The Camp Naco Project

Our vision is to preserve Camp Naco as a destination that:

1

Honors the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers in the American Southwest

2

Advances the diverse arts, culture, & history of the Arizona Borderlands


3

Serves as a community resource for

the residents of Naco, Arizona

About the Project:

The Camp Naco Project began in January 2023 under the auspices of the City of Bisbee and guided by the Naco Heritage Alliance.

This project embodies a number of activities whose impact will span across all three of the above pillars and be incorporated in the architectural and community programming for Camp Naco:
  • Exhibits
  • Tours
  • Educational Programs
  • Living History
  • Events
  • Outdoor Activities
  • Wellness
  • Research
  • Workshops & Studios
  • Library
  • Housing
  • Community Gathering

Project Outcomes:

Rehabilitation of the Camp Naco site:
Protect, preserve, and rehabilitate Camp Naco’s historic 22 adobe buildings and 15.93-acre site to house multiple uses.

Community Programming:
Develop place-based programming that celebrates the diverse historical narratives of Camp Naco as a foundation for historical and contemporary cultural production (scholarship, story-telling, visual & performing arts, cuisine, etc.) and sustainable community development (workforce training, youth camps, recreation, wellness, housing, etc.).

Organizational Sustainability:
Build organizational and financial capacity to successfully sustain community programming, physical infrastructure, and grow the mission into the future.

To implement these goals, we’ve developed a strategic planning framework defined by key areas critical to the success of Camp Naco, including economic development, education & interpretation, and fund-raising. For each of these areas, we’ve begun convening key stakeholders to advise the development of a strategic planning roadmap to guide and inform the Naco Heritage Alliance Board of Directors as the Camp Naco project advances toward achieving its vision.

For more information about the Camp Naco vision, strategic plan, and how you can become involved, contact us at info@campnacoaz.org.

When is our estimated opening date?
Our anticipated opening date is December, 2026

How many (local) people will be employed?
Our initial estimate is we will open Camp Naco with three full time employees with a variety of contracted work with other part-time employees hired as other grant-funded programming is initiated.

How will the project support the Naco community?
Camp Naco will become a destination for tourism and bring people to Naco, providing a positive impact for the town’s economy. The following services will be provided at no charge to the public; outdoor recreational facilities, community gathering and meeting spaces, library facilities including computer lab usage, day parking and rideshare.

During what hours will Camp Naco be open?
Hours of operation will be 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The public space on the north end of the campus will be open Monday through Sunday from sun-up to sun-down. Special event will not begin earlier than 8:00 AM Monday through Sunday nor extend later than 8:00 PM Sunday through Thursday or 10:00 PM Friday through Saturday.

What steps are being taken to secure Camp Naco?
We are working with the City of Bisbee, Naco officials, and the US Border Patrol to develop protocols to ensure the site is secured. Additional lighting will also be installed and activated by motion sensors to further safeguard the property.

Will the residents be impacted by noise from Camp Naco?
The impact will be minimal. Events will only take place during designated hours to minimize noise.

How will fire safety be addressed?
We are working closely with Naco Fire District and Cochise County Building Official to implement appropriate and required fire prevention and protection measures. Further, the project will adopt recommended best practices for maintaining defensible space around buildings and mitigating fire risk.

How will Camp Naco impact traffic and parking?
The main parking area will be located south of Newell St, with a parking capacity of 121 spaces. Two additional lots will serve the community area and ADA accessible parking needs. Outside of special events, we estimate 30 passenger vehicles entering and leaving the site per day. Speed control measures (additional signage and speed tables) will be installed on the two roads bordering the site.

How can I volunteer?
We are recruiting volunteers to assist with community events in Naco, staff our outside events, and organize community efforts like creating backpacks for school kids, staffing food drives, and fundraising for locals in need. Visit CampNacoAZ.org for more information on volunteering.

