Rock, gem show brings chaotic fun to Quartzsite

by Ron Dungan - Jan. 1, 2011 12:00 AM

The Arizona Republic

Each winter, snowbirds, rock hounds, sightseers and bargain hunters descend on Quartzsite for the busy season of gem, mineral and craft shows. The season lasts from November through March, and the biggest shows are in January and February.

The Tyson Wells Rock and Gem Show will get under way Friday and continue through Jan. 16. It will offer everything from rocks to socks.

Well before the show begins, the population of Quartzsite, along Interstate 10 in western Arizona, swells as snowbirds arrive, park their RVs and enjoy the sunshine.

"I think the normal population of Quartzsite is about 3,500 people," said Kym Scott, who organizes the Tyson Wells show. "I've heard the Sheriff's Department estimate that a million people come through here in the winter. Sometimes I kind of think that's a little high, but then you look out in the desert and there are a lot of trailers out there."

The show features a wide variety of items from around the world: onyx from Pakistan, malachite from Africa, agate from Brazil, amber from Colombia and fossils from Morocco.

Other items for sale include pet supplies, firearms, DVDs, CDs, beads, baskets, T-shirts, purses, tools, gloves, crafts and pottery.

"It's complete chaos after the first of the year," said Tony Carnevale of the Quartzsite Business Chamber of Commerce. "It's a big boost to the economy. It's not just the rock show anymore.

"It's almost like eBay - everything's out there."

The show started in the '60s, with people tailgating and trading rocks. Snowbirds started to visit Quartzsite during the winter, and the event grew from there, Scott said.

The recession hasn't much reduced the number of people coming out, Scott said, though sales lagged for a time.

"It hurt a little bit," she said. "We have to do 90 percent of our business in a five-week period."

Nearby Palm Canyon, in the Kofa Mountains, is famous for being the only place in Arizona where native palms grow.

Another attraction is the Hi Jolly Monument, a small pyramid marking the grave of camel driver Hadji Ali, who participated in the military's effort to use camels as pack animals during the 1850s.

Reach the reporter at 602-444-4847 or ron.dungan@arizonarepublic.com.