Lost in a Masquerade or "you know, that new age scandal"
Jadoo941
Broken Promises and Opportunists
The Ownership Transition History of
Jack and Helen Frye's TWA Get-A-Way: Smoke Trail Ranch
Now, Red Rock State Park, Sedona Arizona
Jack and Helen Frye started buying up property that was to become Smoke Trail
Ranch in January of 1941. Eventually with land parcel purchases and National
Forest Service land trades, the total tract of land encompassed over 700 acres
and several miles of river front adjoining Oak Creek. This property included
Deer Lick Ranch or what is now called Cross Creek Ranch, and Cup of Gold
Estates.
In 1947, Jack and Helen decided to sell Deer Lick Ranch, consisting of some 120
acres. This is the same year Jack resigned from TWA. The purchase amount
totalled $10,000 more than they originally paid for the entire 700 acres. This
sale was in part to generate funds for the construction of the House of Apache
Fires. Jack Frye wanted the property to support itself as he did with all his
and Helen's ranch properties. Jack was quoted in a publication about this time
period as saying he and Helen owned over 50,000 acres of ranch property in
Arizona alone.
In 1947 to 1948 construction on the House of Apache Fires was executed and
continued until the spring of 1950, but the home was never completed, and to
this day it exists as an unfinished shell of broken dreams.
On June 27, 1950, William John Frye and Helen Varner Vanderbilt Frye were
divorced. As part of the divorce settlement Jack agreed to give Helen sole
ownership of Smoke Trail Ranch and the House of Apache Fires. However, it was
stated in the the divorce decree that if Helen ever desired to sell the House
of Apache Fires, and received an offer, Jack would have first option on the
purchase at the offer amount.
In 1954 Helen Frye, and Nassan Gobran as her business partner, decided to
develop a portion of Smoke Trail Ranch. Helen decided to call the new
development, "Cup d' Oro." A girlfriend of Helen's created the name. The first
home built in "Cup of Gold" was completed in 1955, and named "Cradle of the
Sun." This area, aptly named is now peppered with palatial multi-million dollar
homes many with spacious waterfront access. The housing development is one of
the most spectacularly beautiful in all of Sedona. It sits high above the green
ribbon of Oak Creek, overlooking the House of Apache Fires and Smoke Trail
Ranch.
In 1955 it is said that Helen Frye took a white can of paint up on to the roof
area of the House of Apache Fires. With a broom she scrawled "FOR SALE" in
letters she hoped were large enough for airplanes to read. The area was still
very remote, and the house did not sell.
In 1957, Helen agreed to develop a small portion of the ranch into an art
center. This was the birth of Canyon Kiva, the predecessor of the Sedona Arts
Center. Helen Frye received $8,000.00 down payment from an associate, Nassan
Gobran. The sale was to include the House of Apache Fires and a parcel of land
adjoining it totaling 10 acres. Helen Frye was allowed to continue to occupy
the upstairs portion (studio) of House of Apache Fires. The House of Apache
Fires was a convenient and easily accessed remote art center for the Verde
Valley School on Verde Valley School Road as well. Helen, an artist herself,
used the 2nd story section of the House of Apache Fires, as her art studio and
often resided there.
Later in 1961, Nassan Gobran was unable to financially fulfill his agreement
with Helen. Gobran wanted to bring in additional investors, however an impasse'
ensued. Nassan Gobran, the investors, and Helen Frye disagreed on the creative
direction of the new art center. A lack of investment funds appears to be the
ultimate reason the partnership was then dissolved. Nassan Gobran sued Helen in
order to recover a portion of the improvement investments he executed within
the House of Apache Fires. Eventually Helen and her attorneys settled with
Nassan in court. Gobran was out, and Helen again retained full ownership of
Smoke Trail Ranch and House of Apache Fires.
In 1962, Helen built a new home high on a ridge above Smoke Trail Ranch. She
named her new estate, Wings of the Wind. The name was determined, Helen
conveyed, in regard to the birds that soar on the thermals outside the huge
picture windows. Some of the adjoining land was developed by Helen as well at
this time and christened Smoke Trail Ranch Estates. Various other pieces of
land were sold by Helen through the years, but the core of the ranch is
diligently kept intact.
