Camp Verde Yavapai-Apache

The Camp Verde Yavapai-Apache Indian Lands sit in the Verde Valley in Yavapai County.  It is nestled in the Coconino National Forest between State Highway 260 and Interstate 17, about 93 miles north of Phoenix.  Today, the tribe has 1,200 members consisting of the Yavapai and Apache Indians.

In 1871, the Secretary of the United States Board of Indian Commissioners, Vincent Colyer, recommended to President Grant the establishment of Indian Lands. The Indian Lands were used until 1875, when President Grant decided to abolish the Indian Lands.  The land was abandoned and the tribe was moved against their will to the San Carlos Indian Lands.  By the 1900’s, a migration began.  The tribe moved back to their Indian Lands and in 1909 the Indians Lands were reestablished.  The land grew in size in 1915, 1917, 1967 and 1974.

Today, the 636-acre Indian Land is actually five separate pieces of land, Middle Verde has 458 acres, Camp Verde has 40 acres, Clarkdale has 58 acres, Rim Rock has 3 acres and the Interstate 17 Visitor Activity Center has 74 acres.  The Indian Lands headquarters is located at Middle Verde.

Indian Arts:

The tribe is known for its basketry.

The Cliff Castle Casino makes its home here.

Montezuma Castle National Monument, Montezuma Well and Tuzigoot National Monument are located within a few miles of the Indian Lands.  These monuments are outstanding examples of prehistoric Indian cliff dwellings and pueblos.