Our Story:
A Wiltbank Family Legacy
The roots of the Woodpile Cabin run deep into the history of the White Mountains, built on a multi-generational legacy of high-country grit and warm hospitality passed down through my family, the Wiltbanks.
The Sprucedale Legacy
Our family’s journey began in 1941, when my grandparents, Walter and Fay Wiltbank, took a courageous leap at the end of the Great Depression to purchase Sprucedale Ranch. They raised their family—including my dad, Emer—while carving out a life working the land, building cabins, and packing fishermen down the Black River.
In 1981, the ranch was handed down to my parents, Big Emer and Esther Wiltbank. Together, they poured their hearts into expanding the ranch. My dad added six more cabins, while my mom focused on elevating the ranch's comfort, aesthetic beauty, and legendary home-cooked menu.
Though my parents retired in 2004—passing the Sprucedale reins to my brother, Whitney—the spirit of hard work and family togetherness they instilled defines everything we do.
The Extraordinary Journey of Woodpile Cabin
While my family history grew at Sprucedale, the Woodpile Cabin itself carries a unique, wandering piece of Arizona’s rugged logging past.
From Ghost Town to Pasture
Our cabin originated in Maverick, Arizona, a bustling, high-altitude logging camp established in 1947 on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. Known as the "Ice Box" of Arizona due to its brutal sub-zero winters, Maverick was a thriving community of 500 residents. When Southwest Forest Industries abandoned the camp in 1967, they had to remove their improvements and gave the buildings away to anyone willing to haul them off.
The Patterson family from St. Johns stepped up and moved three of the larger Maverick cabins over to their private property, a pasture just west of the Double Bar K Ranch. They put tin roofs on them, but there they sat, largely untouched, for the next 30-plus years.
A Community Wild Ride (2002)
Around 2002, the land changed hands, and the cabins—now in rough shape—were given away. My brother, Lil' Emer, picked the cabin in the best shape, and he and his wife, Aleesa, went to work tearing out the old interior and cleaning it up.
Moving it over toward Sprucedale turned into a legendary family group project:
My brother Whitney and Uncle Ellis tackled the first leg, moving it from the Patterson property over toward J.J.’s place.
J.J. and Tiffany took over the haul but got the cabin completely stuck right in the middle of Shupe Meadow. It sat stranded in the grass for two or three months!
Finally, Lil' Emer and Billy finished the rescue mission, hauling it the rest of the way home during a raging mountain snowstorm.
A Daddy/Daughter Project
Initially, the cabin was meant for Lil' Emer and Aleesa, but when plans shifted for them to help manage Sprucedale, it was decided that I would take over the cabin for my own family.
My dad, Big Emer, and I made it a true daddy/daughter project to completely restore it. We spent months pouring our sweat and hearts into fixing it up, remodeling the interior, and making it livable. By 2005, I finally got to stay in it for the very first time.
Today, as the granddaughter of Walter and Fay, and the daughter of Big Emer and Esther, I am incredibly proud to welcome you to the Woodpile Cabin. It stands not just as a piece of Arizona history, but as a monument to a family that moves cabins through snowstorms and builds dreams together. Welcome to our little slice of the mountains!
Sources & Historical Acknowledgments
Family History: Much of our family's story, particularly the details regarding my father's life and the moving of the Maverick cabins, is drawn from my mother Esther Wiltbank’s book, Big Emer: Big Man, Big Heart.
Maverick History: Historical background on the town of Maverick, Arizona, was referenced from ArizonaGhostTowns.com.
Book Your Stay Today
Create unforgettable memories in the heart of Arizona's mountain paradise. Whether you're planning a relaxing weekend or an extended vacation, our cabin is ready to welcome you.
Reserve your dates now and experience the beauty, comfort, and adventure of Arizona's mountains.
Post Address and Mail
Email: [email protected]
Address
Near Buffalo Crossing & Black River
White Mountains, AZ
Get In Touch
Assistance Hours
Mon – Sat 9:00am – 8:00pm
Sunday – CLOSED
Phone Number:
(480) 529 6004