In August 1973, after many persistent offers of commercial entities desiring to
purchase and develop her property, Helen negotiated with two companies that she
felt would fulfill her stringent guidelines. The companies were Turco
Enterprises Inc. and Development Sales Corporation. Helen's attorneys drew up
an agreement of sale for 306 acres; however 32 acres to include her present
home, Wings of the Wind which was now part of Smoke Trail Ranch Estates was not
included as part of the sale.
Once again this developer was unable to follow through with the development of
the property, stating "lack of funds." The name of the development was to be
called The Resort on Oak Creek. Helen became alarmed at the uncertain direction
the development was headed. Through her attorneys she attempted to repurchase
the property. The developer refused her offer, and negotiations were stalled.
Helen was desperate to regain control of the property so she could protect and
preserve it from future unscrupulous developers.
During this time period Helen Frye executed an unprecedented act of generosity.
She and her attorneys had a "Gift Deed" drawn up. This deed enabled Helen to
give her estate, Wings of the Wind and the adjoining 32 acres to an esoteric
group of which she became associated with in about 1969. This gift deed was
recorded on February 19, 1976. At this time the ownership of Wings of the Wind
estate changed. Helen Frye was no longer the legal owner of her own home.
However, Helen was legally entitled to the occupation of the said property for
the remainder of her life, thus creating in essence, a "life estate." Helen
ONLY intiated this move because she wished that her Wings of the Wind estate
would be developed into a "spiritual center."
Helen and her attorneys devised a plan to repurchase the property known as
Smoke Trail Ranch from the insolvent developer. This plan entailed funding the
purchase through the esoteric group. A price was negotiated at $1.2 million.
The group was not able to raise more than $400,000.00, so Helen agreed to give
them the other $800,000.00. An offer was made to the developer and a sale was
recorded on August 23, 1976. Again Helen's monetary strength secured the
property from a questionable future.
In return for Helen's bankrolling the 306 acre property, the group agreed to
develop the ranch into a retreat with minimal alteration of the pristine state
of the parcel. They also agreed to NOT sell the property at ANY time in the
future. In regard to the development of Smoke Trail Ranch and the renovation of
the House of Apache Fires, Helen generously continued to disburse her personal
funds.
In July 1979, a major rift developed between Helen and a person that she was
very close to. This person was a member of the esoteric group, and also a
business manager-companion of sorts to Helen. The disagreement so alarmed Helen
that it is rumored she destroyed a Will that bequeathed the bulk of her estate
to this person. At this same time on July 13, 1979, Helen Varner Vanderbilt
Frye had a new Will executed. In this new Will, Helen showed a desire to leave
approximately two thirds her estate to the esoteric group she had become
involved with. This bequeathed amount was meant to provide continued financial
aid to the organization for the development and preservation of Smoke Trail
Ranch after Helen's death. Because Helen had no children this seemed a viable
and reasonable arrangement in her eyes. A partial amount of the remaining 1/3
of her estate was to provide for a lady that had been her and Jack's
housekeeper, her former ranch foreman and wife, several other friends, the
Sedona Humane Society, and a sister. Various other acquaintances were mentioned
as well. A copy of this Will was obtained at the time by representatives of the
group.
Circumstances started to take a distinctive and ominous direction since Helen
Vanderbilt Frye first desired to help the esoteric group financially. Smoke
Trail Ranch and the House of Apache Fires, was given to this esoteric
organization with the specific stipulation it would be used for a spiritual
retreat, and developed with respect for the natural and pristine state of the
land and most importantly not sold. Helen learned that a sale was indeed being
considered by the leaders of the group. They claimed insufficient funds in
regard to the project, and indicated an intent to not follow through on their
original agreement. It appears that Helen at this point again moved to
repurchase the property. She was refused however, and a resolution was not
reached. It is said, the group at this time was undergoing an internal
melt-down at the Sedona location. Documents were submitted to the organization
that indicated many sacred doctrines of the group were plagiarized and
"lifted," shall we say. I have researched the origins of the group and feel
there may be some validity to this claim. This caused controversy, and Helen
was understandably alarmed, the Sedona group was said, at that time to split.
