Your Name: Katie Ellering

Business Name: Tortilla Flat

Town/Neighborhood: 18 miles northeast of Apache Junction in the Tonto National Forest.

Fun fact: Tortilla Flat has been a U.S. Post Office since 1927. Today we mostly do flat-rate shipping and postcard stamps but we are still part of the USPS. Since our town is just us, our unique address is 1 Main Street, Tortilla Flat, AZ 85190.

Hours of operation: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday/Sunday (breakfast 8-10:30 a.m. Saturday/Sunday). Go to tortillaflataz.com or Facebook @TortillaFlatSaloon.

Personal background highlights: Grew up in MN and moved to AZ when I was 20 to go to ASU and get out of the snow.

Professional background highlights: I graduated ASU with a degree in tourism and hospitality management and the opportunity to be part of Arizona tourism history was an exciting prospect. Tortilla Flat is a one-of-a-kind, authentic historic town, established in 1904, with a current population of 6. The stagecoach stop supplied the materials used to hand build Roosevelt Dam and the dam provided the water needed for the Phoenix area to develop.

What I do: I wear many hats but my favorite is self-appointed mayor. Hospitality is my specialty and I most enjoy talking with guests and hearing stories about previous visits to Tortilla Flat. This town holds a lot of memories for a lot of people and I love giving our guests an experience to remember.

Our favorite story we’ve learned about the history of Tortilla Flat: My favorite story has to be when a gentleman came into town for a bucket list trip and shared that his family lived and ran the general store back in the 1920s. He was trepidatious about asking us if there was a pet bear that lived here because he grew up getting told stories that he thought were just improbable tales but the look on his face when we told him the stories were true was priceless. Several months later we met another man who also had relatives who lived in Tortilla Flat back in the 1920s and he was kind enough to share his family tree and we put together the puzzle that these two men were long lost relatives.

What I like most about doing business here: We are the current caretakers of Tortilla Flat and our mission is to make sure the town survives another 100-plus years. We don’t own the land but we have a 20-year lease with Tonto National Forest and four years have flown by already. We are very much a community-focused local business because we know that local residents not only support us all year long but also bring their friends and family for a fun, one-of-a-kind experience when they come to visit. We are extremely proud of our team we call family because we have numerous employees with decades of hard work and dedication to Tortilla Flat.

What am I promoting: We are a local business that supports other local businesses in the community several ways. One is by participating in a local group called The Apache Trail Attractions Committee that is a group of local business owners that help each other cross-market to bring visitors to this area. The committee has recently rejuvenated our mission to pass along the importance of the history of the Superstitions and making sure the unique stories aren’t lost in time forever. Another way we support local businesses is by bringing in a lot of local vendors who can showcase their unique talents in our Mercantile. For example, we are the only physical location you can purchase amazing handmade jewelry by Sam Art. Her work is so incredible and is a must-see when you visit. We also are able to support our local community by making donations, like pallets of water, to local programs like the Superstition Food Bank.

When and why I started my business/employment here: Before the Grand Canyon was a tourist destination, the Apache Trail boasted awe-inspiring views for travelers beginning in the early 1900s. When my partners and I learned the town was for sale, there was hesitation at first about running an old property in the middle of the Tonto National Forest, 20 miles from the nearest gas station. After visiting and learning about the important history Tortilla Flat has to offer it became an exiting opportunity to re-invigorate a part of true Arizona history.

My family: My husband and I live in the Apache Junction community and we have six fur babies — four dogs and two cats that we’ve rescued.

My interests & hobbies: My husband, Chris, and I enjoy the outdoors including hiking and boating.