Payson is no slouch
for educational and exploration opportunities. We take pride in our
area as well as renowned author, Zane Grey. There are several museums
in addition to our public library.
328 N.
McLane Road, Payson
(928) 474-9260
What
we don't have in our museums, you can find in the library. The
library provides full service to all ages. We have an entire
Southwestern collection, as well as, a children's corner where
story hours are provided weekly. There is a computer section,
where you can get online to get email or surf the Internet.
The Payson
Library is unique in that they have a bookstore open 5 days
a week. There you can buy used books at a fraction of the cost
while helping to support our library.
700 Green
Valley Pkwy, Payson
Green
Valley Park is the headquarters for our local museums.
It also provides fishing, picnicking, and entertainment for
such festivities as the 4th of July. The distance around the
lake is approximately 1 mile. The museums that are located
here are the Rim Country Museum and Zane Grey's Cabin. The
office of Parks
& Recreation is also located in the building complex.
Fishing
licenses are required to fish in the lake and you can acquire
one at our local Wal-mart.
Rim
Country Museum
This
museum, located in scenic Green Valley Park preserves the
natural and cultural history of the region. Exhibits feature
ancient peoples of the area, the Tonto Apache, and the cavalry
an pioneer period. The museum is accessible to the handicapped.
The top of the 1907 Mt. Ord Watchtower and Payson's first
ranger station also are on the grounds. The ranger residence
has been converted into an orientation center and gift shop.
A historic
replica of Zane Grey's cabin -- lost in 1990 during the Dude
Fire -- was built in Green Valley Park in 2005 through the
efforts of the non-profit Zane Grey Cabin Foundation. It was
officially turned over to the Northern Gila County Historical
Society on Saturday October 15, 2005.
In
the year of 1884, a local dispute over the site for the
school building was solved by cowboys using a calf rope
and counting the number of lengths between the Hicks-Duncan
cabin on the west end of the valley and the Peach cabin
on the east end. They retraced their steps to the mid-point.
There the one room log school was built and still stands.
