Location: History, Heritage & Tradition

Have any questions or can’t decide what to do first? Stop by Payson’s Visitor Center to meet friendly faces that will help you make the most of your Payson trip!

Hashknife is the longest continuous pony express in the country, running for over 64 years! Plan your Payson trip accordingly to make this event typically happening in February.

A trip to Payson wouldn’t be complete without stopping by Pioneer Park! This park on Main Street offers and amphitheater, historic displays, and covered walkways.

Step into the ancient past and discover the wonder and innovation of the indigenous peoples of the region. This site, believed to have been occupied A.D. 1000-1250, was a village that had a massive stone wall and dozens of rooms. 

Catch a movie and experience history! You can actually hear this history, with sawmill whistles going off at eight, noon, and five o’clock. These sounds used to signal breaks to the sawmill workers that were the backbone of the town of Payson. 

Dating back to 1882, this cemetery is a special piece of history where many pioneering families were laid to rest. If you’ve been tracking your own family’s genealogy and want to see if an ancestor could have been buried here, you can explore findagrave.com online. If you do visit, please be respectful and treat it like the resting place it is for loved ones and friends.

Planning your trip around 4th of July? This hometown celebration offers traditional games and activities all day, blending nostalgic Americana fun with the spirit of a ‘Wild West’ Arizona community. At night, fireworks light up the sky over the expansive Green Valley Park. 

Those who love history and literature will want to stop by Rim Country Museum for “The Best Stories in the West.” Explore the area’s rich heritage at this charming museum and gift shop, which celebrates the life and writing of legendary author Zane Grey. Tours of his cabin are guided and scheduled, while you can explore the museum on your own. 

Get a taste of Western heritage by visiting Payson’s famous rodeos! If you’re visiting in May you can plan your trip to make the Gary Hardt Memorial Rodeo. In August, you can plan to visit the Payson Pro Rodeo, the world’s oldest continuous rodeo!