At this same time, it is said by some close to Helen, but not validated, the
leadership of the esoteric organization was trying to discredit and minimize
Helen's "official" involvement with the group. This upset Helen deeply as she
had become the "unofficial" den mother of the group at her ranch. Not to
mention her unprecedented generosity with the group. A major rift developed at
this time between the two parties. At this time Helen's business
manager-companion was rumored to have split with the group. When Helen was in
New Orleans she heard that the group desired to sell Wings of the Wind as well.
Helen immediately notified the leadership of an intent to buy back her Wings of
the Wind estate. She was refused abruptly and told they had no intention of
selling. Per a neighbor, but undocumented, around this time Helen was thrown
out of her home Wings of the Wind, by the organization, and for a time lived
out in the Village of Oak Creek at her incompleted new showplace home called
Skyfires, as she had no where else to go.
Smoke and mirrors, shadows and fog. An ominous cloud decended on Jack and Helen
Frye's Smoke Trail Ranch. The association with the esoteric group was becoming
a lose-lose situation for Helen. At this point in her life she was vulnerable.
A wealthy older woman, Helen was kind, generous and trusting. It became
apparent after talking to her long term friends, that they felt she was
isolated and vulnerable on her ranch. Several conveyed that she became an easy
mark and was taken advantage of considerably by those that surrounded her. It
appears that Helen was in way over her head.
By fall of 1979, Helen found herself drained and physically exhausted, later it
was determined she had terminal cancer. It has been said, that during this time
"Helen Frye" supposedly destroyed her recently drawn up Will of July 1979,
because she was unhappy with the esoteric group at her ranch.. However, no
witnesses were privy to this act. Did someone "else" destroy the Will? No one
will ever know what really transpired during this murky time period, except
that the Will disappeared, and only a copy remained. It was too late for Helen
as she succumbed to cancer on December 4th, 1979.
Helen Frye's Last Will and Testament was not found in her Wings of the Wind
"safe," (this safe was installed by the esoteric group for her use.) The Will
was not located in the bank vault, her personal files, or anywhere else for
that matter. The family wasn't the only party looking for the Will, however.
The leadership of the esoteric group made a rather concentrated and aggressive
search of their own. A representative of the group entered the locked Wings of
the Wind house after Helen died, through a bathroom window, and searched the
building. (This was discussed in court documents. However, it must be stated
that at this time the group "DID" legally own the house. Helen had given them
title to it before she died. However, they did not have access during the time
the court was investigating her estate, and Helen had total access before she
died. A gray area, one might surmise. Her former companion and family had
access for the interim until the property settlement was ironed out. The
transfer of (Wings of the Wind to the esoteric group) was just one of the
transactions the court was interested in). During the search, certain items
were removed that belonged to Helen's estate. Helen's safe deposit box was
searched too, by the leadership of the group. (Here again, Helen, before she
died, had put the name of the head of the group on the safe deposit box. This
is why the bank allowed access to the vault.) On New Year's Eve 1979, Helen's
former business manager-companion, a member of the group, or it appears perhaps
ex-member by this time, was living at the Wings of the Wind estate as a
caretaker of sorts. This residency was with permission of the family and the
group. However, representatives of the group showed up at the door on New Years
Eve 1979, and requested this person vacate the premises. Why? It isn't hard to
figure it out. (This incident is discussed in court documents.)
After Helen Vanderbilt Frye's death a very sensational and public court battle
ensued. In the opulent community of Sedona, residents were shocked and
horrified. Talk of fleecing of the wealth and scandal were now the main topics
of conversation. Sedona had reason to be alarmed, Helen Varner Vanderbilt Frye
was one of the community's most prominent and well connected residents. Not to
mention one of the most affluent. After all, she was not only married to
Cornelius Vanderbilt, but the famous aviator legend and founder-president of
TWA, Jack Frye, as well. Oh yes, there are those that said she became eccentric
as she got older, but isn't that true of most wealthy celebrities? Many just
like her lived in the hills around Sedona, wealthy retired movie stars,
celebrities, and corporate heads. Were other residents vulnerable to this type
of situation? The scandal rolled like thunder throughout the wealthy conclaves
of the southwest. From Beverly Hills to New York City, the details were
discussed. Helen Vanderbilt Frye was VERY well connected and had affluent and
influencial friends all over the country. Subsequently, this incident did much
to turn people off on the New Age Movement in Sedona, and justifiably so.
