by 
A group of community members interested in economic development tours the Oracle area. John Hernandez | Miner
Local business owner Brandon Luthy, right, makes a point to Pinal County Economic Development Director Tim Kanavel. Luthy has proposed a zip line business in Oracle. John Hernandez | Miner
San Manuel Miner
Tim Kanavel, Pinal County Economic Development director visited Oracle on Friday, Aug. 15. Tim was invited by Brandon Luthy of Arizona Zipline Adventure, a new business seeking to develop a zip line site off of Mt. Lemmon Road. Members of the Oracle Women’s Network (O.W.N.) and the Copper Corridor Economic Development Coalition participated in the tour of Oracle and the back road to Mt. Lemmon. The purpose of the Economic Business Tour was to familiarize Kanavel and the group with the proposed site of the zip lines and showcase what the town of Oracle has to offer in business services and the beauty of its tourism potential.
The proposed site of the zip lines is located on the back road to Mt. Lemmon near an old stamp mill that was part of the 3C tungsten mine that was built some time in the 1940s. The plan calls for the construction of zip lines of different lengths ranging from 200 feet to 1,400 feet and dropping 150 feet in elevation. A public hearing on the zip line proposed plan is scheduled with the Pinal County Planning and Zoning Commission for Thursday, Aug. 21 at 9 a.m. The hearing room is located at 31 N. Pinal St. in Florence.
The tour was part I of an Economic Business Tour featuring lodging and venue services. The tour visited the 3C Ranch; Hay Creek Ranch & Horse RV Park; Triangle Y Camp; C.O.D. Ranch; Cherry Valley Ranch Bed & Breakfast; El Rancho Robles; and Sonora Inn. A part II Economic Business Tour will be scheduled later and will feature retail, food and other services of Oracle. The goal is to “increase the economic viability of businesses by establishing Oracle as a visitor destination”.
John Hernandez lives in Oracle. He is retired and enjoys writing and traveling. He is active in the Oracle Historical Society. He covers numerous public events, researches historical features and writes business/artist profiles.
by by