The Amazing Cemetery Crawl 4 teams gathered at the Pioneer Cemetery in downtown Phoenix on April 25, 2009. The Cemetery Crawl was developed OCT 2005 as a way for cemetery lovers to see and learn the history of the various cemeteries in Arizona. Teams receive directions to various cemeteries across the state. They also receive a poetic clue to which tombstone they are to photograph in each cemetery. There are several detours to complete which earn them “funny money” (play money) and extra points. 
Seven teams were ready to take on the challenges and detours as they lined their vehicles up in the parking lot anticipating the send off at the shout of “go”. This years teams consisted of: TEAM ZERO (3 yr team), GHOSTIE GECKO”S (2 yr team), FREAKY BISON (2 yr team), TEAM AUTHORITY, LOLLIPOP GUILD, KAOS KREW, and CATACOMB CRAWLERS.
The Pioneer and Military Memorial Park Cemetery was in use form 1884 until 1914. It is a combination of seven cemeteries. Today it is managed by the Phoenix Parks and Recreation and the concerned hands of the Pioneer’s Cemetery Association. One of its most visited occupants is Jacob Waltz, AKA the Lost Dutchman.
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Upon receiving their first clues, the Cemetery Crawlers raced to their waiting cars and headed towards Wittmann. The small Wittmann Cemetery contains burials form the 1940’s to the present. It is reportedly haunted by an old farmer ghost that has been seen walking near the cemetery gate.
The Crawlers received an envelope containing 3 detours. Detour #1 had them stopping at the McDonalds in Wickenburg where they had to retain the receipt of a purchased item dated after 10:20am. Detour #2 found them at the Circle K near the Jail Tree. They had to find a customer at the Circle K and ask them to pose in a picture with a member of their team. Detour #3 meant stopping at Garcia Cemetery in Wickenburg and placing a provided bouquet of flowers on any grave with the first name of Maria. Garcia Cemetery is an old Catholic Cemetery with burials from the early 1900’s to 1990’s.
The Cemetery Crawlers now traveled 25 miles west to the tiny town of Aguila. They turned down Eagle Eye Road and drove to the Eagle Eye Cemetery. Most of the burials are from the 1930’s to 1990’s with a few historic grave stones as well. One team member was blind folded and depended on the careful guidance of his fellow team member to locate the specific tombstone on their clue sheet.
The next cemetery stop was in Wendon another 22 miles west. The cemetery is in good condition with older grave cites centered mid cemetery. The burials are from about 1917 to present.
Another set of detours were in order for the teams. #4 was to travel to the town of Salome and take a picture with the town mascot—the “Salome Frog”. #5 the teams then posed by the “You’re now out of Hope” sign and #6 was the awe inspiring Arizona monument called Stonehenge Gardens. They also had to stop #7 and pose near the tanks outside the town of Bouse.
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The last cemetery of the day was in Parker. Parker Cemetery combines a new and older section of graves sites. The teams were instructed to locate their clues was in the historic section. Soon the teams were crossing over the Colorado River and into sunny California.
Three more detours awaited the teams before the dash to the first day finish line and mandatory rest stop. Teams stopped at #8 the Earp Post Office, #9 posed outside Wyatt and Josie Earp’s quaint little house in Vidal, and traveled 25 miles south to #10 study the mysterious Blythe Intaglios.
It was then a race to see which team would finish first on the first day of the crawl. They traveled another 15 miles south to the town of Blythe and ended the day at the bleachers at the baseball diamond in Miller Park. The Orange team—Catacomb Crawlers—were first to arrive, but the events of day two can certainly re arrange the order at the finish line.
Most of the teams had rooms at the Motel 6 in Blythe. We met at a local buffet for dinner and socializing. Unfortunately, we were confronted with some alarming news! Team Zero, racing to one of the detours, tore a hole in the oil pan of their car. A tow truck was called to carry the damaged vehicle back to a town just outside of Phoenix. Kenton and Ben departed to pick up a car trailer to haul the car the rest of the way to Ahwatukee. With many of the crawlers away on the rescue mission in the middle of the night, would they be back in time to compete in the second day of competition?
Tune in next time for the conclusion of The Amazing Cemetery Crawl 4.
See our other Amazing Cemetery Crawl Adventures!
For more info: www.mvdghostchasers.com
Debe Branning nazanaza@aol.com
Comments
This event is really amazingly crazy and fun! Everyone has a blast. It's great to see people hitting the AZ roads and learning about the ghost towns, cemeteries, and famous outlaws, while checking out a few famously haunted places.
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