House of
Apache Fires
(source:
Red Rock State Park)
Sedona's House of Apache Fires
By A.M. Melfa
If not for a convoluted series of events,
Red Rock State Park in
Sedona, AZ would not exist.
When you visit the park these days you will see a trail that
leads up to a fenced in area containing what appears to be an old
dilapidated adobe house. The history of this house known as "The
House of Apache Fires" is also the story of Red Rock Park (see
map at the end of this article to find The House of Apache Fires).
Named for the smoke emanating from the campfires of the Yavapai Apache
workers, construction on the House of Apache Fires was begun in 1947
by the owners of the sprawling Smoke Trail Ranch, Jack and Helen
Frye.
Jack Frye
(source:
PBS.org)
Jack Frye is well known to aviation enthusiasts as the President of
TWA during World War II. Frye negotiated an exclusive contract with
the U.S. government at the time for the transport of Allied troops
and personnel. These were also the "Howard Hughes" years when
Frye recruited Hughes to the TWA development team.
Helen Frye, formerly Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr., was a prominent
artist who was one of the founders of Canyon Kiva, which would later
become the Sedona Arts Center, and the Sedona's
Humane Society.
Mrs. Frye, Sedona's own royalty during her residence
here, designed not only the House of Apache Fire but also the Wings
of Wind house on the Smoke Trail Ranch as well as other homes
throughout the Sedona area such as the Cup of Gold Estates
subdivision.
Built of local stone and timber, The House of Apache Fire was a
stunning representation of traditional adobe construction. I say
"was" due to the fact that the home has been allowed to fall in to
disrepair.
Jack and Helen Frye divorced in 1950 with Smoke Trail Ranch
going to Helen, and a small portion of the property was later divested
for the Canyon Kiva project. In 1962 Helen designed and built the
Wings of the Wind on a ridge above the ranch. It was in the
1970's that the fortunes of the beautiful and unique House of Apache
Fires began to turn.
At that time Helen became interested in an esoteric spiritual group
called "Eckankar, the ancient Science of Soul Travel." Founded in
1964 by journalist and self proclaimed soldier of fortune, Paul Twitchell
(died in 1971), the group has since become known as "another
American
Cult" reportedly encompassing all the key elements of cultism.
Unfortunately, Helen Frye's generous nature combined with her wealth
made her a valuable, albeit vulnerable, member of the Eck group.
It is unclear whether Mrs. Frye was acting under the influence of
this esoteric group or if she was of her own mind when she
established a Gift Deed in 1976 transferring physical ownership of
the House of Apache Fires and some surrounding areas to the Eckankar
group, but under the condition that it not be sold. A Life Estate was created allowing Helen use of the house and
property during her natural life, with ownership passing to Eckankar
upon her death.
Mrs. Frye's intentions were to establish the property as a retreat
for spiritual seekers. It appears that the group developed the House
of Apache Fires for the personal retreat of Eckankar's leaders.
At this time many damaging alterations were made to the house,
including the addition of a whirlpool in what was formerly Mrs.
Frye's second floor art studio bathroom, for use by the leader for his bad
back. As with most of the "renovations" done at this time, the
ensuing effects were disastrous. Today you can see where
the roof of Jack and Helen's former master bedroom is collapsing under the whirlpool's weight.
It is interesting to note, and very suspicious, that Mrs. Frye's
Last Will and Testament went missing at this time and was never
found. It is believed that she revised her Will to remove a bequeath of a large
portion of her estate to Eckankar. However, Eckankar had a
carbon copy of the earlier Will. Helen's family and Eckankar went to court which became infamous in the Arizona
Court system as being the only probate case ever to be heard by
a jury. During this time the Eck group was also investigated for
entering the house and removing objects.
Violating the terms of the Gift Deed, the Eckankar organization sold
the property in 1980 to the Anamax Mining Company. Once again,
navigating another twist on the byways of fate, the fortunes of
the House of Apache Fires were again about to turn.
Almost as soon as the purchase went through, Anamax Mining Company
traded the property to the State of Arizona in 1986 for parcels close to the
Titan Missile Museum near Green Valley, Arizona. The House of Apache
Fires had escaped another brush with extinction.
Through the influence of Bruce Edward Babbitt, the former
Arizona Attorney General and Governor as well as the United States
Secretary of Interior, a 286 acres parcel of the Smoke Trail Ranch,
including the House of Apache Fire, was converted in to what we know
of today as Red Rock Park.
The Park Service cites that the plans for a renovation of the House
of Apache Fires have been put on hold due to monetary constraints. A
staggering renovation bill is foreseeable considering the damaging
"improvements" conducted by Eckankar combined with half a century of
nature's wear and tear.
Perhaps one day soon, if Sedona is fortunate, the House of Apache
Fire will be restored to its original state. A marvel in its day,
it would likewise prove a marvel to the visitors of today's Red Rock
Park. Indeed, it would be a fitting tribute to the area's most
infamous and philanthropic couple, Jack and Helen Frye, whose
legacy still survives in Sedona.
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