Welcome back to another edition of the Sun City Scoop! We’ve got a little bit of everything this week, from the story behind the Zane Grey Highway and a possible APS rate hike to a look at what $895,000 buys you on the water in Sun City. And keep an eye on the forecast, because it looks like we may get more rain heading our way next week.

Have an amazing week out there…🙏

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~ APS Rate Hike Decision Coming. APS is asking the Arizona Corporation Commission to approve a new rate increase, arguing that higher costs for maintaining and expanding the electric grid, wildfire protection, equipment and growing power demand have made its current rates inadequate. The proposal could raise the typical residential customer's bill by about $20 per month, although the final increase could be smaller depending on what regulators approve. The Commission is expected to make a final decision by the end of the year, with any new rates likely taking effect in early 2027.

~ My son Tyler & I were in Flagstaff this past Sunday, and the trees are looking nice!!

Wondering when Arizona’s fall colors will hit their peak? The Discover Flagstaff Leaf-O-Meter makes it easy to follow along, with regular status updates showing where the leaves are changing and which areas are getting close to prime viewing time.

Visit their website to see the color status of the leaves in several different locations.

~ Friday, October 9, 2026, is your opportunity experience Sun City Orientation and learn more about our unique community and discover why Sun City is known as the "City of Volunteers!" Event will be held at the Sundial Recreation Center and is hosted by SCHOA, COA, and RCSC. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. and the meeting starts at 9:00 a.m. (link)

A roof leak. A failed A/C. A plumbing problem. A refrigerator that stopped working weeks ago.

When a home sits vacant for months, a small problem can turn into a big one before you ever know it happened.

Phoenix Home Watch provides regular interior checks of your vacant home, looking for signs of leaks, water damage, A/C problems and other issues while you’re away.

Because the best welcome home is finding your house exactly the way you left it.

Visit PhxHomeWatch.com or call Phoenix Home Watch at (623) 226-8299

If you've driven along the Mogollon Rim, you've probably seen the name Zane Grey Highway attached to State Route 260. But who was Zane Grey, and how did one of Arizona's most scenic highways end up carrying the name of a novelist?

The road itself has roots that go back long before automobiles. In 1871, General George Crook ordered construction of a wagon road connecting Fort Verde with Camp Apache, part of a military campaign in Arizona's Rim Country. Portions of that old General Crook road eventually became part of the transportation network that evolved into today's SR 260.

The modern highway came much later. After World War II, Arizona began improving access to the Mogollon Rim as the state's population and tourism industry grew. The route between Payson and Show Low was originally known as State Route 160, assembled largely from existing forest roads. Construction and paving took years, with the paved highway between Payson and Show Low finally completed in 1974. During the 1970s, the route became part of SR 260.

So where does Zane Grey enter the story?

Grey was one of America's most popular Western writers, best known for novels such as Riders of the Purple Sage. He first visited the Payson area in 1918 and became captivated by the Mogollon Rim. He returned regularly during the 1920s, using the rugged forests, canyons and ranch country as inspiration for his writing. He built a cabin beneath the Rim near what is now Kohl's Ranch and helped introduce millions of readers around the country to this corner of Arizona.

By the 1960s, plans were underway for a scenic highway across the Rim Country, and officials proposed calling it the Zane Grey Highway in recognition of the author whose books had brought national attention to the region. An Arizona Highways article from 1967 was already describing a new road being surveyed between Camp Verde and eastern Arizona that was slated to carry Grey's name.

Not everyone was thrilled with the idea.

Local historians argued that General Crook had a much stronger historical connection to the actual road. Crook's military route dated to 1871, while Grey did not arrive in the area until 1918. There was even a push by local residents and the Arizona Historical Society to call the route the General Crook Highway instead. But supporters of the Zane Grey name, including local chambers of commerce, prevailed, in part because Grey's name was already closely associated with the Rim Country.

Today, SR 260 stretches across some of Arizona's most spectacular high country, connecting communities from the Verde Valley through Payson, Heber-Overgaard, Show Low and eventually Eagar. And along portions of the route, the Zane Grey name remains a reminder of the writer who helped turn the Mogollon Rim into the stuff of Western legend.

Zane Grey's relationship with Arizona ended rather dramatically. In 1929, he returned with a group intending to hunt bear but was denied special permission because the hunting season had changed. Grey became angry, left Arizona and reportedly vowed never to return. He kept his word.

A replica of Grey's Rim Country cabin can now be visited at the Rim Country Museum in Payson, preserving his connection to the landscape that inspired so much of his writing.

[Sun City West] Movie Night at the Stardust Theatre Join them for a matinee showing of IN THE GREY, on Thursday, October 8th, at 6pm (link)

[Sun City] This week’s movie is ‘FRENEMIES’. Showtimes are Wednesday 10/7 at 2pm & 7pm at the Marinette Rec Center & Saturday 10/10 at 2pm & 7pm at the MOUNTAIN MUSIC ROOM (New location). See the OCTOBER movie lineup here.

[Sun City] Sun City’s Sun Bowl Fall Concert Series is underway, with the next show happening on Sunday, October 11th. Come see SENIOR MOMENTS BAND, which aims to bring joy and entertainment through live music including soul and rock, rhythm and blues. (link)

[Statewide] Oktoberfest is underway, and if you’re looking to get out and celebrate the season, there are a wide variety of events happening all across Arizona. Check out this list of 11 different Oktoberfest events.

[Sun City West] The Sun City West Friday Farmers Market has moved indoors for the summer, at the Sun City West Foundation. The market is open from 10a,-2pm each Friday. (link & map)

[Sun City] The Sun City Farmers Market is sticking around for the summer, with new hours designed for early birds. Stop by Bell Recreation Center on Thursday mornings from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. to browse fresh produce, baked goods, and offerings from local vendors. (link)

Have an event you want listed here? Please reach out!

[Glendale] If you’re looking to celebrate Oktoberfest locally, Haus Murphy in Historic Downtown Glendale is a great option, and they have a bunch of dates to suit your schedule. Learn more at their website.

[Sun City] 🎶 Sun City’s Fall Concert Series is almost here! The 2026 Sundial Fall Ticketed Concert Mini-Series kicks off November 4th, and individual tickets are available for sale now. (link)

🏡 Home of the Week: What does $895,000 get you in Sun City? How about a lakefront home with three ensuite bedrooms, expansive water views and direct waterfront outdoor living, plus a spacious primary suite that puts the lake right outside your door. Inside, high ceilings, abundant natural light and multiple living and dining spaces make the most of that hard-to-find Sun City waterfront setting.

See all the pics & details here.

Property listed by Brenda Miertschin with eXp Realty

J.D. Manning, the publisher of the Sun City Scoop, is also a local Realtor. If you have questions about the market or your specific real estate situation,
you can reach J.D. at (480) 797-8975

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Some of the images you see in the newsletter are created using modern AI image tools. Whenever possible, I use my own photos from around Sun City and the West Valley, but sometimes it is helpful to generate an image that better illustrates a story or historical topic. These images are used simply to supplement the articles and help tell the story visually, not to mislead or deceive readers.