Owners Katie Ellering and RTDK Management, who bought the town as a 20-year lease from Tonto National Forest in September 2019, recently spent half a million dollars on improvements. It eventually became a stagecoach stop bringing travelers, businessmen and adventurers out West.Īrizona wildflowers: Hikes and scenic drivers where you can see the blooms What's new at Tortilla Flat? Tortilla Flat was a place of rest for dam workers and visitors on their way to the construction site, 26 miles to the north. Tortilla Flat came to prominence when Roosevelt Dam and the road leading to it - State Route 88 - were being built in 1903. With its setting nestled between mountain passes and alongside the Salt River, the shady oasis has long welcomed weary travelers looking to refresh, refuel and relax. Just to be clear, author John Steinbeck’s book by the same name has nothing to do with the Arizona landmark.Ībout 53 miles east of central Phoenix on the southern edge of Tonto National Forest, the area that became known as Tortilla Flat has for over 1,000 years served as a way station in the rugged Superstition Mountains. Here’s how to take a day trip from Phoenix to Tortilla Flat. With food, live music, vintage buildings including a post office and museum, souvenirs, lots of Southwest history and of course the famous prickly pear gelato, it's easy to see why Tortilla Flat is a fun place to spend an afternoon. The goal of the renovations was to bring the facilities up to modern standards while maintaining the historical ambiance. The town's new owners have poured $500,000 into improvements to the old buildings that line Tortilla Flat's two blocks on State Route 88, also known as the Apache Trail, east of Apache Junction.īut don't expect anything to be shiny or modern looking. This historic former stagecoach stop offers a scenic escape from the city and an authentic taste of the Old West. Looking for an easy day trip from Phoenix? Visit Tortilla Flat.

View Gallery: Tortilla Flat, AZ: Easy day trip from Phoenix on the Apache Trail

Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck