Many families contribute across generations, whether competing, volunteering or supporting behind the scenes. “This multi-generational involvement defines Prescott Frontier Days and preserves its legacy,” Werking says.

Spectators experience world-class PRCA competition, from high-octane bull riding and saddle bronc to barrel racing and bareback events. Specialty acts, including trick riders and rodeo clowns, energize the crowd, keeping everyone on the edge of their seats. Yet amid the adrenaline, some traditions remain unchanged—core rodeo events, the Western atmosphere, volunteer spirit and the parade have endured for more than a century.

As Prescott Frontier Days approaches its 139th consecutive year in 2026, the theme “250 Years of Freedom” captures both its historical roots and forward-looking vision. “It represents more than a century of tradition, community spirit, and Western heritage and continues to thrive because of the people who support and believe in it,” Werking says.

TOP:
Photo by Summer Lane Photography. BOTTOM:
Photo by Blushing Cactus Photography.
Photos

written Stars in the

How Lowell Observatory became one of Arizona’s great scientific institutions.

When thinking back on Arizona’s history, you may think of the tales of the famous Wild West, where cowboys and outlaws grazed the ground, which could very well now be your local Starbucks. One thing that may surprise you is that while cowboys were having their hoedowns, astronomers were here making groundbreaking discoveries about space and the sparkling stars that occupy it.

The study of the sky and space has a rich history that dates back to some of the earliest traces of civilization. Historic astronomy started with people looking up at the sky to observe the moon, planets and stars. These observations have shaped crucial parts of the human experience, such as the understanding and conceptualizing of time.

Ancient civilizations also relied on astronomy to create their calendars, using the placement of stars as key indicators of when to plant crops.

“Astronomy is history,” Kevin Schindler, public information officer and historian for the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Ariz., says. “You’re looking back in time. When you

look at the stars, you’re looking at light that started traveling toward us a couple of million years ago, before humans were ever around.”

For more than 130 years, the Lowell Observatory has explored the Arizona skies, researching constellations, solar systems and galaxies far beyond ours.

The observatory was founded by Percival Lowell, who always had a fascination with astronomy. He took over the research of canals found on Mars in hopes of finding proof of life from an Italian astronomer who was losing his eyesight. This goal led Lowell to open a research observatory in Arizona, now known as the Lowell Observatory.

“The observatory was set up to be a research facility,” Schindler notes. “However, Lowell said, ‘What’s the point of researching unless you share it with the public?’ From the beginning, he welcomed visitors to look through the telescopes.”

Since its founding, the Lowell Observatory has made groundbreaking discoveries and achieved massive breakthroughs in research. For instance, it was involved in NASA’s DART mission to test a method of planetary defense against harmful asteroids that make their way into Earth’s orbit, as well as the discovery of Pluto.

“Fifteen years ago, we knew of one planetary system with nine planets, our system,” Schindler says. “Technology has allowed us to start discovering that other stars have planets. Scientists are finding new planets every day now.”

Public outreach has remained an integral part of the observatory. With high visitation volume, the observatory opened a 40,000-square-foot science center to better accommodate those who wished to learn more about astronomy, in November 2024.

“When you’re looking through a telescope at a galaxy or a star cluster, it doesn’t matter how many people are around you,” Schindler remarks. “When you’re looking through that telescope, it’s just you and what you see. You are completely connected with the universe around you, which I think is a special experience.”

THE WEST The Soul of

For nearly four decades, Shane Knight has documented the beauty and spirit of the American West through deeply personal imagery.

There’s something cinematic about the work of Shane Knight. Whether it’s ranch horses running at the base of the Grand Tetons or the ICONIC landscapes of Northern Arizona, Knight’s photographs feel more like memories than snapshots.

For nearly four decades, the Flagstaff-based photographer has captured the spirit of the American West through landscapes, wildlife and western culture. But for Knight, photography has never simply been about documenting a place; it has always been about connection.

“Relationships are everything,” he says. “Get to know what you are photographing. The more you get to know, the more you will fall in love.”

Born in Kansas, Knight describes himself as an “outdoor and visual kid,” shaped in part by hearing impairment during his early years. Although surgeries later restored much of his hearing, the experience changed how he connected with the world around him.

“I saw photography as a way of communication, and I loved it,” he says.

At 15, Knight began experimenting with film and SLR cameras, eventually working in portrait studios and professional photo labs. After years in commercial photography and printing, he was burned out and moved west, trading studios for ranch life in Arizona and Wyoming.

“I dusted off my Nikon and started to photograph the horses and wranglers I was working with, and along with the landscapes

that surrounded them,” he says. “It was pure fun, and my love for photography returned.”

