Oak Creek Canyon Closed But Businesses Remain Open

By Laurel Morales
July 03, 2014
Much
Laurel Morales
Much of Oak Creek Canyon remains without sign of fire. Most of the west side of the canyon has burned in three separate fires including May's Slide Fire. Chaparral in the canyon tends to grow back quickly.

The forest in Oak Creek Canyon is closed until the threat of monsoon rains and potential mudslides blows over. But businesses in the canyon are still open.

The residents and business owners in Oak Creek Canyon shudder when they see the ominous storm clouds. They’ve been anticipating mudslides since the Slide Fire.

Nichole Garrison, owner of the Butterfly Garden Inn, said many of her guests have cancelled.

“It’s exhausting,” Garrison said. “There’s a lot of phone calls. My husband and I were just laughing. We’re doing a lot of triage right now just trying to dispel the rumors and give the proper information. The canyon is open and [State Road] 89A is still a beautiful drive. Someone asked me the other day, ‘well if you can’t hike what’s the reason to come here?’ To me driving through is reason enough.”

The Butterfly Garden Inn is on the east side of the canyon and not in the path of any potential mudslides. Garrison's neighbors on the west side are preparing to leave when the storms arrive.

The Sedona Chamber of Commerce estimates the economic impact of the Slide Fire has been more than $4 million.