Add some Victorian charm to your holiday season with a starlight visit to Winsor Castle, the historic fort at Pipe Spring National Monument, on Tuesday, December 7, 2010, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.     

A little known gem of the national park system, Pipe Spring National Monument is rich with American Indian and western pioneer history.  Known as Matungwa’va to the Paiute Indians, the water in the area made it possible for people to survive here for thousands of years.  By the early 1870’s, Mormon pioneers had found the springs, built a sandstone fort, called Winsor Castle, and established a “tithing ranch”.  This “castle” in the desert served as a way station for people crossing the remote Arizona Strip and as a refuge for polygamist wives during the late 1800s.  Pipe Spring was set aside as a national monument in 1923.  Today it offers a glimpse into American Indian and pioneer life in the old west.   

Winsor Castle By Night provides a once a year opportunity for the public to visit the historic fort at night, decorated for the holidays and lighted with oil lanterns.  On December 7, 2010 the monument will be open from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.  Every 15 minutes volunteers will provide a short orientation at the visitor center then lead visitors to the fort. You will be able to visit several open rooms at your leisure, chat with the costumed rangers and volunteers about holidays past, and sing a carol or two. Then stop at the chuckwagon for a cup of hot cider and warm up by the fire.  You may also browse the Visitor Center and Museum, as well as the Pipe Spring–Zion Natural History Association Bookstore during your visit.  Dress warm!   The regular entrance fee ($5.00 per person 16 and older) will apply. 

Interagency Annual/Senior/Access Passes, as well as Golden Age/Access Passports will be honored and available for sale.  Please dress warm and bring a flashlight.  For more information about this event please contact Andrea Bornemeier at 928-643-7105.   

Winter hours at Pipe Spring National Monument are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (last tour at 4:00 p.m.), seven days a week.  The monument will be closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's days.

To get there:  From Interstate 15, turn onto Utah State Route 9 in Hurricane, Utah.  Take Utah State Route 59 east out of Hurricane.  This road turns into Arizona State Route 389 at the state line.  Pipe Spring is 45 miles east of Hurricane.    From Utah Highway 89 and 89A, turn onto Arizona State Route 389 in Fredonia, Arizona.  Pipe Spring is 15 miles west of Fredonia.