What began as small dusty rodeos and horse shows quickly grew into larger juried art shows and major western events, including sponsorship of the world’s largest Arabian horse show in Scottsdale.

In 2002, Knight and his wife visited Flagstaff and instantly connected with the

mountain town’s beauty and creative energy. They relocated the following year and opened Shane Knight Gallery in 2007 along historic Route 66.

Today, the gallery is located across from Heritage Square and reflects Knight’s personality just as much as his work does. Rather than sleek white walls, the space feels warm, rustic and inviting.

“My vision for the gallery was based on my time working as a ranch hand,” Knight says. “So, I made mine look like the inside of a barn.”

That authenticity carries into his photography. Knight describes his style as “romantic,” focusing less on perfection and more on emotion and experience.

One image especially captures that philosophy: a photograph from Schwabacher’s Landing in Grand Teton National Park. Before his now-wife ever saw the Tetons, Knight blindfolded her, drove her to the location and revealed the mountains beside a reflective beaver pond…the same place he first told her he loved her.

“Appearance? Maybe cliché,” he says. “Essence? That’s a whole ‘nother story.”

That distinction defines his work. Knight hopes viewers don’t simply admire his photographs but see themselves within them.

I don’t accompany my pieces with factual writeups,” says Knight. “I want them to look at my photographs and see a story that they, as viewers, can place themselves within to finish their own story.”

In a world filled with fast-moving digital imagery, Knight’s photographs offer something quieter…a moment of stillness, connection and appreciation for the beauty of the American West.

Soulful SEDONA

Lisa Dahl leads with heart and flavor.

Chef Lisa Dahl is credited with bringing fine dining to Sedona nearly 30 years ago. She now helms an award-winning restaurant empire, Dahl Restaurant Group, that includes Cucina Rustica, Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill, Dahl & DiLuca, Pisa Lisa, Butterfly Burger and most recently, the Lisa Dahl Foundation.

The Lisa Dahl Foundation is an early-stage non-profit that is dedicated to impacting humanity with targeted programs, such as Project Soup Hope, designed to address food insecurity while creating pathways for hope and healing.

“I’ve wanted the foundation for the longest time and know we’re making it a reality,” Dahl notes.

The self-taught chef grew up in Indianapolis among a boisterous family of four kids that centered around love, fashion and food. “We

were eating farm to table back then because that’s where our food came from,” she says, adding that she comes from a long line of talented female home cooks. She “absorbed a love of food” from watching her mother and grandmother effortlessly prepare meals, and her mother inspired Dahl in even more ways.

But her path to restaurateur is not a typical one. As a teenager, she had space in a healthfood store where she sold avocado sandwiches and grain salads. And even as a teen, Dahl was pushing boundaries. “I wanted to challenge the whole meat and potatoes mentality of the Midwest,” Dahl says.

Despite this culinary pull, she pursued fashion first, not cooking. Her mother was a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology and had a string of avant-garde clothing stores in Indianapolis; Dahl decided to follow in her footsteps and had a career in fashion in San Francisco for many years.

And then, a major life blow changed everything for her. Following the tragic death of her then 21-year-old son, she decided to leave San Francisco. That put Dahl in Sedona, finding comfort through food and her specialty, making comforting soups.

Dahl decided to make food and nourishing others her mission. She and a business partner, Andrea Di Luca, opened Dahl and Di Luca in 1995 in a space that had been an early Sonic Burger. She transformed the interior into an elegant restaurant and served refined Italian dishes such as housemade linguini with clams and grilled Scottish salmon finished in a Limoncello reduction. The success of that restaurant led to her second venture, Cucina Rustica.

Fast forward to today, and Chef Dahl has since bought out her partner and launched three other restaurants: Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill, Pisa Lisa wood fired pizza and Butterfly Burger, a couture burger lounge. She believes in creating an entire experience for the customer.

In 2024, Dahl & Di Luca was awarded the Best of Best and #7 Most Romantic Dining Destination nationally by TripAdvisor; in 2025, #1 in Arizona by Yahoo. Mariposa has been awarded the #1 International restaurant in Arizona for 2025 and 2026. Both Pisa Lisa and Butterfly are also ranked among the Top 10 restaurants for Pizza and Burgers in 2026 by Ranking Arizona.

I’m humbled by the recognition, because we just do what we do, with intention. “If someone feels as if they’ve had a good meal, we’ve missed the mark,” she says. “What I strive for is for customers to say, ‘Oh my gosh that was the best thing I’ve ever tasted.’ I want my guests to leave feeling fulfilled in every way.”

