From the Arizona Citizen January 31, 1914
VAIL AFTER NEW TUCSON COUNTRY CLUB.
“Hamlet on New State Highway, Twenty Miles East, Calls Attention to Advantages of This Location.
Tucson is not the only city in Pima County, which is reaching out for new things in an enterprising manner. Vail is now on the map. Otto Schley, mayor of that flourishing hamlet, is after the Tucson county club. He has called attention to the fact that Vail is but 27 minutes from Tucson over the new highway that it has two railroads 200 feet apart, giving easy access to and from Tucson to those not owning automobiles, and that ample ground can be secured at a nominal figure.
Mr. Schley’s letter to George T. Fisher, a member of the committee appointed to recommend a site for the country club, is as follows:
Tucson, Ariz.
Mr. Geo. T. Fisher,
Dear Sir: I have read with much interest the article in this morning’s “Citizen” concerning the selection of a piece of suitable ground for the construction of a golf course by the newly organized country club.
I wish to call the attention of the members of the club to the land here at Vail. It is level, and from the report of Mr. Watson, as far as I understand it, I am led to believe that the soil will meet with the requirements considered necessary by Mr. Watson for a good golf course.
I have more land here than I can ever use, and there would be no trouble about coming to a settlement about the land needed.
Mr. H. Corbett drove from Tucson to Vail the other day – a distance of 20.80 miles – in 27 minutes, which proves that what every motorist who passes through here asserts the newly constructed highway between Tucson and Vail is the finest roadway in Arizona. This would give the members of the club, who, as I see by their names, all own automobiles, a chance for an enjoyable drive, besides enjoying a golf game.
There is room here for tennis courts and all sorts of outdoor games. Then there is the extension of the highway now being built from Vail toward Douglas, which would afford a splendid drive through Davidson canyon to those members of the club who do not care to play golf, over a first-class road.
Another advantage is that there are two railroads here, 700 [sic] feet apart, which would attract lovers of the game from points further south, even as far as Bisbee and Douglas, who would not care or who could not spare the time to make the long run from those points to Tucson by auto. I would suggest that the committee take a run out here next Sunday to look over the ground.”
Vail’s Mayor, Otto Schley is pictured in the center wearing a white shirt and sporting a dapper straw Boater hat. His ideas to promote .and grow Vail were visionary, and sometimes controversial, in 1914. Schley, a German immigrant was truly entrepreneurial and always had multiple business ventures in the works.
He was invested in his community and civic affairs. Schley served on Vail’s School Board, was a Justice of the Peace, ran for Pima County Sheriff, served as Vail’s Postmaster, was active in the Democratic Delegation, and in 1908 had his eye on a seat on the Territorial Legislature.
Fast forward to the 1970s and 80s, the Horizon Corporation, had a similar vision to bring a golf course development to Vail. The flood of 1983 and a lack of insurance derailed those plans. In the 1930s, Cleaveland Putman began developing a resort with casitas, and recreational amenities like tennis, boating and fishing at Rancho del Lago. It would be the Estes Corp. that would develop Vail around a golf course at Rancho del Lago. This development included the bulldozing of historic buildings at Rancho del Lago erasing a significant part of Vail’s past.
Return on investment can also include being invested in a place and its authentic sites and heritage. Let’s hope Vail’s future investors are also invested in Vail. Is a 2nd Mayor in Vail’s future? If Otto were around, I’m sure he would run for re-election.
Vail Preservation Society – Invested in Vail
VPS powers JTED projects and is Powered by JTED. This important program provides hands on training that translates into a 98% graduation rate for its participants versus a 76% rate for other high school students. VPS is proud to provide JTED opportunities at the 1915 Section Forman House and to financially support this work through grants and donations at no cost to taxpayers.
Public Art & Cultural Exchange
T-we:m ‘att ‘am o ‘a: g T-ha’icu ‘a:ga – Together We Will Tell Our Story
Southern Arizona students from Vail and Topawa will explore the significance of cultural identity, changing borders, sense of place and community found in the Vail, and Topawa landscapes through art and dialogue.
Students will learn from each other and subject-matter experts. The project will teach the students the value of collaboration and cooperation, pique their interest in reading their own landscapes and being actively engaged in their communities.
J.J. Lamb, December 2015