5 Things You Didn’t Know About Sedona

Sedona is a fascinating town that visitors don’t entirely understand – learn some interesting facts about the history, quirks, and spirituality of Sedona.

1. The first settlement of Sedona dates back to roughly 9000 BC.

Evidence of the Paleo-Indians was first discovered in 1995, and it’s believed the hunting-gathering society stayed in the Verde Valley for longer than they had other areas because of Sedona’s vast variety of wildlife and native plants. They remained in the Verde Valley until approximately 300 AD, so for nearly 10,000 years! They were followed in 650 AD by the Singua people, who left us such amazing architecture as Montezuma’s Castle.

2. Sedona’s canyons are an archaelogical playground.

The canyons surrounding Sedona feature 9 layers of stone that span hundreds of millions of years, meaning geologists and archaelogists can potentially learn more information about the Earth and human history in Sedona than they can in other parts of the country.

3. Over 90 movies have been filmed in Sedona.

The movies range from spaghetti Westerns to drama to Sci-fi. The 1984 classic, The Karate Kid, starring Ralph Macchio, was filmed locally, as was Chevy Chase’s National Lampoon’s Vacation and Elvis Presley’s Stay Away, Joe. Matt Damon, Vincent Price, Joan Crawford, Bruce Willis, and more have all filmed in the red rock desert.

4. Sedona, and by default Arizona, has the most National parks or monuments out of all of the states.

Arizona has 28 nationally protected parks, recreation areas, or monuments, and the vast majority are in or near Sedona. From the awe-inspiring Montezuma’s Castle to the Petrified Forest, Sedona gives you the opportunity to see the Southwest in a whole new light.

5. Do you know who hails from Sedona?

Sedona has its fair share of celebrities who have lived in the area. From actresses Samaire Armstrong (The O.C.) and Gail Edwards (Full House) to musical artist Michelle Branch (“Goodbye To You” and “Everywhere”), Sedona has put a lot of talent into the world. Even composer James Horner (Titanic and Braveheart) can be attributed to Sedona – while he wasn’t born here, he did study at Verde Valley School’s incredible arts program!