The History of Reavis Ranch

May 12th, 2025 9:00am

Reavis Ranch: Legend and Legacy in Arizona's Superstition Mountains

Introduction
Deep within the rugged heart of Arizona's Superstition Mountains lies Reavis Ranch, a place echoing with tales of resilience, solitude, and the untamed spirit of the American frontier. The story of this remote haven is inseparable from that of Elisha Marcus Reavis, the enigmatic "Hermit of the Superstitions," whose life and legacy have forever shaped the valley that now bears his name. This blog post explores the captivating history of Reavis Ranch and its most famous inhabitant, charting their journey from ancient Native American lands to a cherished wilderness sanctuary.

Elisha Marcus Reavis: The Hermit of the Superstitions
Born in Illinois in 1827, Elisha Marcus Reavis was a man of notable education for his time. He attended college and worked as a teacher before the lure of adventure and the promise of new horizons drew him westward. By the late 1860s, Reavis found himself in the Arizona Territory, initially settling near Fort McDowell. Here, he honed his skills breaking and training horses, and it's believed he may have also served as a civilian packer with the U.S. Army [https://www.ajpl.org/the-old-hermit-elisha-m-reavis/].

Reavis's growing familiarity with the harsh, beautiful terrain of central Arizona led him to a secluded valley that would become his sanctuary. In 1874, he made his home in what we now know as Reavis Valley, becoming the first Anglo settler to claim this isolated paradise [http://superstitionmountaintomkollenborn.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-reavis-ranch-legacy.html]. The valley's perennial spring and fertile soil offered a rare oasis in the otherwise arid expanse of the Superstition Wilderness, a feature that had attracted Native American inhabitants for thousands of years prior [https://www.ancient-origins.net/reavis-ranch].

Reavis was a man of compelling contradictions. He sought solitude, yet his skills as a marksman and his tenacity earned him the respect of both settlers and local Apache groups. Numerous stories speak to his eccentric nature, perhaps the most famous being the tale of how he defended his homestead from a band of Apache warriors. As the story goes, when besieged, Reavis disrobed, armed himself with two knives, and charged the camp. This audacious act convinced the attackers of his insanity – a condition that, according to Apache custom, rendered him untouchable [https://www.ajpl.org/william-g-knight-reavis-ranch-1892-1915/]. Such accounts cemented his legendary status, even during his lifetime.

Despite his chosen isolation, Reavis was not entirely removed from the world. He cultivated approximately fifteen acres of land, growing vegetables that he traded with mining camps and nearby settlements. He raised chickens, turkeys, hogs, burros, horses, and dogs, and was known to travel with a string of burros laden with his produce and supplies [https://www.ajpl.org/the-old-hermit-elisha-m-reavis/]. Remarkably, Reavis also maintained a personal library, making him perhaps the first to keep a collection of fine books within the Superstition Wilderness [https://www.ajpl.org/the-old-hermit-elisha-m-reavis/].

By the mid-1890s, Reavis's health began to fail. In April 1896, while on a journey to purchase seed potatoes, he passed away alone along the trail. His body was discovered by a friend weeks later. He was buried in a solitary grave about four miles south of his beloved mountain home, a fitting final resting place for a man who so deeply cherished his solitude [http://superstitionmountaintomkollenborn.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-reavis-ranch-legacy.html].

The Evolution of Reavis Ranch
Following Reavis's death, the valley passed through several hands, each contributing to the evolving story of the land. John J. Fraser, a local cattleman, was the first to take over the valley and its valuable water rights. Like Reavis, Fraser was a squatter, unable to secure legal title to the property due to his lack of U.S. citizenship [http://superstitionmountaintomkollenborn.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-reavis-ranch-legacy.html]. He operated the ranch from 1896 to 1909, during which time the area began its transformation from a solitary homestead to a working cattle ranch.

In 1909, Fraser sold his interest to William J. Clemans, who, in 1919, finally patented 140 acres of Reavis Valley, establishing legal ownership [http://superstitionmountaintomkollenborn.blogspot.com/2012/04/going-home-to-reavis-ranch.html]. Clemans and his sons significantly expanded the ranch. They constructed a new ranch house in the 1930s, dug nearly two miles of irrigation canals, planted hundreds of apple trees, and created a large pond for irrigation [http://superstitionmountaintomkollenborn.blogspot.com/2012/04/going-home-to-reavis-ranch.html]. The ranch became a bustling center of activity, supporting cattle, crops, and even hosting the first Camp Geronimo for the Boy Scouts in 1922 [http://superstitionmountaintomkollenborn.blogspot.com/2012/04/going-home-to-reavis-ranch.html].

The Clemans family operated the ranch until 1946, after which it was sold to John A. Bacon and later to Floyd Stone and Kenneth Lockwood. In 1966, a significant turning point occurred when the ranch was sold to the United States Department of Agriculture. This marked the end of its era as a privately-owned working ranch and the beginning of its stewardship as part of the Tonto National Forest [http://superstitionmountaintomkollenborn.blogspot.com/2012/04/going-home-to-reavis-ranch.html].

Reavis Ranch in the Modern Era
With its incorporation into the Tonto National Forest, Reavis Ranch transformed into a destination for hikers, backpackers, and wilderness enthusiasts [https://wildpathsaz.com/reavis-ranch/]. The road to the ranch, initially conceived in 1910, was not completed until 1946 but was closed in 1968 due to escalating maintenance costs and safety concerns. This closure limited access to those willing to undertake the challenging journey on foot or horseback [http://superstitionmountaintomkollenborn.blogspot.com/2012/04/going-home-to-reavis-ranch.html].

The ranch house, a structure built in the 1930s, endured decades of harsh weather, fire, and vandalism before ultimately succumbing to fire around Thanksgiving 1991. Today, only the concrete slab remains, a silent reminder of the lives once lived there [http://superstitionmountaintomkollenborn.blogspot.com/2012/04/going-home-to-reavis-ranch.html]. The valley itself, however, with its perennial stream and lush meadows, remains a pristine ecological treasure – a rare and precious gem within the Sonoran Desert.

Legacy of Elisha Reavis and the Ranch
Elisha Reavis's legacy lives on in the captivating stories of his courage, eccentricity, and unwavering self-reliance. He is remembered not merely as a hermit, but as a symbol of the rugged individualism that defined the American frontier. The ranch that bears his name stands as a monument to his vision, perseverance, and the enduring allure of the Superstition Mountains.

The history of Reavis Ranch also mirrors Arizona's broader narrative: from its ancient Native American roots, through the era of pioneering settlers and cattlemen, to its present role as a protected wilderness. Each chapter has enriched the valley's character, ensuring that the legend of Elisha Reavis and his mountain sanctuary will continue to inspire for generations to come [https://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=270].

Conclusion
The story of Reavis Ranch and Elisha Marcus Reavis is a testament to resilience, adaptation, and the enduring human connection to the land. From its earliest Native American inhabitants to the solitary hermit who gave the valley its name, and through generations of ranchers and conservationists, Reavis Ranch remains a place where history, legend, and the raw beauty of nature converge. The spirit of Elisha Reavis continues to resonate within the wild heart of the Superstition Wilderness, inviting new generations to discover its secrets and share in its remarkable legacy.

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