San Tan Mountain Regional Park

Comprising over 10,200 acres in the Sonoran Desert, the park sits south of Queen Creek Arizona and preserves a portion of the San Tan Mountains, located on their northeastern flank.

The majority of exposed bedrock is either granite or schist, with rhyolitic volcanics existing in the northern Malpais Hills.

The park averages about 8.95 inches of rain per year, with almost 60% occurring with the June to September North American Monsoon season.

[1]: 54–55  Fabaceae is represented by Catclaw acacia, Coastal bird's-foot trefoil, hairy lotus, Mojave lupine, ironwood, Foothills paloverde, and Velvet Mesquite.

[1]: 50  Examples of Boraginaceae include: Common fiddleneck, Panamint cryptantha, broad-nutted comb bur, and Arizona popcornflower.

In June 2003 a master plan was produced which called for development of the park to account for increased use, which will protect historical sites, vegetation and habitat.

At the main entrance to the park off Phillips Road, there is a visitor center (built in 2005) with restrooms, a drinking fountain, indoor and outdoor desert-animal exhibits, and a small gift shop.

Carter was originally from Ohio, and after several different careers in his younger years which included piloting and logging, he moved to Gilbert in 1941, where he opened a camera shop.

The two made their living by mining small claims in the area, finding copper, silver, turquoise, and gold.

After his death, Carter continued to mine, but also began to whittle figurines out of local wood and cactus skeletons.

[1]: 35  : 36  The surrounding area consists mostly of agricultural fields, desert flats, low-lying hills, and housing developments.