By Tonya Hennessey
When visiting the Phoenix-Tucson area, here’s a wonderful day trip idea that takes you away from the more touristed options! Casa Grande lies an hour away from both of these two metropolitan area. Dine at BeDillons and take in a fascinating pre-Columbian archeological site. Enjoy!
Pull Up to a Cactus and Enjoy Lunch or Dinner at BeDillon’s
On your “must-try” list, put BeDillon’s Cactus Garden and Restaurant as one of the best restaurants in Arizona. Located in the city of Casa Grande, it’s an off-the-beaten-path gem, and every time I fly in to visit family, we get the itch to stop off for a cocktail and appetizer right away. That’s usually just what we do.
The 93-year-old walled compound that houses BeDillon’s greets with swinging wooden saloon doors. You’re transported from the street outside into a special atmosphere, an adobe abode filled with cacti of all shapes and sizes. Have a wander around the spacious garden and historic museum, replete with relics from the original owners.
The bar is up front, and it’s filled with eclectic décor. Pull up a chair and owner Michael will regale you with tales. Tableclothed tables are scattered throughout various rooms inside the converted adobe house. The whole place has an inviting, bustling vibe and it’s easy to see why BeDillon’s is a local and international favorite. Reservations recommended—during the peak season of October to May call a month in advance.
Location: BeDillon’s Cactus Garden and Restaurant is located at 800 North Park Avenue in Casa Grande, Arizona—about an hour’s drive from either Phoenix or Tucson. Parking encircles the compound, so pull right up to the wall.
Pro tip: Make a day trip of it and visit the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in Coolidge, AZ, either starting or topping off your adventure with a meal at BeDillon’s.
The Best in American and Southwestern Flavors
You can expect American and Southwestern flavors at one of the most unique restaurants in the greater Phoenix/Tucson area. BeDillon’s has a full-service bar, and its often Michael himself or his daughter Taylor mixing your drink.
On a recent visit, we had a favorite appetizer, the San Francisco Stuffed Mushrooms. These portobellos are stuffed with a mix of light breading, cheese, and crab meat, coming out rich and savory with a slight kick—thanks to some Cajun spicing—and served in a large ladle. You can never go wrong with a plateful of Southwestern Nachos loaded with all the fixings (meat optional); for seafood try the tender Calamari with Marinara Dip or the Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail.
I followed with a Bleu cheeseburger with sautéed onions, swiss cheese, and bleu cheese crumbles on a grilled brioche bun. Cooked to medium-rare on the mark, nice and juicy, this was burger was a true mouthful of heaven. It made for a cute plating with a miniature bottle of Heinz Ketchup and a basket of light, crispy fries.
Another night my entrée was an adeptly prepared medium-rare Slowly Roasted Prime Rib with Bacon-Wrapped Scallops. (BeDillon’s is a bacon lovers’ delight!) The prime rib was tender and juicy, seasoned just right, the bacon sizzling, and the scallops like butter. Accompanied by a salad and Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes, I took a to-go box. The Grilled Baby Back Ribs glazed with tangy Barbecue Sauce is also divine.
BeDillon’s offers an extensive menu that includes hearty salads, sandwiches, chicken dishes with wonderful sauces, seafood, and steaks. There is something for every palate and age group, and the vegan and gluten-free options are plentiful.
A Family Affair: 25 Years of Serving Up Excellence
With a more than 25-year history, BeDillon’s offers great service and excellent food in a Southwestern ambiance. It’s a quaint hideaway for any occasion. BeDillon’s is a family affair that keeps six members of the Jackson family busy, including owner Michael, his son-in-law who’s the head chef, and four of his children.
I asked Michael what he loves most about his establishment. Without missing a beat, he said, “The people. We get people from all over the world, you never know who’s going to come through the door. It could be a regular, a rancher, a billionaire, someone from overseas, or an entertainer. I love this place. I’m 72 and I have no intention of ever retiring.”
BeDillon’s is open for both eat-in and take-out, and the staff is taking all COVID-19 social distancing and safety precautions per CDC guidelines. Call for the latest information. Masks are required, staff wear masks and gloves, and there are no shared condiments.
Go Back in Time at The Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
The Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is a short half-hour drive from BeDillon’s. A pre-Columbian indigenous treasure, this ancient site received conservation protections in 1892, becoming the United States’ first archeological preserve.
The ancestral Sonoran Desert Peoples’ civilization spanned at least 1,000 years from roughly 1350 C.E. to 1450 C.E. As such, this area is active with field archeological activity—such sites are rarely open for visitors to walk around in. Volunteering is encouraged during the busy peak season; contact the park to find out when they’ll open back up fully from COVID-19 restrictions.
