RVers Enjoy Yuma Jailhouse Attraction

Yuma, Arizona is a mecca for RVers during the winter months. There are many things to occupy one’s time here and in the past many did time here. The Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. but after that all the inmates must be back in their cells. This prison was constructed by the inmates themselves. It was hot in the summer without air conditioning and there was no gym, cable TV or other items we currently supply our convicts courtesy taxpayer dollars. The most interesting sight is the prison cemetery. Here on a knoll overlooking the Colorado River are the remains of 104 inmates. Most of them died from tuberculosis but the brass memorial plaque leans more towards the dramatic saying, “Of the 3,069 convicts sentenced to Yua Prison 111 met their death. Disease, accident, murder, suicide and escape attempts were the causes of their demise. The remains of 104 unfortunate souls are interred in this cemetery.” There are no individual head stones or religious markers, just rocks. RV parking is available although there is not enough room for a motorhome with a towed vehicle to turn around. Oh, and don’t get any ideas about dropping off your grandkids - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing