Miracle Manor Historic Timeline

Updated Historic Timeline

1930s: Miracle Mile Strip, which included some of what is now Oracle Road, was built as a northwest gatewayinto Tucson and hailed as the best road ever made.*

1936:          De Luxe Motel Built

1937:          Miracle Mile gets high acclaim in Arizona Highways magazine. "There was nothing like it the Southwest," the publication said. The strip had thriving businesses, mainly hotels, for the next three decades.*

1940’s          First Homes Built

1941:          Ghost Ranch Built by Arthur and Pheobe Pack ¹

1950’s:        More hotels built including Tucson Inn, motor courts, Sleepy Hollow was palm lined, the area was beautiful and active.

1953:          New residents continue to move into neighborhood, building their own houses.

1959/60:     Nash School Built

1960s:          Interstate 10 completed, diverting travelers away from Miracle Mile and hurting businesses. The strip begins its decline.*

1969:          More houses built by original residents.

1983:          Massive police sweeps result in the arrest of 400 suspected prostitutes and 87 men for soliciting police decoys.*

1986:          Shootouts common, usually involving pimps over their real estate and human property.*

Late 1980s:   "Miracle Mile" name taken off sign south of cemetery because North Oracle Road businesses didn't want the Miracle Mile reputation.*

1997-8:       Back to Basics brought sidewalks and an urban look

1998:          Youth construct snake in Jacinto Park.

2002-2004:    Miracle Mile found to be the most violent section of the city in Tucson Citizen analysis.*

2004:          Birth of the Oracle Project, a coalition of neighborhoods and businesses working to improve Oracle from Drachman to Miracle Mile.*

March 2004: City condemns Tropicana Adult Video Theater because of building code violations. The building is torn down.*

Sept. 2005: Miracle Mile repaved.*

Fall 2007: Beginning of Oracle Area Revitalization Plan, an 18-month project to revitalize the area that includes Miracle Mile.*

September 2007: Tucson Police Westside Service Center opens at 1310 W. Miracle Mile.*

October 2007: La Paloma Family Services moves to 870 W. Miracle Mile.*

January 2008: Police receive OK from City Council to buy six acres next to West Side station to build new crime lab.*

2008:          Haunted House at Nunez Residence

May 2008: Golden Pin Lanes gets $1 million makeover.*

2009: Jacinto Park Revitalization, movie nights start. Neighborhood mural project starts.

Sources:

2009 interviews with residents.

* Tucson Citizen archives

Footnotes:

1. May 29, 2008 Rudy R. Writes on Tucson Citizen Blog:

“Best View in Tucson of Catalina mtns. is from Ghost Ranch property. Ghost Ranch was built by Arthur Pack named after his ranch in New Mexico, Motel Grounds has amazing collection of Desert Flora which was carefully maintained. Mr. Pack/Wife also was main force behind the AZ/Sonora Desert museum donating many dollars and time along with many others who cared about Tucson. Golf Course is named after him. Hopefully, this Historic piece of Tucson can be preserved instead of another Dust Bowl creation.”