In our travels to the Western U.S. we began to recognize a common thread weaving together abandoned sites. The occupation of sites ended close to or within one particular century… the 1300s.
Gone. As if — POOF — people vanished, leaving only traces of their civilizations in the ruins of structures we visited…
…Where did the people go? Did they go? Seems logical to ask, was there a pandemic?
Or think perhaps the changing whims of climate — floods or drought. If not force of nature — volcanic ash clouds? earthquakes? — then what? Overpopulation? Contaminants?
If they migrated, then to where?
The specialists at these historic places offer theories about each place.
From the cliff shelters of Mesa Verde or Hovenweep to today’s stop, Casa Grande, in addition to lots of sites around Arizona, we’ve listened to the park rangers, archaeologists and historians point out that humans last lived in these places, usually until the late 1200s, vanishing by the 1300s.
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument offered a break in our drive to Lake Havasu City, Arizona.
RVoyager docked at Lake Havasu City Elks Lodge
- Quiet
- Did not go in the lodge
- Power and water
- Not near the Lake
To fill the void of hours on the road, we have floated numerous conspiracy style theories:
Did the Vikings come to America early with a plague to which the natives were not immune?
We don’t like to leave our brains behind when we sightsee. But it can be tricky to learn while the body woo-hoos in vacation mode. Yet we seem to recall places for this 1300s mystery nearly everywhere…
Our visit to Casa Grande also solidified for us the importance of resources.
Ancient people flourished if they could manipulate water.
The people of Casa Grande built canals to water crops… and in the early 1300s this structure that must have seemed huge.
Within 50 years they were gone…but might they have been some of the people who abandoned drought strickened regions in the beginning of the 1300s, only to struggle with water again?
- Some say astronomical uses such as determining solstices.
- Others say crop storage and gatherings.
- Likeliest? Multipurpose!
One scientist in the Visitor Center video suggested the possibility that flood re-routed the Gila river, and other flooding destroyed the canals. These losses eventually made rebuilding too difficult. Regardless, without enough water, any desert region becomes less livable.
Another theory posed that copycat engineers diverted the water supply long before it reached Casa Grande.
What do you think? Join us in trying to imagine as you tour the grounds with us in this slideshow:
“Ramada” protection built over the ruins in 1932 
Ever wonder where Ramada Inn got its name? 
The monument interpretive center offered plenty of good reads 
WHY? now that’s another mystery. 
Peek inside for a slice of Classic life 
Not much remains of some outbuildings 
Ancient pet door?? Probably for grain storage. 
Bill had to try the pet door. 
During Westward Expansion, the stagecoach stopped at the ruins. 
Travelers often carved their names into the walls. 
Astronomical calendar feature 
No doubt water played a pivotal role in all things Casa Grande 
This barrel cactus is having pineapple babies? 
Across the desert in the direction we head next…
Casa Grande offered one solver we never encountered before: the notion that the people never left. In this scenario,
The Hohokam never really vanished, but reverted to a lifestyle better adapted to the changing conditions of the desert.
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
Coolidge, AZ 85128
(520) 723-3172
Official site of CGRNM
RVoyager 
Really sparking a desire to do some traveling. Thanks!
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