Community holds parade unlike any other
Quaint, quiet and peaceful, these are just some of the words used to describe the community known as Coyote Wash. Nestled in Yuma’s east county, the community is surrounded by a beautiful desert scenery and embraced by mountains which make for breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. Here you’ll find residents like Loren Cory and John Graham who look for ways to enrich the lives of their families and those around them.
On this evening, they graciously invited our station to take part in a time honored tradition; a parade of sorts. In the small community of Wellton, all terrain vehicles are used for more than just recreation; Golf carts, side by sides and even quads are used as a mode of transportation. Parade participants string lights, tinsel and even a snowman to their vehicles. Some go small with a few lights while others will ride with a Christmas tree in the back.
Loren Cody, planted the seed in Wellton over a decade ago giving birth to what is now called, “Coyote Wash”. A virtual paradise for winter visitors and locals alike, where a golfer can live within feet from a course and an off road enthusiast is a stone throws away from a trail. Over the years the community has grown not only in size, but in character.
John Graham, originally from Minnesota has traveled the world and decided to spend his years in Wellton. His passion for automobiles can be seen in his shop which he volunteers for events like this. One of his vehicles was bought from NASA and with a few touches he now uses it to celebrate the season. Graham has been organizing the parade for a few years and tells us that he enjoys making children smile.
Although our time at Coyote Wash was brief, we walked away with sense that those passing by on the interstate may see the beautiful greens and desert back drop but be missing out on it’s true treasure, the residents.
