Anyone who's been around Clarkdale for awhile, might remember when Peck's Lake was the centerpiece of weekends---a parklike atmosphere with swans, a golf course, boat races and families enjoying picnics. It seems difficult for newcomers to visualize what a vibrant place the lake area once was.

The lake was built out of a large meander in the Verde River. The shallow lake, for much of its existence, pulled most of its water from the Verde River through a tunnel on the northwest corner of the property downstream from the slag pile.

The lake was built to provide water for the smelter and recreation for the smelter community. It included a nine-hole golf course, a dance hall, and a clubhouse. Until 2003, the town of Clarkdale leased the lake and surrounding property from Phelps Dodge and made it available to the public for fishing and other forms of recreation.  After the lease expired, Phelps Dodge, which was acquired by Freeport-McMoran in 2007, closed the property to the public. 

In 1864 Ed. G. Peck secured the first hay contract to provide 300 tons of hay at $30 a ton, to be cut with hoes, to be taken to Ft. Whipple. In addition to the hay contract, Peck and his associates are credited with building the first wagon road into the Verde Valley from Ft. Whipple. In 1868, the Verde River was full of beaver dams and was confined to an even channel, as it is now. In 1870, the lake was about 1.2 miles long and some 300 yards in width which hosted cranes, ducks, geese, mud-hens and other waterfowl. Deer and antelope were plentiful. In 1875, M. A. "Andy" Ruffner was the first to claim land near Peck's Lake. Later that year the family of William Hawkins arrived and bought "improvements" and squatter's rights from Mr. Ruffner.  Staking mineral claims in the Black Hills, Hawkins "Eureka" and "Wade Hampton" became part of the United Verde Copper Company. The water from the Verde River which had been diverted through a dam is currently not in use since it was severely damaged by floodwaters in early 2018.  

Photo shows a large crowd at Peck's Lake. Notice the Clark Mansion in the distance.

photo from the CHSM collection

update contributed by Cindy Emmett

contact info@clarkdalemuseum.org with questions or comments