Since its humble beginning in 2010, the VVAC has been turning big ideas into reality. At this moment, it is an organization poised for a monumental transformation.  Our vision is ambitious, but it is attainable if we use the full measure of our capacity and our imagination. 

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Development Successes

 

• Land acquisition ($1.37 million) at 330 N. Homestead Parkway, Camp Verde - COMPLETED

• Native American Traditional Use Garden ($25,000) - COMPLETED

• Installation of Water Line to Property ($97,000) - COMPLETED

• Native American Heritage Pathway ($30,000)- COMPLETED

• Parkway curb and gutter installed largely with an Arizona Corporate Commission grant

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Next Step - New Museum and Collection Center

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The Board of Directors of the Verde Valley Archaeology Center (VVAC) released a Letter of Intent to purchase the former Verde Valley Medical Center (VVMC) clinic building at 460 Finnie Flat Rd, Camp Verde, in the Verde Village shopping area. The 1.2-acre property includes the building plus parking for 50 cars.  The offer has been accepted by the building owners. 

 

Click HERE to see the new campus building.

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For those who have been following the Verde Valley Archaeology Center since its inception in 2010, this is a major change of direction. In 2015, Scott Simonton donated 15.28 acres of land along Homestead Parkway in Camp Verde. The property is the site of a prehistoric village dating back to 650 AD. The Center is preserving the site and has developed a loop trail of almost a half-mile through the prehistoric village, with interpretive signs along the route. In addition, a Native American Traditional Use Garden has been developed. The trail and garden area will continue to be maintained by the VVAC for public use.

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The VVAC has outgrown its current location at 385 S. Main St., and is in desperate need of more space. The Center had planned to build a new archaeology campus on the Homestead Parkway property. Absent significant donations to make this a reality, the VVAC turned to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for a Rural Economic Development community facilities loan of nearly $5 million. The lengthy application process began in March 2019. In February 2020, the process was nearing completion and a decision was expected soon. However, the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to the application process for almost eight months.

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One of the realities of the pandemic was that museums across the country were forced to close for six to nine months. If any have reopened, it has been on a very limited and restricted basis. Since museum admission was anticipated to be a major source of funding to repay the loan, the USDA hesitated to provide the full funding requested by the VVAC. The VVAC Board of Directors came to a similar realization and began to look for a less costly alternative.

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Alternative building construction plans were proposed and reviewed, however, cost estimates still came in over $3 million and, with the current building-boom, would take about two years to complete. A more immediate solution presented itself with an offer for the former VVMC building. This space is almost 11,000 sq. ft., more than three-times the Center’s current 3,300 sq. ft. building.

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Ways to Help

Many members have already stepped forward to help get us to where we are today. 

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