In the
whimsical spin of the stop sign and softly rustling leaves, the wayward winds
of fall do tease at the crossroads. And
you might just head south, instead. For
even in the twilight sky, diamond stars will shimmer and knowingly wink at the
adventurous few, travelling southward.
After a
satisfying weekend of ghost sightings in Bisbee (you don’t have to hunt for
them there), it would seem only fitting to visit the eternal resting site
intended for the not-so-departed. That would be the cemetery; just outside of
town.
Not
surprisingly, the cemetery is a rather quiet place, though it is near capacity
for gravesites. You won’t be able to see the bats against the black velvet sky,
unless by moonlight; which seldom seems to shine.
Then, just
when it seems prudent to turn back, you see a vintage airstream, gleaming in
the starlight. Curiosity deepens as another airstream comes into view, and
another. By the time you realize it is an entire campground full of campers
from yesteryear, you’ll be transported to another dimension; where everything
is as it was, though perhaps not as it seems.
This camp;
consisting of ten units, each with its own theme and a percolator, are
available for rent by the week or weekend, with a down home Diner on site, and
everything presented in a strictly fifties atmosphere, where the likes of Gogi
Grant and Jody Reynolds croon through ancient metal speaker boxes about Endless
Sleep and the Wayward Wind.
Two units of
note are the 1947 Polynesian style Tiki Bus, where unsuspecting sleepers are
treated to the peculiar sensation of someone sprinkling sand on their faces—all
night, and the 1951 Royal Mansion where midnight snacks are regularly sought in
the fridge by someone other than the resting renters!
Nevertheless,
according to reviews on TripAdvisor, this place is on a lot of bucket lists and
a highly recommended destination. I’ve
saved the name for last and in a second you’ll know why.
It’s called The Shady Dell!
Though not to be confused with my dear friend at Shady Dell Music & Memories, I
thought this might be of interest :-)
Gratitude: Sopping socks or not, I’m grateful
for unexpected rain that makes me appreciate sunshine all the more, friendships
that strengthen with time, and a dog who brings me the slippers I yearned for
the whole time I stood in the rain at the races!
Wednesday Word(s): Uprisings related to Global Warming.
Have you been to either of the Shady
Dells? (Highly recommended;-)) Any gratitude thoughts for today? Could Global
Warming possibly be related to riots and beheadings?
Good morning, dear Diedre!
ReplyDeleteThis post is brimming with things to discuss. I have known about your Arizona Shady Dell since 2008 when I was preparing to launch my blog. I Googled "Shady Dell" in an effort to collect background info about my York, PA, Shady Dell and found almost nothing. However I got a dozen or more hits for the Bisbee Shady Dell campground and was inspired to make reference to it in my very first post. Paste the link below and read the text next to the picture of "Kenneth" from the TV sitcom 30 Rock.
http://shadydell.blogspot.com/2008/07/warm-welcome-from-site-administrator_20.html
I would love to visit the Shady Dell in Bisbee, Arizona. Like my blog, the park allows you to escape the horrors of the modern world and go retro, returning to the joy of a simpler way of life (accompanied by a few friendly ghosts). Gogi Grant's "The Wayward Wind" was a 45 my parents owned, one that I played often on my tiny tinny turntable in the subterranean game room of our house. My older brother owned Jody Reynolds' "The Endless Sleep," a rockabilly record that was an early example of "death rock," even though Jody rescues his baby at the end of the song and saves her from an endless sleep:
There in the breakers I saw her near
Reached for my darlin', held her to me
Stole her away from the angry sea
As you surely know there are rockabilly subcultures, people who have adopted a retro lifestyle. They live simply, drive vintage automobiles, dress in 50s garb and hairstyles and listen to rockabilly music on record players and jukeboxes. They don't simply play dress-up once a year. They are "all in." They live it 24-7-365.
I am not wise and knowledgeable enough to determine the connection between Global Warming and the chaos that is occurring around the globe. I just hope we can stop the madness. The 1985 anti-drug video that we ran on my MTV style television station applies to madness, violence and cruelty in all its forms:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5zJvX3pIY4
You wrote:
<< I’m grateful for friendships that strengthen with time, >>
That's what I'm feeling whenever I make this connection with you, dear Diedre. Thank you! :)
I'm not surprised you already knew about the campground and wondered if there was a connection; if perhaps you knew each other from the same Shady Dell of yore.;-)
DeleteYou are so right about "escaping the horrors" . It would seem the rockabilly types have good reason to embrace simpler times...