In the Superior Court of Yavapai County, the esoteric group produced their copy
of the Will. However, a copy of a Will is not a legal document and is not
admissable in a court of law. Legally they were trying to show Helen's intent,
one might conclude. Burden of proof was then back on the side of the family.
Court testimony shows that the esoteric group entertained a variety of tactics
to try to gain control of Helen's estate. In part, tape recorded conversations
and testimony of (Helen's former business manager-companion) made clear these
allegations in the eyes of the the court. As a matter of fact, it appears these
secret recorded conversations are the factor that turned the tide of the entire
court case. As the battle played out in the newspapers, radio and television
networks, Helen's family and friends testified that Helen became "disenchanted"
with the group, and at that time destroyed the original Will. Other testimony
indicated Helen felt up until the moment she died that there WAS a valid Will
properly secured. A court order was issued that stated that the group was to
immediately surrender to the court everything that was removed from the Wings
of the Wind estate when it was entered after Helen died. Anything that was not
returned, the court would order a judgement that the organization would pay
double the value in penalty. What was the reason for the court's action?
Simply, the transfer of Helen Frye's personal property was under legal
litigation by the court, and no one was to take possession of anything.
To clarify this complicated litigation:
The court case WAS NOT over Smoke Trail Ranch or the Wings of the Wind estate.
The esoteric group had already secured title and control of these properties
before Helen died. (Although the circumstances in which these properties were
transfered was discussed at length in the court room.) The court battle was in
regard to what was left of Helen's estate. It was the family (Helen's heirs) on
one side, and the esoteric group on the other side that were the parties
fighting for the money. Both litigants had much to lose if they did not win the
case. It is rare for a probate case to be decided by a jury. This indicates the
court may have been looking for deception, fraud, and ambiguity. My comment is
such: Helen Varner Frye was a very savvy and shrewd business woman. It is
highly unlikely that Helen, so ill, would have destroyed a Will and not
executed a new one immediately. Testimony in court revealed Helen Frye was
always changing her Will. Yet during the time she was dying two conficting
stories surfaced. First story: Helen was urged to change her Will and
disinherit the esoteric group. Another version: Helen was never questioned
about her Will, and it was not discussed. Helen, in my opinion, would not
knowingly die without a Will, she had too many assets. Testimony conveyed she
was of sound mind up until the last moments of her life. Reading through the
testimony it is blantantly apparent that Helen most likely felt there was a
valid Will. So who found and destroyed the last Will, and why? What was to be
gained by a person or persons if the Will was never found? This is the real
mystery of Helen's death.
After a period of 10 months the court finally came to a decision. It was
determined that no valid Will existed at the time of Helen Varner Frye's death.
The advisory jury was not able to conclude if someone had intentionally
destroyed the Will, other than Helen Frye. Therefore, the Superior Court of
Yavapai County determined the original Will had not been fraudulently
destroyed. A ruling was handed down to award the entire estate to the surviving
heirs: Helen Varner Frye's twin sisters. Reading through the volumes of court
documents, obstruction of justice certainly comes to mind. However, the court
was not able to prove "obstruction of justice" conclusively. This is the real
clincher of the case.
As for how much money was extracted from Helen during her association with the
esoteric group? Roughly it culminates to something like this:
(although an accurate accounting will obviously never be possible)
There is the original $800,000.00 Helen gave the esoteric group to help
purchase Smoke Trail Ranch. Then it was allegedly discovered after Helen died,
that (9) $100,000.00 checks were given to the leader of the group, as well as
allegedly another (promissory note) for $500,000.00 to the same person, this
cannot be verified, of course. In court documents, references of Helen giving
hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash is mentioned. One specific case was a
lump sum of 200 thousand dollars given to the group and allegedly used as a
down payment on their Menlo Park headquarters. Supposedly Nassan Gobran and
Helen Frye delivered the money in cash to Las Vegas personally, to a
representative of the group. It was said that Helen expected repayment on at
least part of these disbursements. Helen deeded the group a parcel of land
called the Triangle. It was Helen's intent that if they needed to generate
money for renovations at the ranch, they could sell this land for approximately
a 100 thousand dollars. Other gifts? The Wings of the Wind estate was worth
close to half a million dollars. Money flowed out of Helen's hands almost as
fast as Oak Creek flowed through her ranch. When Helen died, according to
newspaper accounts, her estate had an estimated value of $200,000.00 to
$500,000.00. Court documents do not reflect the actual values of the assets,
however, and the estate likely was worth much more. Interested parties are
encouraged to follow-up on their own. All documents are a matter of public
record with the Yavapai County Assessors Office and Yavapai County Superior
Court. Be prepared to spend a couple days sorting through the material.
