Second Life for Rescued Dewey Destination
After being sold for development and sitting idle for years, a once-popular farm and family entertainment spot in Dewey has a thriving new life offering good food and good times. Rescued from abandonment in 2008, Mortimer Farms is in the Arizona high country about 80 miles north of Phoenix. You can pick-your-own and also enjoy a market, deli and family entertainment featuring a park, a playground, animal encounters, festivals, barn dances, farm-to-table dining and private events.
The Mortimer family farms 324 acres along the banks of the Agua Fria River. This is the historical Young’s Farm—established by Elmer Young in 1946—that grew to be known and loved statewide for its farm store, restaurant, sweet corn, chickens, turkeys and festivals. After a struggle over water rights, Elmer sold to developers in 2006 and the family moved to Oregon. I was sad. The community was sad. The buildings were torn down; the infrastructure was torn up; the land sat abandoned and idle for several years. The 2008 recession stopped the development and Gary Mortimer stepped up to purchase the property in 2010 with the goal to restore the farm.
I met Gary in 2011, while he was planting the former cornfield. Even though the land was still torn up, he was enthusiastic and optimistic. He talked about how much he loved growing corn and “planting seeds today for the future of this whole area.” He was getting ideas from his children—then elementary school students—about how to rebuild the whole community farm experience.
Now, I meet with Ashlee Mortimer, Gary’s all-grown-up daughter, for a farm tour. She tells me that at the time of purchase the family owned Mortimer Nursery in Prescott and Ash Creek Ranch, some 15 miles east on Highway 169.
Ashlee recounts the history. “In 2010, with the help of Dewey’s mayor, we were awarded a long-term lease. We developed the farm for almost 10 years. In 2020 it came up for foreclosure auction. We made the brassy move of bidding on it, even though it was New Year’s Eve and we only had 24 hours to come up with the loan amount. It was a huge gamble. By many, many, many miracles we got the loan approved. We were so excited. We’re still excited.”
Ashlee tells me how they rebuilt the farm better than before, using soil and water conservation methods like pivot and drip irrigation, which use 90% less water. Their organic growing practices include cover crops, crop rotation and composted ranch manure to build the soil. They test the soil annually to ensure maximum fertility.
The farm grows 54 different fruits and vegetables and over 50 varieties of pumpkins—decorative, giant, heritage, miniature, orange, purple, red, striped, warted and white. Most crops are you-pick, giving you and your family a true farm experience. In any given season there might be apples, asparagus, beets, blackberries, carrots, cilantro, corn, cucumbers, flowers, garlic, lettuce, okra, onions, peaches, peppers, potatoes, radishes, squash, strawberries, Swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons and more.
Produce is also available for purchase at the farm market, along with Ash Creek Ranch–raised meats (beef, pork, chicken and turkey), raised on ranch forage and ranch-grown feed. The store also carries pickles, jams, dairy products, breads and even candied jalapeños! Breakfast and lunch are served daily, always with an eye-boggling assortment of baked-from-scratch delights.
The farm is dedicated to teaching families about farms and farm fun. Excluding Thanksgiving and Christmas, you can shop, eat, play in the park and interact with the animals year-round, seven days a week. In winter, greenhouses supply the store and deli and pick-your-own is also available. As spring begins, so do the festivals: asparagus and garlic, then strawberry and blackberry, followed by summer sweet corn and watermelon. As fall nears, there are sunflower, pumpkin and corn maze festivals. The Christmas Festival, with historical costumed carolers, tree lighting and “The Real Santa” completes the annual cycle. Still more festivals feature pick-your-own, food vendors, craft demonstrations and sales, shows and entertainment like fire dancers, musicians, trick roping, pony rides and pig races!
From March through October, join the Friday evening barn dances with live music, campfires and farm-to-table dining. On Sunday evenings, Mortimer Farms serves a culinary experience: a multi-course dinner with wine pairings. It’s described this way: “Immerse yourself in a unique dining experience set against picturesque farm views. Each dinner is themed to highlight the freshest seasonal produce, ensuring a one-of-a-kind feast.”
Mortimer Farms also offers full-service wedding and private event venues—with farm-sourced catering, of course. They give farm tours and host field trips. During the growing season they sell at six farmers markets—Ahwatukee, Arrowhead, Carefree, Flagstaff, Gilbert and Prescott. Ashlee says, “We go because people love talking to the farmers who are growing their food.”
With all this, you’d think everything is perfect, but there are many, many challenges to growing food. Plans often go awry. Ashlee admits that “even the most perfect plan can go wrong—frost, hail, flooding, wind, drought, diseases, insects, weeds, equipment failures, even human failures. We must be flexible and adaptable. That’s why we are so diverse. Growing food is miraculous but we have to admit that everything is not within our control. It’s a humbling experience.”
Gary Mortimer and his family officially saved the farm. Ashlee emphasizes, “This is a community farm. We help the community and they support us. If you haven’t already visited come on by. And, if you have, come back.” It’s only one hour north of Phoenix. The weather is amazing, 10 to 20 degrees cooler than the Valley. Pick out a pumpkin. Experience fall!
CONTACT: mortimerfarmsaz@gmail.com, 928-830-1116
LOCATION: Intersection of Highway 69 and 169, Dewey, Arizona
HOURS:
Summer Hours (April 5–September 28): 7am–7pm
Winter Hours (November 2–April 4): 8am–6pm
Friday and Saturday Festival Hours: 9am–9pm
Sunday and Columbus Day Festival Hours: 9am–6pm
Closed Thanksgiving & Christmas, closing at 2pm on Christmas Eve
ADMISSION: No charge for admission to market and deli or for children under 2.
Farm Park/Pick ’n’ Play: $14 per person. You-Pick vegetables sold by the pound.
See calendar at mortimerfarmsaz.com for event schedules, to make reservations or to pay in advance.
Season passes available.
