Arizona Opry, revisited

Denny and I seem to have started a "tradition" while here in the Apache Junction area of attending the Arizona Opry with RVing friends Rene and Barb. The Arizona Opry is a small venue Branson-type musical show with a dinner served prior to the entertainment. The business is owned and operated by the Barleen twins Brenda and Barbara and Barbara's husband, George Staerkel and brother Ben Barleen.

They have created a family-style show with a group of extremely talented musicians that will have you tapping your toes in no time. There are the obligatory hokey jokes, but several of the entertainers have played across the country and in Europe and their newest "fiddle" played trained at Julliard. Tamara Lee, a two time Arizona state fiddling champion, is currently on maternity leave, but she plays the meanest version of "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" that I have ever heard. George Staerkel's claim to fame is singing "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" as the lead singer of The Tokens, plus he can play 40 different musical instruments and does a set where he'll play at least 16 of them onstage, including the 13 foot long Swiss Alp horn (you've seen it on the Ricolla throat lozenge commercials). He actually played the Olymic theme song on it, which is pretty impressive.

So for $23 a person (and you can usually find a dollar-off coupon in the Arizona Republic newspaper) you get a decent roast beef dinner and a great show. They do two different shows during the week; one show on even days, one on odd days, and every year they have a new show. To get there, take US 60 east out of Phoenix, get off at the Tomahawk Rd. exit, go north one mile to the Old West Highway, turn right, follow Old West 1/2 mile to the Arizona Opry on your right. And consider buying some of the musicians' CDs available there; we have all three of guitarist Bill West's CDs and look forward to his next one.