The chef says she and her staff strive to source the highest-quality ingredients and deliver outstanding service, but the cornerstone is always the food.

“No matter which restaurant my customers chose, they will be eating vibrant, natural and

full flavors from nature,” she remarks. “We let the food shine, and we aim to create dishes that offer a unique spin on favorite meals.”

Given her background in fashion and design, Dahl has cast her discerning eye on every aspect of her restaurants, from the architecture to the style of the water glasses. And, more often than not, she can be found cooking in her kitchens still, after 30 years.

“I wouldn’t put my food on any old plate!” she says. “You have to present food beautifully, whether it’s a burger, pizza or a grilled fish. If you present food with a twist of originality, you are elevating all the senses.”

This mentality extends beyond just the Dahl. David Dimler, her CFO and wine director, has garnered more than 42 Wine Spectator Awards of Excellence in the last 20 years. He and Dahl worked for more than a year to bring a private-label wine into the group and ended up hitting a home run. Passionista de Sedona – a GSM; Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre blend received 96 pointes by Somm Journal and The Tasting Panel.

Dahl is widely seen as one of the top chefs in Arizona, but she’s also gained fame beyond the Southwest. She has appeared twice at the James Beard House in New York, where she cooked for sold-out crowds. Her 2010 cookbook, “The Elixir of Life: Finding Love and Joy in the Passionate Pursuit of Food” won an Independent Publisher’s Award and was named the 2011 Cookbook of the Year. During covid Lisa self-published her second cookbook “A Romance with Food,” dedicated to the cuisine of Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill. She has appeared on Food Network’s “Beat Bobby Flay.” Most recently, in 2025, her documentary short film “Blessed By Grace” debuted at the Sedona International Film Festival, and has been an Official Selection in multiple film festivals, often receiving audience and culinary awards.

Although Dahl’s restaurants have vastly different menus and décor, what unifies them is her approach to cooking. Her mantra is “When you cook with love, you feed the soul.” And, we’re all craving that.

Modern Art Amongst the Pines

A contemporary mountain home designed for art, nature and escape
Autumn Anderson
Photography by Pearl Blossom Photography

Nestled amongst the Ponderosa Pines within the prestigious Pine Canyon Community in Flagstaff, a modern mountain escape punctuates the landscape. The homeowners wanted a home they could design together, after selling their existing second properties, to escape the summers in Phoenix. Their search for a lot revolved around a few factors: they both love golf, have an extensive modern art collection and sought to be in the mountains, but close enough to their lives and kids in Phoenix. After searching in Flagstaff, they landed on a lot in Pine Canyon due to a wash located next to the property that would always remain undeveloped, giving them the immersion in the mountains that they were craving.

Their vision was for a home that both acts and looks like a modern art museum for their vast personal art collection. During the final construction document phase, however, the clients and builder Jon Holdsworth of Holdsworth Construction were not fully satisfied with the direction of the design, and wanted to see what else could be done. Holdsworth, who had collaborated with architect Mark Candelaria of Candelaria Design Associates on other Flagstaff projects, reached out to ask him to review the existing drawings.

Candelaria was excited to show his range with this modern mountain design in Pine Canyon, where he had already designed several traditional mountain style homes previously. So, he accepted Holdsworth’s offer and did some sketches for the clients along with a fully colored front rendering of the home showing how he would modify the design already in process. Candelaria knew the Pine Canyon community had very stringent HOA guidelines, but they do allow for a modern mountain style, so he was eager to see how he could push the boundaries to create something modern and unique for the clients. The clients loved his vision and hired Candelaria to take the plans to the next level, turning their new summer home into a standout.

Shortly after, at Candelaria’s suggestion, the clients brought on Isabel Dellinger-Candelaria, of Earth & Images, for the home’s interior design. The two collaborated, moving from the inside to the outside and back again, integrating the design seamlessly, both spatially and through purposeful materiality. “What made this home unique was the way it integrates clean, modern lines with the natural surroundings, creating a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor living,” Holdsworth says.

This indoor-outdoor living element is prevalent in every Candelaria home. “I always love connecting the inside with the outside and letting the two seamlessly merge so

ARCHITECT Mark Candelaria, Candelaria Design Associates. BUILDER Jon Holdsworth, Holdsworth Construction. INTERIORS Isabel DellingerCandelaria, Earth & Images.

you truly experience where you are located and can connect with nature,” Candelaria explains.

Candelaria used exposed steel I-beams and columns as an expressive form for the covered patios, and Isabel brought in organic materials to warm up the modern interior, including warm wood floors, wood ceilings with indirect cove lighting and a liquid-metal fireplace. In the kitchen, an orange range provides a vibrant punch to the dark-stained wood cabinetry.

