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The grapes of Sun Cities are no more

Posted 12/8/19

One of the great traditions of the Sun Cities came to a screeching halt June 12, 1982.

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The grapes of Sun Cities are no more

Posted

One of the great traditions of the Sun Cities came to a screeching halt June 12, 1982.

Ned Palmer, J.G. Boswell Co. operations manager, announced the end of the annual “Grape Festival” at the Boswell Ranch vineyards at Cactus Ranch. The enormously popular event began in 1965 for residents of Sun City, and later included Sun City West in 1978.

Starting in 1965 and continuing for 16 years, residents eagerly awaited the designated picking dates, usually in July. They would fill their vehicles with containers of every size and description and head for Cactus Ranch on Cotton Lane eight miles west of Sun City between Olive Avenue and Waddell Road. They could gather unlimited quantities of green Thompson seedless grapes, green perlettes and cardinal reds. Pickers estimated the huge trunks of Cadillac El Dorados or Lincoln Continentals would easily hold 1,000 pounds.

Most grapes ended up drying in the sun in backyards with the raisins destined for cookies, cakes and pies. Others made jam, jelly, fruit salads and even wine.

As the grape festival grew, the Del Webb Development Company established some rules, but also added some additional perks.  Pickers could not enter the property before 6 a.m. The line waiting for the gates to open extended for blocks. A DEVCO truck was manned by representatives of the Property Management Department who dispensed free water and soft drinks to participants, monitored garbage bins and provided cleanup at the end of the day. Representatives of the Public Relations Department acted as greeters and mingled with the guests.  An ambulance was on hand every day — just in case. Although no transport was reported over the years, one lady reported a near miss — when parting grape leaves her hand nearly came to rest on a sleeping rattlesnake. 

Not everyone played by the rules. A few residents arrived either early or after hours and jumped the fence. One year the vineyards had unwanted visitors several nights running. A group of “grape rustlers” from the East Valley visited with their produce truck with pickers aboard. They would fill the truck with the prized grapes and early the next morning would make the rounds of supermarkets in Mesa to sell their freshly picked fruit.

The reasons for shutting down the festival had nothing to do with rule breakers or grape burglars. Boswell spokesmen said the decision was based completely on a change in operational management of the vineyards and the ranch’s inability to meet the demand of the ever increasing population of the two participating cities.

The historical record notes 1982 was not a good year for residents. After three decades of weekly shows on ABC followed by first-run syndication, the Lawrence Welk Show was cancelled. It was hard to judge which of the two events of the year created more sorrow locally.

The Del Webb Sun Cities Museum, 10801 W. Oakmont Drive, Sun City is dedicated to preserving the historical stories of the two communities. Members will receive many additional stories and the opportunity to sample classes and presentations in the new Del Webb Gallery and Constance W. McMillin Gathering Place.