An all-volunteer, non-profit organization working to sustain Oracle State Park
About Us
Our Mission
The Friends of Oracle State Park is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that was established in 1997 to assist Oracle State Park in the promotion of environmental education, in the restoration and preservation of the historic Kannally Ranch House, and in the conservation and upkeep of the surrounding parklands and trails.
Our Members
Members play a vital role in the work of FOSP. With a strong sense of community, all kinds of people become FOSP members. The one thing everyone has in common is a love of nature and a devotion to the Park’s continued existence.
Friends often lend expertise, whether it is in botany, gardening, conservation, technology, carpentry, marketing, accounting, being creative or organizing. They contribute ideas at meetings, conduct tours, help with workshops and special events, maintain walking trails and gardens, and pitch in with improvement projects.
Are you already a member? If not, please consider joining us today!
Our Set Up
Members actively participate in discussions and votes on initiatives, as well as elect officers. Member Meetings are held four times a year at the Kannally Ranch House in Oracle State Park.
FOSP is governed by a Board of Officers, which guides and administers the Friends’ efforts, and advocates on behalf of the Park. The current FOSP leadership team is made up of:
President: Deb Gaines
Vice-President: Roger Bailey
Treasurer: Michael Carroll
Secretary: David Singleton
Our History
In 1903, Lee and Baily Kannally purchased the land on which Oracle State Park sits today. Soon after, they were joined by their sisters Lucille and Mary, and their brother Vincent. In 1929 the siblings commissioned the construction of the Kannally Ranch House, a unique two-story adobe structure designed in the Pueblo Revival style with Mediterranean influences. A separate set of quarters were also built for the sisters, but the family as a whole continue to enjoy each other’s company in the main house.
Inspired by a visit to Paris during WWI and subsequently suffering the effects of mustard gas poisoning, Lee Kannally took up painting as a way to distract himself. His favorite subjects were ballerinas and cowboys. A collection of 30 works are on display at the Kannally Ranch House.
None of the Kannally children married or bore children. When the last sibling, Lucille, died in 1976, the land was donated to the Defenders of Wildlife, which in time deeded the property to the Arizona State Parks Board.
Today the Kannally Ranch House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. We owe a deep debt of gratitude to the the Kannally Family, one that we honor through our ongoing commitment to ensuring that Oracle State Park survives and thrives.
Exterior photo: CopperArea.com.
Interior photo: Arizona Daily Star.