“Like many custom homes at this level, one of the primary challenges was maintaining precision while navigating evolving details, but that process ultimately contributed to the high quality of the final product,” Holdsworth recalls.

On the outside of the home, building masses were more clearly defined in both shape and in the blend of materials consisting of rough stone, smooth stone, wood siding and corrugated metal. “The clients wanted to celebrate and express each mass uniquely, both in shape and material, in essence almost creating a Cubist composition with the architecture of their home,” Candelaria notes.

The roof masses were further defined by sweeping planes that combined flat and curved roof shapes and forms. The use of natural materials, expansive glazing and carefully framed views really set this home apart. Holdsworth notes that the level of detail and coordination required to build this home was significant; “Achieving the architectural intent, particularly with the structural elements, large

openings and finish transitions, required close collaboration with the design team and trades,” he says. “The result is a home that feels both refined and grounded in its environment, exactly what the clients wanted.”

Inside, Dellinger-Candelaria grounded the interiors in organic, site-responsive materials that reflect the authenticity of the mountain setting, creating a sense of warmth and permanence within the home’s modern architecture. Tile layouts were kept clean, linear and disciplined, while the overall palette draws from the surrounding landscape. Once all the hard interiors were selected, DellingerCandelaria judiciously worked with the client to select furnishings, decorative lighting and place their expansive collection of modern art throughout the home. “The restraint in interior surfaces allowed their artwork to punctuate the interiors with vivid color, depth and visual hierarchy,” she explains.

Upon approaching the home, guests are greeted with a welcome from a rectangular fire pit and a small seating alcove. As they proceed to the front door, a stone wall features three recessed, lit display windows featuring some of the homeowner’s extensive art collection. The entry leads right into the open-concept kitchen and great room, which open to the outdoors through floor-toceiling glass doors. Above the doors and in the angular vaulted wall spaces, lofty clearstory windows encircle the entire space.

The dining room features a full window wall that tilts outward at a precarious angle, leaning you right into the forest. Large expanses of glass windows and doors in virtually every room make you feel like you are in a tree house, with serene views of the ponderosa pine forest. “The home, although modern in its lines and massing, nestles nicely into the forest with its mountain materials. It feels like you are inside a luxurious forest treehouse,” DellingerCandelaria notes.

Once the home was completed, the homeowners asked Mark to make his famous paella dinner under his special contract clause, which offered to prepare a dinner for the homeowners and the entire team in the completed kitchen. “Designing a dream home often creates a tight bond, so we like to keep the journey and relationship going after the completion of our homes,” Candelaria says.

The homeowners and team all spent an evening enjoying the warmth and creativity of the new home. “Building this Pine Canyon mountain modern home was a rewarding experience,” Holdsworth recalls. “The project combined thoughtful design with a high level of craftsmanship.”

A Journey Within the RED ROCKS

Photography by Douglas Friedman

ROCKS

A sanctuary shaped by nature and intention, Mii amo transforms wellness into a deeply personal and lasting experience.

There are few places in the world where wellness feels as innate as it does in Sedona, Ariz. Within the sacred stillness of Sedona’s ICONIC red rocks, Mii amo has long been renowned as one of the most transformative destinations in the world. Its allure is less about prestige and more about presence, an experience that feels deeply personal, intentionally designed and profoundly connected to its natural surroundings.

“A warm and intimate experience is tailored to each guest personally,” says general manager Christian Davies, who describes the resort’s essence as something far more meaningful than traditional luxury.

“Mii amo was intentionally designed with spaces that inspire connection to the surrounding landscape and a team with a purpose of supporting each guest’s journey forward.” As a proud member of Relais & Châteaux, an association of individually owned and luxury restaurants and hotels, and the only Forbes Five-Star, adults-only wellness resort of its kind in the world, Mii amo stands as a rarefied sanctuary where the focus is not on indulgence, but on intention.

That intention is shaped by its extraordinary setting. Located within Boynton Canyon, the resort is surrounded by a natural horseshoe formation of

Photography by Douglas

Friedman

by

Photography
Kenneth Hayden

towering red rocks. “This canyon surrounds and envelopes guests, offering red rock views from every angle,” Davies explains. “The canyon’s energy is very balanced, offering guests a nurturing and majestic feeling as the power of the canyon surrounds them.” From expansive windows framing the landscape to immersive spaces like the Crystal Grotto and sensory gardens connected to nearby vortexes, the environment becomes an active participant in each guest’s journey.

