Hospitality has always been a characteristic of ranches, especially in
the days when travel by horse or wagon often exceeded what could be
covered in one day. In Mohave County, one ranch was famous
as a welcoming overnight stop for travelers. That was the
Windmill Ranch, owned in the early 1900's by the Fancher family.
Centrally located on the road from Wikieup to Kingman, which was in
those days more than a one-day trip, Windmill Ranch was a waystop for
people coming or going to and from the mines, farms and small towns in
the area.
The book "The Lunch Tree", by Irene Cornwall Cofer, a local settler who
supplemented her own recollections by interviewing many of the
old-timers in the area, reported:
“..after the teams were fed and quartered for the night, and you had
one of Nettie Fancher's excellent suppers, it was easy to forget the
long ride. You could relax and listen to the music that was so
much part of an evening with the Fanchers. Dancing, too, was
frequently a portion of the entertainment at the Windmill Ranch in the
early 1900's, and all ages took part in the evening’s fun."
The Fanchers are long gone, but traces of the Fancher homestead can
still be found on the Ranch and although travel is a very different
matter now, the spirit of hospitality can still be felt.
Windmill Ranch, today comprising some 50 square miles, is still a
working cattle ranch, and cattle can be encountered on its many
roads. Windmills throughout the ranch pump water from wells
for the cattle. Ownership of the land, however, is no longer with
one family. In addition to State ownership of some of the land,
parcels ranging from 40 acres to one square mile (640 acres) are now
owned by families from across the land, and as far away as Guam and
Puerto Rico.
Many owners have already built or begun to build on their parcels, some
for full-time residency, others for recreational use. A set of
CC&R's (Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions) is in effect which,
while not overly restrictive, aims to establish and maintain the
quality of life on the ranch. Traffic-generating activities, such
as churches and commercial ventures are excluded, but ranching of all
types is encouraged. Several owners already house their horses on
the property.
The old spirit of ranch hospitality is clearly felt among those in
residence, and, as evidenced at the well-attended Annual Meetings of
the Property Owners' Association, will continue to grow as more owners
take up residence on this beautiful piece of northwest Arizona mountain
land.
Please visit the several pages of this website for more information.
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