Camp Naco Newsletters - 2023

Camp Naco Newsletters - 2024

JANUARY     FEBRUARY     MARCH     APRIL    MAY    JUNE    JULY   AUGUST

The Camp Naco Team

Interns

April 26 - Baseball on the Border

By Mark Costa • April 7, 2025
The Original Cactus League Baseball on the Border April 26, 10am-Noon Local historian Mike Anderson will be leading a tour of the original Camp Naco baseball field, located at the corner of W. Newell Street and S. Willson Road, and sharing the history of the original Cactus League. The original Cactus League was a loose consortium of teams during the first decade and a half of the 20th Century from Bisbee, Douglas, Clifton, Morenci, Cananea, Fort Huachuca, Tucson and sometimes Naco. Afterwards, the event continues at Naco Elementary where Mike will share a presentation on historic baseball. This event is free to attend, join us!

March 25 - Contractors Open House

By Mark Costa • March 17, 2025
Contractors Open House Date: Tuesday, March 25 from 11am – 2pm Location: Bisbee Council Chambers - 915 S. Tovreaville Rd. In collaboration with Naco Heritage Alliance and Durazo Construction Find out more about upcoming opportunities at this informal event. We are seeking licensed, bonded and insured contractors in HVAC, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, roofing, painting, concrete, windows and doors, carpentry, drywall, and low voltage cabling. Free to attend, refreshments provided.

March 22 - Dr. John Langellier Fireplace chat and book signing

By Mark Costa • February 11, 2025
Date: Saturday, March 22, 6 PM Event Address: Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum Please note: our Fireplace Chat at the Museum has reached capacity, but there is another great opportunity to meet the author and purchase a signed copy of his newest book. Dr. Langellier will be available from noon to 4 at Bisbee Books and Music, located in the Mercantile on Main. Be sure to stop by! Join us for a Question & Answer session and book signing with Buffalo Soldier author and military historian John Langellier, Ph.D. In 1881, the first Buffalo Soldiers arrived in Arizona pursuing elusive Apaches. Over the following decades, African Americans from the Tenth U.S. Cavalry and Twenty-Fourth and Twenty-Fifth Infantry added to the laurels won by the Ninth U.S. Cavalrymen. For more than six decades, Black soldiers served with honor, from campaigns against determined Native Americans to facing dangers along the turbulent border as the Mexican Revolution raged. During the dark days of World War II, they prepared for combat against foes both abroad and at home. All the while, they faced an ever-present, persistent enemy: racism. Author John P. Langellier brings to life the rich history of Buffalo Soldiers in the Copper State. Registration is required for this event, as there are a limited number of spaces available. Register HERE

Feb 27 - Online lecture with Margaret Hangan

By Mark Costa • February 4, 2025
Register for the lecture HERE

December 18 - Jeremy Fricke Meet and Greet

By Mark Costa • December 4, 2024
Camp Naco Meet and Greet with Executive Director Jeremy Fricke Wednesday, December 18, 4-6pm Meet our first Executive Director Jeremy Fricke (pronounced Frik-ē) in the Bisbee Council Chambers, 915 S. Tovreaville Rd. Informally connect with Jeremy beginning at 4 followed by a project status presentation at 5pm. Light refreshments will be provided.

Nov 9 -Bill Cavaliere Fireplace Chat and Tour

By Mark Costa • October 11, 2024
Camp Naco Fireplace Chat Bill Cavaliere - The Chiricahua Apaches November 9, 2024, 2-4pm Camp Naco, AZ Registration is now closed, capacity has been reached. Bill Cavaliere will present a Q and A on the topic of the Chiricahua Apaches next month. Following the discussion, Becky Orozco will guide a walking tour through historic Camp Naco, likely the last one before construction begins! Bill is the author of The Chiricahua Apaches: A Concise History, an overview of the entire history of this particular tribe of fascinating Native Americans covering their arrival in the southwest, their culture, their notable people, their many conflicts and battles, and where they are today. Their story is one of perseverance and tenacity, of courage and sorrow, and of triumph and tragedy. A fiction writer could not have come up with a more unbelievable story; one filled with action, interesting people, emotion, and uncanny twists of fate. Bill Cavaliere is an independent researcher who retired after 28 years in law enforcement, during which time he was sheriff of Hidalgo County, New Mexico. Prior to this, he was employed with the US Forest Service in the Chiricahua Mountains of Arizona. He is currently president of the Cochise County Historical Society and sits on the board of directors of two other historical societies as well. He is currently working on a biography on Naiche, the last chief of the Chiricahua Apaches.
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