By Robbi Ross
Photos by Mark and Susan Wing, and Paul and Marilyn Duncan (unless noted)
Note: Click on hollow box on far left (top) of slideshow to start at the beginning. Hovering over the image will stop the automatic slideshow.Saturday, August 25th
Our Tour Directors had ordered up another gorgeous day for us. The sky was clear and sunny. The drive today would only be 40 miles round trip but worth every breathless moment. In the 1880’s Las Vegas was a train hub, with a Fred Harvey Montezuma Castle train spur. The castles were built to bring the elite to very special places in the Southwest and this one didn’t disappoint. It had burned to the ground and rebuilt twice. It’s frame was railroad or bridge girders covered with the most elegant and ornate wood carvings. Armand Hammer bought the castle in the 1980’s and restored it to its former glory. Along with Prince Charles and King Hussein, Montezuma’s Castle became a part of United World College, serving the world as it is still used today.
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25We drove the short distance to the Dwan Light Sanctuary where prisms displayed ornate rainbows around the circular room. The shapes of the clear windows presented designs of white light that changed as easily as an artist’s paint brush. After leaving the Dwan Light Sanctuary, we headed to the Las Vegas Nature Preserve where it was insect day. The younger of the group stayed awhile to catch the bugs. Others headed for the train depot of the Southwest Chief and the Rough Rider Antique Store. After lunch at Charlie’s Spic and Span Cafe’ we retired back to the hotel and the park.
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40The park across from the hotel was a perfect gathering place for us. Our Ts were parked on both sides of the street while we talked to the gracious and friendly people of Las Vegas. We knew before coming that the hotel also had a wedding reception this evening. Our drivers were ready and when the wedding party drove up, rides around the plaza were given. Other townsfolk just as they had the previous two days came by to look and talk about our cars. Their friendliness was overwhelming. The band in the gazebo started playing and several of our members danced to bluegrass just as they had danced to ELVIS at the theater.
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22At 6:15, women and men graced the grand staircase dressed in their 1920’s era clothing for a hotel sponsored wine tasting. The Mayor of Las Vegas and his wife joined us for a night of festivities. We moved to the lobby, turned on the video camera and started the drawing for the Model T Engine Raffle. Five Tin Lizzie members counted the tickets to make sure all were accounted for. The tickets were then shuffled into an old enamel coffee pot, the lid replaced and then shaken, twisted and shaken some more before the Mayor drew out the winning ticket. Larry and Bernice checked that the name on the ticket was confirmed then made the call to tell Donald Wheeler of Illinois that he had won the first engine. The banquet that followed was started by a welcome and toast from the Mayor.
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37Sunday, August 26th
A leisurely Sunday departure was had by all. Some decided to visit the Salmon Raspberry Farm and pick berries while others decided to drive home to prepare for the week ahead. As we drove down I25 headed back to hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, one could not help but look forward to the next tour and the romance of living in a gentler time.
Note: Photo at Salman Raspberry Ranch by Orlando Ortega.
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4Thanks to Larry and Lorna Azevedo and Kirk and Susan Peterson for organizing and planning this tour. And to all Tin Lizzies who participated – THANKS- we had a wonderful time!