How did Valle get its name?
The area surrounding what is now the junction of SR 64 and Hwy 180 was historically used for cattle and sheep ranching.
The name “Valle” first appeared in the United States Geological Survey’s (USGS) Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) database as a “Populated Place” on February 8, 1980. A reference to Valle appears on the 1948 Coconino County General Highway Map, but refers only to a nearby railroad siding and not the community (restaurant, gas station, and associated buildings) that had sprung up to serve airstrip users.
A railroad siding at Valle, west of where the highway junction is now located, was constructed in 1905. Loading chutes for the Grand Canyon Sheep Co. were constructed in 1919. In 1935, the Grand Canyon Sheep Company consolidated with the VVV Livestock Company and formed the Arizona Livestock Company. The Arizona Livestock Company operated what was known as the Valle Ranch, to the west of the Junction of SR 64 and Hwy. 180. Valle Ranch, however, was split only 5 years later and the “Valle” name was abandoned. The original construction of what was referred to as the Valle Station included a bunkhouse, section house, gang house, railroad telephone, and a 37-car siding for cattle and sheep loading.
Over time, the community expanded with pioneering families and ranches, such as the Babbitts, Monterolas, McNellys, Wingfields and the Blair Bar Heart. As the community grew, a motel, the Flintstone’s campground and Grand Canyon Valle airport came into being. The community has not incorporated, so the name continues to refer generally to the community around the junction.
Very little, by way of history, associates the community surrounding the junction of the two main arteries to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. In fact, long-time residents of Northern Arizona still refer to the area as Grand Canyon Junction or simply “The Junction.” As such, the name Valle is relatively unknown by those other than the small number of local and regional residents.
Grand Canyon Junction 