Getting there is easy. The Monument is 20 minutes off Interstate 10, either south from Phoenix or north from Tucson. Take the Coolidge exits and follow the signs. Park entrance is free.
The Casa Grande, or “Great House”
Driving through desert scenery, you’ll come upon a “Great House” in the distance. Its unmistakable caliche mud walls rise from the ground near Coolidge, AZ. The walls were positioned along the four cardinal points, marked by round cavities. The Casa Grande is designed for solar and lunar alignment, denoting the summer solstice and the lunar standstill (the lowest point on the horizon) that happens every 18 1/2 years.
While the inhabitants left no written word, the physical evidence speaks of sophisticated engineering, architecture, art, and astronomy, along with clear signs of a highly collaborative culture. My dad, sister, and I wondered at the structure and the greater site and felt grateful to see these remnants of early human ingenuity.
How did the Casa Grande come to be built? The walls are made of calcium carbonate, and it was likely built within just three months. The ancestral Sonorans floated or transported some 600 pole joists made of fir, juniper, and pine from at least 60 miles away. It’s a marvel to see, some 600 years later. Walk around the grounds and take in the colorful placards which tell the story of what life was like, the fauna and the flora that was present, and archeological proof of widespread trade with other peoples from as far away as Mexico, including turquoise, seashells, and copper bells.
Descendants of the ancestral Sonoran Desert People include the O’Odham, Hopi, and Zuni nations.
Ancient Irrigation Canals and Ball Courts
Archeologists have discovered evidence of an extensive ancient network of irrigation canals and communities in the Gila and Salt River Valleys where the Casa Grande sits. The canals were 20 feet long and 8 feet deep; constructing and maintaining them would have required significant cooperation and administration among the dozens of communities that lived there.
Irrigation provided these people with the ability to grow crops that included cotton, corn, beans, and squash. This wealth in turn allowed highly skilled artisans to flourish—red on buff pottery was their distinctive craft—and for time to take part in sports.
The Monument contains the remnants of ball courts with smooth, flat plaster floors, markers, and center lines. The idea may have come from Mesoamerican cultures. Balls have been found, but we don’t know what the game was. Perhaps the games provided the opportunity to tailgate, trade, and wager, like our modern ballgames.
Mesquite Trees, Cactus Flowers, and Other Eats of the Time
People have lived here in the Sonoran Desert for 10,000 years or more. It’s estimated that the ancestral Sonorans had some 200 plants for food and medicinal purposes, such as legumes from mesquite trees, bountiful cactus flowers, and creosote bushes. The Gila River flowed freely, supporting cottonwood, willows, and other trees. This area had wetlands with birds, fish, and small game.
The Railroad Brings New Visitors and The Casa Grande Ruins is Protected
Written historical accounts of the Casa Grande begin with the 1694 diary entries of Spanish missionary Padre Eusebio Francisco Kino. Later, in the 1800s, came the train line, which ended in the nearby town of Casa Grande, then called Terminix. Visitors would take the stagecoach to Florence where the rails picked back up, bound for California. These stagecoaches brought all types of wayfarers, from pioneers to invading looters and grifters. They stopped at the site for picnics and tourism, and some looted artifacts and vandalized the ruins with graffiti. As the site degraded, concerned citizens wrote letter-writing campaigns calling for its protection.
A wealthy Bostonian named Mary Hemenway financed the 1887-88 Hemenway Southwestern Archeological Expedition, eventually leading the way for President Benjamin Harrison to declare it the United States’ first prehistoric and cultural reserve in 1892. President Woodrow Wilson re-designated it as a national monument on August 3, 1918.
Visitors Center, Exhibits, and American Indian Storytellers
While not currently staffed due to the pandemic (as of August 2020), the Visitors Center is a terrific resource. It contains fascinating educational exhibits with artifacts that were found on the Monument’s grounds and a theater; American Indian guest artists are often on-site with storytelling, jewelry, and artworks, and archeologists present special programs.
But never fear! The Monument grounds contain a number of colorfully illustrated placards that lead you through the site’s history and culture, and you can read more details on the National Park Service’s Casa Grande Ruins webpages. You can even get a Virtual Visit Passport Stamp!
When To Go: The Casa Grande Ruins National Monument grounds are currently open from Tuesday-Saturday from 9:00 am-4:00 pm, including the picnic area. Summers in this part of the U.S. are blisteringly hot, so this is a day trip worth planning for later in September, October, and onward through May so that you can spend some quality time appreciating this unique National Park. Call (520) 723-3172 to speak with a park ranger for the latest information.
Always be sure to bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and a hat. The Park asks visitors to please take care to Leave No Trace and to practice social distancing and COVID-19 safety protocols.