In about 1980 or 1981, the the esoteric leadership in a blatant act of
disrespect, defied Helen's dying wishes and sought to sell Smoke Trail Ranch.
To try to simplify this: through a series of complicated land trades the
property left the hands of the group and was eventually sold to Anamax Mining
Company. They in turn traded the land to the State of Arizona for several
parcels of land near the Titan Missile Museum in Green Valley, Arizona.
Valuation of properties on each side of the exchange was approximately 5
million dollars, conservatively. Finally the property was in the hands of the
State of Arizona, and secured. Eventually it became a state park. Bruce Edward
Babbitt, Arizona State Attorney General, Governor of Arizona and later United
States Secretary of the Interior, was the driving force that resulted in Smoke
Trail Ranch becoming Red Rock State Park. It must be noted that Helen was an
intimate friend of the Babbit family.
It was somewhere around this time period that the esoteric group moved its
headquarters back east to (Minnesota,) it is said, to escape unfavorable local
press. The group retained ownership of Wings of the Wind estate and the
adjoining 32 acres.
The Wings of the Wind estate and acreage was eventually sold by the group in
1993(?) for it is thought certainly more than a million dollars. They were no
longer associated with Smoke Trail Ranch, much to the relief of the people of
Sedona.
Smoke Trail Ranch became Red Rock State Park and under the thoughtful direction
of the Arizona State Park Service, the property has been developed wisely. It
has now become the "Crown Jewel" of the Arizona Park system.
Wings of the Wind estate is now owned by a private party and resides on a
parcel of 12.88 acres. The adjoining land has been sold off and developed as
Smoke Trail Ranch Estates. (A development Helen Frye initiated before she
died.) No part of the Wings of the Wind estate is accessable or open to the
public.
Now that Helen and Jack are gone from this world it is assumed that they are
pleased with the present state of "their" Smoke Trail Ranch. However, the chain
of events that occured before Arizona State Parks assumed ownership is a
tragedy. It is interesting to note, that if Jack and Helen Frye had remained
married and their entire ranch had remained intact, it would now be worth about
300 million dollars.
Broken promises, manipulation and betrayal certainly caused Helen Frye
undeserved heartache and misery at a time when she was fighting for her life
against terminal cancer. As for Helen's desire to preserve Smoke Trail Ranch?
This quest cost her dearly, financially and emotionally. However, in the end
this parcel of land was not successfully divided or destroyed. Herein is the
real legacy of Helen Varner Vanderbilt Frye. It is desired by humanity, that
this beautiful piece of property survive intact for present and future
generations to love and enjoy as Helen Varner Frye so richly desired. Can
anyone not be thankful for her generosity and sacrifices?
As for the Legacy of Jack and Helen Frye? It all started with the over-flight
of a beautiful and magical parcel of land, unmatched in beauty and virtually
untouched by man. Beginning as a beloved ranch; a "get-a-way" property, and
later as Helen Frye's virtual identity making her a local legend, it ended up
one of the Southwest's most pristine and coveted state parks. Smoke Trail
Ranch, now as Red Rock State Park, is enjoyed by people from all over the
world, preserved for posterity's sake. Jack and Helen Frye cannot ever be
forgotten for the contributions they made to this property that enabled it to
become what it has today!
Footnotes:
This page changes constantly as I locate new facts, and change facts that are
in error. So many people surrounded Helen in her last days, but how many of
these people were truly her friends? Helen's wealth, generosity, and kindness
to those close by was legendary. A most remarkable woman, way ahead of her
time, she was truly a free spirit. Helen yearned for a legacy, a foundation,
not for herself, but to help others find God's spirit in their hearts. She
loved the Native American Indians, especially the Hopis.