Mii amo’s signature approach to personalization redefines each stay as a collaborative journey. “Each guest journey is highly personalized, co-created with an assigned Journey Guide who works hand-in-hand and guided by guest intentions,” Davies shares. “This partnership provides both the freedom to explore and the guidance to feel empowered to uncover your own path.” It’s a philosophy that moves away from prescriptive wellness and instead embraces discovery, allowing guests to shape their own transformation through curated experiences ranging from guided hikes to sound immersions and mindfulness practices.

“The signature ‘Journey’ remains what sets the resort apart,” Davies notes. “This non-prescriptive, deeply personalized approach allows guests to uncover their own unique way forward.” With more than 100 weekly offerings, spanning fitness, meditation, creative workshops and restorative therapies, each moment is designed to foster connection.

In an era where wellness has become synonymous with luxury, Mii amo offers a more nuanced perspective. “Luxury in today’s wellness landscape is highly personalized, built around each guest and their intention,” Davies says. “It’s about creating the space for guests to slow down, reconnect with themselves and strengthen relationships with loved ones.”

At Mii amo, luxury is defined not by excess, but by access to stillness, to nature, and to meaningful transformation. “True luxury today is not just comfort or beautiful surroundings,” he adds. “It’s the opportunity to step away from constant demands and invest in one’s well-being in a way that feels authentic, restorative and lasting.”

At Mii amo, the journey is not something you follow; it’s something you uncover. And within the quiet power of Sedona’s ICONIC red rocks, that discovery feels nothing short of extraordinary.

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Photography
Kenneth Hayden

HIGH CHAPAR

Near Prescott, Arizona, a modern ranch-style home makes the most of the wide-open spaces.

RAL

Photography by Kevin Brost

Outside of Prescott, Talking Rock is a luxe golf-course community set in the high desert, where scrub oak, juniper and piñon pine dot the rolling grasslands and views go on for miles. The land here has a rich history, written by ancient peoples in petroglyphs on the canyon boulders and, later, as a ranch where cattle, sheep and Angora goats once grazed.

It was here that a couple from California chose to establish roots, crafting a home for themselves and their teen daughter that reflects their interests and lifestyle. To spearhead the project, they turned to builder Dan Boylan. “We have a strong presence in Talking Rock, and these clients liked our process,” Boylan says. Indeed, the builder’s presence in the community is strong—though his company is headquartered in Phoenix, he’s been building homes in Talking Rock for more than two decades and, with his family, lives there.

While many homes in the community reflect a rustic ranch style, these clients, notes Boylan, wanted something a tad different. “They definitely wanted a more modern, edgy style,” he remembers, “but within the Talking Rock design guidelines and within the context of the other homes.” Those desires led Boylan to reach out to frequent collaborators Jeff Kamtz and Ron Brissette of Brissette Architects for the home’s architectural design and to interior designer Elizabeth Hamill for the furnishings and finishes.

The Brissette team worked to create a plan that would make the best of the site and accommodate the owner’s needs. “This was one of the largest lots in Talking Rock,” says Ron Brisette of the nearly 5-acre site. “It had big views to one side and backed to a mountain preserve on the other. It was also a corner lot, so we wanted to balance views with privacy from the street and neighbors.” Another challenge—the clients have a large RV and wanted garage space for it, as well as room for six cars.

Brissette and Kamtz developed a 6,000-square-foot floor plan for the home that includes a guest casita and garages for all the vehicles, tucking them around an auto court to one side of the entrance. “We didn’t want the garages to dominate the design,” says Brissette. With the great room anchoring the layout,

the architects angled the house around a pool patio that captures the distant views and, to the other side, a more sheltered patio that looks up at the mountain preserve. A music room to one side of the great room speaks to the owners’ love of piano and saxophone, while offices (upstairs for him and near the exercise room for her) allow them to work remotely.

Almost all of the rooms have access to patios. “We designed this so that there are many opportunities to be outdoors,” Brissette remarks. “Here in Prescott, they can experience the four seasons, such as on the pool patio during the summer and on windy, cooler days, on the back patio by the mountain.”

In elevation, the home’s design is an interpretation of a modern ranch, its wings reaching out into the

landscape and the pitched roof over the great room tilting upwards, echoing the slope of the mountain, Brissette explains. Wood siding, rock details, metal trellises and screens mark the exterior, while large banks of window walls and clerestories capture views and allow sunlight to pour into the house.

“This is all about truth in materials,” Boylan explains. “It’s natural stone and wood, glass and steel. The house is not a ‘ranchy-ranch,’ but a more modern look.”