I've always loved the song "Wayward Wind" and I too, heard it often growing up.:-)
Did you create that video, dear Shady? I am indeed impressed. It's always a comfort to know that at least some of us recognize chaos for what it is.
And equally impressive if the fact that one can still find original posts. I guess I assumed they eventually twinkled out like stars in an over-crowded sky. Apparently,they're as lasting as the friendships built in cyberspace or in person! Thanks for pointing that out, my dear friend, Shady.:-)
Hi again, dear Diedre! You are very kind, but I cannot take credit for creating the video "Stop the Madness."
DeleteAccording to Wiki, << The video was created by Tim Reid, who played DJ Venus Flytrap on CBS' WKRP in Cincinnati, and Brian Dyak, founding president and CEO of the Entertainment Industries Council, with Dyak serving as the video's executive producer. The song was written by Michael Stokes. It premiered January 17, 1986 on NBC's Friday Night Videos and was in regular airing for over six months. >>
It also played frequently on the MTV station where I worked and was issued to high schools across the country as part of the Reagan administration's war on drugs.
Thank you very much for plugging SDMM today, my very special friend! :)
"Wayward winds of fall" I love that.
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to go to a cemetery. To experience the peace and quiet. To take pictures. And to see if I get any ghostly vibes.
I love bats, but hearing their wings flapping and not being able to see them would give me chills.
I sure wouldn't want to step through a dimension, though. I'd be afraid I'd be stuck there forever.
"Wayward winds of fall" I love that.
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to go to a cemetery. To experience the peace and quiet. To take pictures. And to see if I get any ghostly vibes.
I love bats, but hearing their wings flapping and not being able to see them would give me chills.
I sure wouldn't want to step through a dimension, though. I'd be afraid I'd be stuck there forever.
Hi Chrys! There is certain peacefulness at the cemetery, but I think I've seen too many scary shows to go there at night - ha!
DeleteIt's not only the flapping bat wings but how close they do their fly-bys - it actually blows your hair! We have many around here as we live quite near a canyon
The vintage television sets at the Shady Dell play oldie reruns all day - including Twilight Zone and 'I love Lucy'. I was alluding to that when I said 'dimension' ;-) I know, I'm a nut - ha!
I haven't heard of either of these places. The idea of someone sprinkling sand on my face all night. Ah! I'd probably pass out from fear and shock. And gratitude thoughts? Let's see...well, next week is Thanksgiving, so I'm totally grateful for pecan and sweet potato pie:)
ReplyDeleteHaha! I'd probably bolt from the place and stand outside all night! The creepy backstory there is of someone being buried before he was, ah, ready. eesh!
DeletePecan and sweet potato pie? Now that I'm drooling, I'm on a mission for the recipe:-) Is it a secret?
No, I've never been to Shady Dell. I do love cemeteries though.
ReplyDeleteI especially like reading the headstones in old western cemeteries:
Delete"Here lays Butch
We planted him raw
he was quick on the trigger
but slow on the draw"
Thanks for stopping by, Kelly :-)
I love spooky places, but this doesn't sound like a fun vacation experience!
ReplyDeleteHa! I agree :-) It sure doesn't have the same allure as the ghosts of nearby Bisbee. Definitely a day trip, and the cemetery has it's share of historical markers; some of which are barely discernible by day, let alone at night. There are only a handful of these kind of parks in the US, but I guess they do get enough visitors to stay in business.;-)
DeleteThis Shady Dell sounds like a fascinating place, but I don't think I would pay to stay there. Too spoiled and used to all the amenities. ☺
ReplyDeleteHow cool that our mutual friend, Shady Del Knight, already knows about this. Bet he would enjoy it there!
This Shady Dell sounds like a fascinating place, but I don't think I would pay to stay there. Too spoiled and used to all the amenities. ☺
ReplyDeleteHow cool that our mutual friend, Shady Del Knight, already knows about this. Bet he would enjoy it there!
Haha! I agree. While the vintage campers are interesting, I found the cemetery more intriguing :-)
DeleteWay cool! In fact, our friend was the reason I decided to even write about the park, since the town of Bisbee is so close and teeming with ghosts already :-)