Facts and figures for this Web Page, have been gathered from information
readily available at the Yavapai County Court House. The filed Probate
Proceedings of Helen Varner Frye are of "Public Record." These court documents
belong to the people of Arizona. That means "You and I." Full disclosure of all
unsealed documents, (there are no sealed documents in this case,) legally must
be made available by the Yavapai County Court House of the State of Arizona to
the public, or people like myself, a resident of Arizona, and a citizen of the
United States. The actual names of the parties involved in the documents have
been left off this page. Not because legally I am obligated to do so, but
because this Web page is a cronological history, not an Expose'. I have no
desire to identify individuals personally involved. The names of all parties
are readily available at the Yavapai County Court House to anyone that wishes
to research the information.
Closure? Unfortunately there can never be closure. Dishonor seems to be
prevelant in our world when it comes to probate and money. How do I feel about
this page, as it reflects incidents at the end of Helen Frye's life? One word,
"grieved." This sentiment I share with so many of Helen's associates that I
have interviewed personally. For the first six months of this Web page I tried
to gloss over the complications and shadow at the end of Helen's life. I became
as guilty as many others in this regard. Friends and strangers had all heard
it, and when interveiwed, they would become quiet and whisper, "you know, that
new age scandal." Oh yes, I was aware of the story, but not all the facts until
recently. Why have I not addressed it before? Simply because I was afraid it
would reflect unfavorably on this remarkable woman. This is not what Helen
would desire to be remembered for, this I knew. But yet this is what has
happened, this story has been the subject of common community gossip in Sedona
for 30 years. Many have come to me and asked that I try to decifer what really
happened at the end of her life. At first I resisted, but finally with a heavy
heart I decided to take the plunge. Sadly it is a sordid tale. Did Helen know
in her heart at the time of her death that she had been betrayed and misled? It
is not known. However, several of her friends say she was very disillusioned
with the esoteric group's leadership at the end, and wanted her property back.
However in regard to religion, Helen had her own firm beliefs in the hereafter,
I doubt that this experience affected her faith. Helen was an innocent pawn, in
my opinion, drafted and cultivated for her money and generosity. Interested
parties can read the court testimony for clarification of their own. This page
is for Helen and her fan club, and the many innocent people that came to Sedona
and got caught up in a esoteric group that shattered their lives. This last
summer I had occassion to meet some of these people as visitors to Red Rock
State Park. They were there in the late 1970's and felt Helen Frye had been
dealt a ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
great injustice. A great injustice? It is a dirty rotten shame!
The music: "This Masquerade," written by Leon Russell. Karen Carpenter's
haunting rendition was released in 1973.
Words to this haunting song...........................
"Are we really happy with this lonely game we play, looking for the right words
to say?"
"Searching for but not finding, understanding in any way, we're lost in this
Masquerade."
"Both afraid to say we're just too far away, from being close together from the
start."
"We tried to talk it over, but the words got in the way, we're lost in this
Masquerade."
"Thoughts of leaving disappear each time I see your eyes, and no matter how
hard I try,
"To understand the reason why we carry on this way, we're lost in this
Masquerade."
"We tried to talk it over, but the words got in the way, we're lost inside this
lonely game we play, we're lost in a Masquerade."
"We're lost in a Masquerade."
"Are we really happy in this lonely game we play?"
To The Main Page
ramonas...@gmail.com
I was greatly bothered by what was going on and to this day have regrets, this is my first attempt to share this. I suspect if John Mills is still alive, he might share, but I have lost contact with him. He and I worked for George Hodges, John did the electrical wiring at the "House of Fire" I did outdoor well water and piping. My brother Charlie Plumbed the Jacuzzi tub and such at the House of Fire. A guy named Peter Wold hand carved the doors, and Angel did our automotive repairs. Millie the office manager at "the site" married Jean Strong's son and we were all a very close family. Jean Strongs daughter was Miss Arizona, and both of them were extremely beautiful. George Hodges was a Brit from So Africa that had a stutter, and most of the workers were all real unique people. We slept in bunk beds in the bunk house next to the Willow house. At one point a man named Richard Good was in charge towards the end of the "Esoteric groups"occupation. There was an old brown Ford truck we all drove named "Old Brown" and a tractor I used to grade the acreage and some general equipment that I arranged to be sold to Greg Biddle, (the brother of the girl I later married).