Inside, interior designer Elizabeth Hamill kept the focus on the architecture and the landscape just outside the windows. “This house was a fresh start for the clients. They brought their books and some family heirlooms, but almost everything else was new, specifically for this interior,” Hamill notes.

Against a backdrop of French oak flooring and a tongue-in-groove Douglas fir-clad ceiling, Hamill suggested neutral hues, clean lines and comfortable seating to furnish the residence, choosing pieces such as a pair of leather recliners facing the great room’s TV and fireplace wall and an extra-long dining table that can easily seat 10 for family gatherings.

In the offices and music room, Hamill worked with Kindred Custom Cabinetry to create a series of bookcases as a testament to the family’s love of reading. As for the powder room, the designer went for drama, installing a floating limestone vanity that’s contrasted by a rugged barnwood-clad wall and shelf, as well as mottled concrete-look wallcovering. The primary bedroom, with its glass wall and clerestory windows, is a study in serenity, where shades disappear into a slot above the glass, allowing both vistas and, when needed, privacy.

Outdoors, where MLA Associates Landscape Architects created crisp, contemporary gardens closer to the house, Hamill suggested furniture groupings for poolside, patios, and fire features that reflect the home’s architecture and interiors. The pieces weren’t chosen just for their good looks alone. “This area tends to get high winds,” Hamill says. “The pieces had to be substantial so they wouldn’t blow away and could also be hosed off.”

The completed home has served the family perfectly. There are spaces where they can be together and entertain, places for solitude and work, and a spot to make beautiful music together.

“This was a wonderful project with great clients,” Boylan says. “It’s matured into an awesome friendship.”

BUILDER DLB Custom Homes.

ARCHITECTURE Brissette Architects, Inc.

INTERIOR DESIGN Elizabeth Hamill Interiors.

of the Heart Table The

Atria transforms Flagstaff’s dining scene.

Light-filled, design-forward and quietly ambitious, Atria is redefining what modern American cuisine can look like in Flagstaff, layering global influence with a deep respect for seasonality, locality and craft.

For partner and Executive Chef Rochelle Daniel, the journey to Atria has been anything but linear. With a background spanning kitchens across Arizona, from Sedona to Scottsdale, Daniel returned to Flagstaff after years away. What began as a larger, multi-concept plan for a downtown corner evolved in real time when the pandemic shifted timelines and priorities.

“Atria was supposed to be the last concept,” she explains, “but it became the first.” That unexpected beginning ultimately set the tone for everything that followed.

At Atria, the menu reflects both personal experience and collective creativity. Inspired

by modern American cuisine, dishes draw on a range of global influences, shaped by Daniel’s background and her team’s diverse perspectives. “We take influences from all around the world and do our own play on it,” she says. “We like to represent the chefs here.” The result is a dynamic, expressive menu where no single tradition dominates, but every dish tells a story.

Signature offerings showcase this layered approach. A long-standing duck dish, reimagined seasonally, features a housemade XO glaze crafted from unexpected elements like salami and shrimp, paired with duck sausage and charred cabbage. Mussels evolve through global flavor profiles, while oysters arrive topped with rotating seasonal granitas. It’s a menu that embraces creativity and constant reinvention.

A strong connection to place grounds the experience. Ingredients sourced from across Northern Arizona — wild mushrooms, spruce tips, pine buds, locally harvested honey — bring the high-country landscape directly to the plate. The bar program echoes the kitchen’s focus on seasonal, locally inspired flavors, offering both a thoughtful craft cocktail menu and an

extensive wine list that consistently earns the Wine Spectator Award.

Beyond the food, Atria is designed to be felt. The space is airy and inviting, layered in soft whites, pastel tones and greenery, a deliberate shift from expectation. “When you walk in, it feels like you’re not in Flagstaff,” Daniel notes.

The name itself nods to the heart’s atria. “I want the food and drinks to be the heart of the restaurant,” she remarks. That experience is rooted in connection. “I want people to come in and forget what’s going on outside. To share dishes, talk about the food, and just enjoy each other.” It’s a rare approach, less about individual plates and more about shared moments.

As Atria continues to evolve, new concepts, a Parisian-inspired bistro, a bakery and a speakeasy, are set to transform the surrounding block. Yet Atria remains the anchor: a space where creativity leads and where the landscape inspires not just what you see, but what you taste.

Place Pines A in the

Architect Scott Carson crafts a calming retreat in Flagstaff’s forest.

Come summer, most Arizona desert dwellers daydream about a place to escape the sultry temperatures, a getaway up north, in the mountains. For one lucky couple, their dream became a reality when they commissioned a new rustic-meets-modern retreat in the pines of Flagstaff, designed by architect Scott Carson. The two-level, 4,700-square-foot home balances a sense of intimacy with an open plan, window walls and access to balconies and patio spaces.

