Patagonia with its population of 900 and the other small towns of Sonoita-Elgin in The Mountain Empire- and the five little deserted, abandoned and neglected "Ghost Towns" of Lochiel, Washington Camp, Duquesne, Mowry and Harshaw are drawing thousands of both day and overnight visitors "getting back to Nature" in one way or another in the Great Outdoors and Natural Resources in this temperate and enjoyable region in Southeastern Arizona.
The Arizona State Parks Office estimates that hiking has increased over 20% in five years - a growth industry for sure with more and more people asking at the local visitor center for local trail maps as well as advice about where to go and what to see. Official visitor count for Patagonia Lake State Park has hit over 175,000.
The public has the opportunity to send comments regarding the draftplan for the next five years for plans and activities in Arizona's State Park System.
You can see the announcement from May 14th in this press release
http://azstateparks.com/press/2009/PR_05-14-09.html with details of the plan, downloads for separate sections, and addresses for responding in writing or by email.
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