There was a Ram Jet pump in the creek that Helen & Jack used to pump water up to the fields. There was also wild lettuce that grew in the fields as well as indian pottery we all found and piled on the deck at the bunkhouse. A lady named Janelle and a guy Jim Adamson that we called "The Cowboy" that were as well staff that were in charge. For a while the Dobecks were there in their greyhound bus living as Cook and engineers with their 2 daughters Julie and Paula. I learned so much from these people, this was a very special group of people.
Helen rarely visited the bunkhouse and kept to herself up on the hill at Wings of the wind.
It may have been full of controversy, but love was present. The turmoil of the "Esoteric Group" was from the top, not us workers.
Greg Chick, now in Ramona Ca.
Peetee Aitchei
> On Saturday, November 27, 2004 3:30:37 PM UTC-8, Jadoo941 wrote:
> > Broken Promises and Opportunists
> >
> > The Ownership Transition History of
> > Jack and Helen Frye's TWA Get-A-Way: Smoke Trail Ranch
> > Now, Red Rock State Park, Sedona Arizona
> >
>
> I lived and worked for the "Esoteric Group" From March 78' to 80' sometime. I designed and installed the irrigation and grass in the 3 fields as well as the orchard. I latter learned after starting this project that Helen did not like the "modern" way of irrigation that I was doing and had done in part. My dear friend John Mills was Helens caregiver and cook to her end, I was part of the confusion that was so heavy. I wrote a letter of concern to the groups headquarters in Menlo Park. Shortly after ( May 19,80', Janie Biddle and I were married at the Wings of the Wind house by Liz Turrell. (Jaine died couple weeks later).
> I was greatly bothered by what was going on and to this day have regrets, this is my first attempt to share this. I suspect if John Mills is still alive, he might share, but I have lost contact with him. He and I worked for George Hodges, John did the electrical wiring at the "House of Fire" I did outdoor well water and piping. My brother Charlie Plumbed the Jacuzzi tub and such at the House of Fire. A guy named Peter Wold hand carved the doors, and Angel did our automotive repairs. Millie the office manager at "the site" married Jean Strong's son and we were all a very close family. Jean Strongs daughter was Miss Arizona, and both of them were extremely beautiful. George Hodges was a Brit from So Africa that had a stutter, and most of the workers were all real unique people. We slept in bunk beds in the bunk house next to the Willow house. At one point a man named Richard Good was in charge towards the end of the "Esoteric groups"occupation. There was an old brown Ford truck we all drove named "Old Brown" and a tractor I used to grade the acreage and some general equipment that I arranged to be sold to Greg Biddle, (the brother of the girl I later married).
> There was a Ram Jet pump in the creek that Helen & Jack used to pump water up to the fields. There was also wild lettuce that grew in the fields as well as indian pottery we all found and piled on the deck at the bunkhouse. A lady named Janelle and a guy Jim Adamson that we called "The Cowboy" that were as well staff that were in charge. For a while the Dobecks were there in their greyhound bus living as Cook and engineers with their 2 daughters Julie and Paula. I learned so much from these people, this was a very special group of people.
> Helen rarely visited the bunkhouse and kept to herself up on the hill at Wings of the wind.
> It may have been full of controversy, but love was present. The turmoil of the "Esoteric Group" was from the top, not us workers.
> Greg Chick, now in Ramona Ca.
thanks for replying to that particular post - I used to have that specific
article and was to include it in some history research, but forgot all about
it. Great timely reminder, ty.
and ty for your comments. for some reason they do sound familiar, i seem to
have read about your basic story before somewhere
(may have been by someone you mention above?)
Well if you'd like to make a contribution (in more detail) to the historical
records about eckankar, for posterity please drop me a line via this email
addy.
a small example of some of the ground already covered ground fyi is here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-M0yAR0UPhPd0dVN3VkVWJ2Tms/view?usp=sharing
and
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-M0yAR0UPhPUzZNNTZqN1ltbzg/view?usp=sharing
and
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-M0yAR0UPhPVlZoaTRtLVRxMG8/view?usp=sharing
Drop me a line anytime you feel like it.
Peace! IT's all water under the fire house now.
wernertrp
Who knows, who knows, knows ...