Advantages to Promoting Other Local Businesses

The Painted Pony Resort with its 756 acres is an estate rental with the aim of providing a large facility for gatherings whether it be a wedding, workshop, or family reunion.  But the estate is not the only lodging business in the area.  Many other businesses offer local lodging targeting different market segments and it only makes sense to provides references to other establishments for online visitors looking for a place to stay in the area.  Both the Painted Pony Resort website and the associated Blogging from the Boot Heel maintain listings of other local lodging resources as a courtesy to online visitors searching for area lodging as well as provide a map showing lodging in the area, see below.

A recent analysis of the blogs quarterly visitor statistics showed that exit links to other local lodging sites comprised 17% (82) of the total exit links (483).  Of the 17% of exit links to area lodging 83% (68) were to other local businesses while the rest were to the Painted Pony Resort.  While the estate is appropriate for groups it does necessarily meet the needs of individuals looking for a place to stay, but the ability to find other more appropriate lodging is important.  Meeting the needs of potential visitors and guests is important not only maintaining the integrity of the area but also in promoting visitation.  Providing tools for online visitors about the Coronado National Forest and other public lands in the area as well as resources for visiting the area will not only encourage visitation but allow visitors to find the specific resources that best fit their needs.

Oktoberfest in Portal AZ

Late October in Cave Creek Canyon and with the colors changing in the Chiricahua mountains it was time for Oktoberfest in Portal.  Saturday morning broke clear as local participants began to gather in Portal for another Oktoberfest celebration.  Sponsored by the Sew What Club of Portal and benefiting the clubs scholarship program local vendors set up their tables and the silent auction featured baskets filled with goodies based on a variety of themes. Grilled brots, German potato salad, and home made sour kraut were on the menu for lunch as well as home baked goodies were for sale.  This years crowd was even larger and parking spilled over out of Portal and into Portal Rescues parking lot up the hill.  With families and dogs it was a great way to enjoy a nice fall day in the canyon with change in colors in full swing.  A slideshow of images from Oktoberfest may be found on the Portal, AZ - Rodeo, NM website and at Chiricahua Sky Island, Rodeo.

Saturday morning at Oktoberfest in cave creek canyon.

Lunch was brots on the grill.

Portal Rescue Fundraiser, the Soup Kitchen

The yearly soup kitchen fundraiser for Portal Rescue is taking place in Portal AZ this week.  The first day started with a bang, folks from Douglas, Bisbee, and Animas came resulting in a sold out soup kitchen.  I made it over for the second day of the soup kitchen and had a great bowl of Ham and bean soup, the list included about 20 varieties of soups all with home made breads and desserts.  I also bought 5 raffle tickets for the drawing, there are very nice prizes again this year.  A useful way to bring the community together for a worthy cause.  The members of Portal Rescue are the first responders in this corner of southeastern Arizona and without their dedication emergency response time would increase significantly.

Serving Soup at the Portal Rescue fundraiser

Desserts and Dining in the Front Room at the Portal Rescue Fundraiser

The Christmas Bird Count

The Friends of Cave Creek Canyon have posted information on the Christmas Bird Count for Portal and the Peloncillo Mountains.  The bird count in the Chiricahua Mountains will be on the 29th of December, while the Peloncillo count will take place on the 30th.  Additional information may be found at this link.

Gypsy Carpenters at the Portal Cafe

Last night the Gypsy Carpenters performed for the Friday night dinner crowd at the Portal Peak Lodge.  Starting around 6:00 Pm they played until the cafe closed.  All the familiar songs were performed and the clientele joined right in making it one big sing-a-along.   One dinner guest even brought their own musical instruments (harmonica and spoons) to help out.  Along with a tasty dinner it was a wonderful evening with the residents of the Portal Rodeo (the high deserts twin cities).

The Gypsy Carpenters at the Portal Cafe

St. Patrick's Day in Portal, it's a Parade

Portal AZ's annual St. Patrick's Day parade took place today and the turnout included not only local residents from Portal, Rodeo, and around the San Simon Valley but campers from the campgrounds in Cave Creek Canyon also attended.  The Grand Marshal this year was Rick Beno from Arizona Sky Village and of course St. Patrick (who winters in Portal) was here.  And what would St. Patrick's Day be without some daytime astronomy.  A solar telescope was set up next to the Post Office to view the sun.

Parade dancing

The return parade lap

Solar astronomy at the parade