July 4, 2011 © Thomas J. Kollenborn. All Rights Reserved.
Recently
my wife and I enjoyed an evening at the Superstition Skies Restaurant
& Bar. We had heard the band at the “Skies” was just phenomenal. I
am embarrassed to say the last time I was in the Superstition Skies was
when Jo Lane played the piano there.
We found the band very upbeat
and great to listen to. Once through the door we were introduced to
some of the Superstition Skies past which is by all means a part of
Apache Junction’s history. When I worked for the Barkley Cattle Company
in the late 1950’s the “Skies” had just opened for business.
The “Skies” has a very
interesting history. Some say a bordello operated out of the restaurant
and bar in the late 1950s, however I cannot verify that statement nor
was I a witness to such activity. The legacy of the “Skies” centers
around two significant historical events. One was the many different
Hollywood legends that visited the restaurant and bar during the filming
of the many movies at Apacheland and the second was Burnette Pletan,
known as the world’s fastest painter.
Elvis Presley stayed at the
Superstition Ho Hotel and ate several evening meals at the Superstition
Skies while filming “Charro.” One story is told that he actually
strummed his guitar and sang a song one evening at the “Skies.”
Stars like Ronald Reagan,
Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Kenny Rogers and Marty Robbins ate at the
Superstition Skies over the years. The “Skies” opened before the
Superstition Ho Hotel, the Mining Camp and many other well-known
establishments in Apache Junction. The “Skies” was open before the
Apache Junction Dog Racing track on Main Street (Apache Trail).
The Superstition Skies is one
of last real “honkytonks,” where it is not uncommon to see horses tied
up at the hitching rail and cowboys with chaps and spurs standing at the
bar, with country music being played by a jukebox or a live band.
Places throughout the
Southwest such as the “Skies” are the heart and soul of America’s County
Western music tradition. These restaurants and bars are the place were
many great Country Western singers got their start. Men such as Marty
Robbins, Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, and women such as Loretta Lynn
and hundreds of more began their entertaining at the “honkytonks.”
Burnette Pletan was probably
the world’s most prolific artist. He was certainly the fastest artist in
the world with a paintbrush. Over the years I have marveled at his
work. And his work has survived after his death. I had the pleasure of
working with him when the school district sponsored the first
Superstition Art Saga Fair in 1977. When my wife and I visited the
“Skies” we were introduced to Pletan’s work again. If you have never
seen his work, this is an excellent example of it at the Superstition
Skies. This was Pletan’s last major project. He painted the walls all in
one day, and the paintings are still there. Mr. Pletan was in “Ripley’s
Believe It or Not” and “That’s Incredible.” He was certainly an
incredible artist.
History
and tradition are certainly a part of the “Superstition Skies’” menu in
addition to good food. Take a little time out of your busy schedule and
enjoy some genuine country-western music and good food. While you are
at it take time to visit other great honkytonks and historic sites in
Apache Junction such as the Mining Camp, Hitching Post, Mammoth,
Filly’s, and Dirtwater Springs. They all have something special to offer
in the nostalgia of old Apache Junction.