Pinal Pioneer Parkway and the Tom Mix Memorial

The Pinal Pioneer Parkway (State Route 79) was designated as a scenic desert preserve by the Arizona Department of Transportation in 1961. There are several places to stop and enjoy virtually every species of Arizona desert flora. The Tom Mix Memorial is located approximately 20 miles south of Florence on the parkway. The monument depicts Tom Mix’ horse, Tony, waiting for his master and was erected to honor the movie star near the site of his death. Tom Mix, a silent screen movie star in the thirties, died in 1940 after crashing his yellow Cord Phaeton convertible into a dry wash.