"Basaic Oracle Page" Oracle by Basaic

Oracle Travel Guide: 22 reviews and 61 photos

Oracle State Park is a 4,000 acre environmental education park with approximately 15 miles of hiking trails. It also boasts the Historic Kannally Ranch House which is open for tours. There is also a picnic area; child nature eduction programs; and an access to the Arizona Trail. The park is open from 7 AM to 5 PM, every day except Christmas. House tours available on Saturdays and Sundays at 10 AM and 2 PM.

Biosphere 2

Bisphere 2

Biosphere 2 is a 3.14 acre Biosphere facility with 7,200,000 cubic feet of sealed glass consisting of 6,500 windows. Its mission is to serve as a center for research, outreach, teaching and life-long learning about Earth, its living systems, and its place in the universe, and to catalyze interdisciplinary thinking and understanding about Earth and its future; be an adaptive tool for Earth education and outreach to industry, government, and the public; and to distill issues related to Earth systems planning and management for use by policymakers, students and the public. Hours are 9 AM to 4 PM except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Admission is $20 for adults and children 13 and over; $13 for children 6 to 12; and free for children 5 and under. Military can get in for $18.

St Helen's Mission

In the mid-nineteenth century, Oracle was a small Indian village known as Summit Springs. In 1870 two prospectors, Alex McKay and Jimmy Lee came to the area. It was Jimmy Lee who gave Oracle its name, after a ship owned by his uncle which had navigated around the Horn.
The Catholic community in Oracle dates back to at least the 1890s. Mass was administered every month or two, on Saturdays, in the ballroom of the old Mountain View Hotel (presently the site of the Oracle Baptist Church) by Father Basilio Delgado, a Carmelite Priest from Assumption Church in Florence. He was succeeded as Pastor in Florence by Father Jose Domingo Jaquez, who visited Oracle every two weeks to minister to the spiritual needs of its Catholic residents.

St. Helen’s Catholic Church, with its beautiful Spanish design and unique stained glass windows, has been a landmark in Oracle since 1927. It was built through the generosity of Charles and Helen Gilliland, who also donated the Sacred Vessels, Vestments and Church furnishings.

The mission is open to the public.

Last visit to Oracle: Apr 2008
Intro Updated Apr 28, 2008
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Reviews (14)

Oracle State Park: Wildlife Blind Things to Do (9)

They have a wildlife blind along the Nature Trail so you can watch the wildlife without scaring them away. more travel advice

Oracle State Park: Kannally Ranch Things to Do (9)

In 1902 Neil Kannally built a ranch on this land. The ranch has been restored and is open for tours. more travel advice

Oracle State Park: Birdhouses Things to Do (9)

There are a few birdhouses scattered through the park to give them a place to live. more travel advice

Oracle State Park: Flowers Things to Do (9)

I visited Oracle State Park in April 2008, so there were lots of flowers in bloom too. more travel advice

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Comments (2)

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glabah Jun 9, 2011 at 7:52 PM

Sounds like a nice place to enjoy on a road trip through the dry country.
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rotortom May 24, 2009 at 10:16 AM

We lived in New Mexico for 20 years where good mexican food is easily obtained, but since moving to Catalina we have had a lot of mediocre mexican food, but Casa Rivera is definately a cut above the rest! Glad we found it.