“The husband was just driving around one day and saw a guy putting up a ‘For Sale’ sign,” says Carson, explaining how the clients found the one-acre property in a golf course community. “A few days later, they bought the lot, which is a sloping site surrounded on three sides by golf greens.”

Carson, principal of Scottsdale-based Cosan Studio, went to work designing a vacation home for the couple…a place where their adult children and grandchildren could gather during the summer, as well as winter holidays. Aided by architects Adam Kostis and Tom Bell from his studio, Carson also collaborated with Flagstaff builder Mike Tullos of Stilley Tullos Design Build Group and Utah interior designer Kimberly Parker.

Siting the house to take advantage of the views and to save as many Ponderosa pines as possible, Carson drafted a floor plan that placed the great room, kitchen, dining area, primary suite and a guest bedroom on the main level.

He took advantage of the site’s slope to create a walk-out lower level that includes a lounge with two guest suites

ARCHITECT Cosan Studio, Scottsdale.

BUILDER Stilley Tulloss Design Build Group, Flagstaff. INTERIOR DESIGN Kimberly Parker Design, Alpine, Utah. LANDSCAPE DESIGN Kaibab Landscaping, Flagstaff.

and a bunk room for grandchildren. Window walls on both levels connect to outdoor spaces, ensuring plenty of evenings listening to the pine trees whistling in the breezes and enjoying the glow of fire pits.

Eschewing a cabin-in-the-woods design, Carson came up with an architectural style that pleased both the wife’s traditional tastes and the husband’s desire for a more modern aesthetic. “We used traditional massing for the house,” Carson explains, “and elements like dormer windows and shed roofs for a classic look. To make it modern, we did cleaner lines and elements like steel details and large glass openings.” Cedar siding and stone cladding, he notes, help blend the home into the woodsy landscape.

Though Carson does most of his work in a desert climate, this Flagstaff home wasn’t his first north woods project; he’s done many in northern Arizona and the mountains of Utah. Those designs, he points out, need to reflect the winter extremes. “You have to understand the climate,” the architect says. “We specify details like heated gutters to prevent ice buildup and take a look at where the

rooflines are going to shed snow. If you use steel that goes from outside to in, you have to include a thermal bridge. Otherwise, condensation and cold are issues.” Forest wildfires are also a consideration, with building materials following code, Carson notes, and the landscape design (here, done by Kaibab Landscaping) keeping the home’s perimeter free of brush.

Indoors, interior designer Parker complemented the home’s modern mountain architecture, exposed-truss ceiling and rustic stone details with a neutral palette, plush upholstered pieces that invite lounging and simple, no-fuss accessories. Natural wood cabinetry and flooring, along with pale countertops, provide a soothing backdrop.

The completed home has become a welcome gathering spot for the owners, family and friends; a place where even in July and August, sweaters and roaring fires are welcome once the sun goes down. Says Carson, “This house is a truly timeless retreat for the owners to escape the hot, dry summers of the desert below.”

COOL OFF!

Luxe Golf in the Mountains

©2009 World Golf Tour, Inc.
Edgewood Tahoe
Edgewood Tahoe Stateline, Nevada

by Brian

Photo
Oar

Summertime may mean it’s time for fun in the sun, but sometimes we relish a quick retreat into the woods. A shaded, fragrant forest and majestic pines is just what the doctor ordered to beat the summer heat. Join us this season as we try out these five arboreal tracks for a great golf getaway.

TALISKER CLUB

Park City, Utah

The Talisker Club in Park City, Utah takes a four-season lifestyle approach in its collection of venues: landmark ski-in/ski-out at Empire Pass in Deer Valley and award-winning golf and more at Tuhaye. The latter just happens to be the home of two-time major winner Mark O’Meara, who designed the course in 2004.

Set at 6,900 feet, the course is basically above the tree line of the local pine and birch but is ringed with native shrubs and scrub oaks. And while it plays long, remember that at this elevation the ball will be flying further.

PINE CANYON

Flagstaff, Arizona

Prospective members can take advantage of a “Discovery Visit” to Pine Canyon for a two-night stay in a fully furnished home of the master-planned Flagstaff, Arizona community and play two rounds on the Jay Morrish-designed course. The late Morrish created a bold routing back in 2004, a mountainous course with fairways carved through the area’s mighty Ponderosa pines with ample meandering creeks in play.

The Troon-managed course always has qualified loopers on hand through the national CaddieMaster program, and players will find a unique halfway house overlooking the ninth tee, Morrish Station, housed in a 1944 Santa Fe Railroad caboose.

PRIMLAND

Meadows of Dan, Virginia

Planning an East Coast jaunt? In Meadows of Dan, Virginia, the Primland Resort sprawls across 12,000 Blue Ridge Mountain acres. Long a wilderness retreat and hunting reserve, Primland opened up the luxury taps in 2006 along with the debut of the golf course.

There’s still plenty of rustic sporting activity here—horseback riding, sporting clays, trail hikes and archery, but there’s also mountain biking, ATV tours through the wild terrain and a variety of luxury accommodations including three treehouse cabins with seemingly infinite views.

EDGEWOOD TAHOE

Stateline, Nevada

You don’t have to stay at the Lodge at Edgewood Tahoe to play the Edgewood Tahoe course in Stateline, Nevada, but why wouldn’t you? The 154-room luxury hotel is located on the shores of South Lake Tahoe, overlooking one of the best of the west’s golf courses. It’s a vintage track from 1968 designed by George Fazio, though later renovated by his nephew, Tom.

Players at Edgewood confront a course that has it all—stately pines, not-so-distant Sierra peaks and the rippling waters of the lake. The peaks, at least, don’t come into play.

IRON HORSE Whitefish, Montana

With a Tom Fazio-designed champtionship golf course, Iron Horse is a private golf club nestled in beautiful Whitefish, Montana. Just minutes away is Glacier National Park, world-class downhill skiing at Whitefish Mountain Resort, water recreation on Whitefish Lake and Glacier Park International airport. Memberships are available with or without the purchase of property and offer an unrivaled way to experience the grandeur of Big Sky Country.

The Clubhouse boasts an exceptionally merchandised pro shop, fully equipped fitness center, and Men’s and Ladies’ Locker Rooms with private massage rooms. Upstairs is a beautiful carved-wood bar and extraordinary fine dining in the restaurant. In addition, the Club includes two outdoor swimming pools, four outdoor tennis courts, four outdoor pickleball courts and a marina on Whitefish Lake.

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Photography
Mark Sacro

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GET YOUR KICKS

A new exhibition at Museum of Northern Arizona explores the history of America’s ICONIC Mother Road.

Long before neon motel signs and roadside diners defined Route 66 Centennial nostalgia, the road through northern Arizona was rugged, unpredictable and transformative. Now open at the Museum of Northern Arizona, Wagon Road to Mother Road explores that evolution through an immersive exhibition tracing the history of travel across the Southwest.

Presented in the museum’s Waddell Gallery, the exhibition coincides with the 100th anniversary of Route 66’s designation on Nov. 11, 1926, and examines how transportation has forever shaped the region’s landscapes, communities and culture from the Beale Wagon Road to the rise of America’s most ICONIC highway.

“Each new mode of travel along this route affected the settlement that has become Flagstaff, the territory that has become Arizona, and the nation that is the United States,” says curator David Purcell,

supervisory archaeologist and historian at Museum of Northern Arizona. “With improved roads, the Southwest became a place to go for its own sake, instead of just a crossing to endure.”

Rather than romanticizing Route 66 solely through postcard nostalgia, the exhibition reveals a more layered story. Drawing from archaeological surveys conducted in Petrified Forest National Park, the show uncovers the highway’s harsher realities through thousands of discarded objects left behind by travelers. Liquor bottles, oil cans and roadside debris tell stories not only of adventure, but also of exhaustion, mechanical failure and tragedy.

By the mid-20th century, the Arizona and New Mexico stretch of Route 66 had become notoriously dangerous, earning the nickname “Bloody 66” due to fatal crashes caused by high speeds, poor road conditions and unprepared motorists.

Still, the romance of the open road remains deeply woven into the American imagination, and the exhibition balances those realities with moments of nostalgia and discovery. Vintage artifacts, including a 1931 Ford Model A pickup, a handpainted Route 66 map and a mid-century Phillips 66 gas pump, bring the era vividly to life, while music and memorabilia immerse visitors in the spirit of a rapidly changing America.

More than a history lesson, Wagon Road to Mother Road examines how mobility reshaped the Southwest itself. As roads improved, northern Arizona transformed from a remote passageway into a destination, one whose identity became inseparable from the freedom and ambition of the American road trip.

The exhibition is now on view through Jan. 31, 2027, at the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff.

"Route 66" by David Yarrow. Artwork can be purchased at Relevant Galleries.

Inspired by the vibrant colors of the 1970s, Oliver Smith’s Prism Collection celebrates a range of natural gemstones through artistic, clustered designs and vivid color. Explore the full collection today at one of our boutique locations.

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