Show Low, Arizona

The area where Show Low is located was first homesteaded in 1870 by Corydon E. Cooley (a famous Indian scout) and Marion Clark as partners. They claimed some 100,000 acres and fenced it all with barbed wire. Several years later the partners had an argument and decided to settle it with a game of cards: "Seven-Up." The story goes that they played all night and when it came to the last hand, Cooley needed one more point to win. At that point, Clark is reported to have said, "You show low and you win!" Cooley cut the deck and showed the Deuce of Clubs (which is now the name of the main thoroughfare in Show Low). There's several versions of that story floating around, some with different characters, etc. but "Show Low" and Deuce of Clubs remain the same throughout.

Today, Show Low is a big summer vacation spot: sitting up on top of the Mogollon Rim it's a lot cooler than down below to the south... The town is in the pines and surrounded by the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. That means good fishing streams and lakes are close by. Among the local fishing and camping spots is Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area, Show Low Lake and Pintail Lake. The local population seems to about double in the summer time and the traffic can get pretty heavy.

City Park with Show Low Town Hall in the background

On Deuce of Clubs Boulevard in Show Low

On Deuce of Clubs Boulevard