Historian Steve Ayers distills two decades of research into The River of the Kings, a sweeping history of the Verde.
The rustling waters of the Verde River, though quiet at certain stretches, carry ripples of history, supply life to millions of riparian creatures, irrigate pastures and vineyards, and entertain river runners with its ruffles of rapids.
Known as one of the last free-running rivers in the Southwest, the Verde has managed to survive when other runnels have been soaked up by the sun, droughts, dams and extractions, withering away to dust and leaving only memories.
To honor the legacy of the Verde River and the magnitude of its existence, historian and author Steve Ayers wrote the recently released The River of the Kings, A History of Arizona’s Verde River, a book that took two decades to research and two years to write. When asked why he wrote the book, Ayers replied, “I don’t think I could have not written it.” After his retirement he made a pact to make sure the book was written before he passed away.
Ayers’ interest in the Verde River was piqued during his time as a reporter for Verde Valley Newspapers. “I started writing history pieces and the newspapers liked them as well as the public. I continued to do that for 10 years before changing jobs in 2013, when I accepted a position as economic development director for the Town of Camp Verde.”
Ayers continued researching on weekends and evenings. “By the time I retired, I had what amounted to two cabinets full of material plus loads of electronic files. I’m very grateful to Verde Valley Newspapers for allowing me to use some of the bits and pieces of the stories that I previously researched and wrote for them.”
Among the many topics he covered, his eight-part series on water issues in Yavapai County made him realize there was a void in coverage. “There wasn’t a single good source of history on the Verde River.”
“The Verde Valley is Arizona’s hidden gem with its exceptional riparian ecosystem still intact,” said geologist and author Wayne Ranney, who wrote the foreword for The River of the Kings and completed a master’s thesis at Northern Arizona University (NAU) about the Verde Valley. “Former beat reporter and author Steve Ayers has written the most comprehensive history of the valley and the river that created it. The River of the Kings is a must read for all Verde-philes!”
In Ranney’s foreword, he expresses how deeply grateful he is for the book. “This is likely the most complete account ever written of the history of this stunning river and the landscape that holds it. In reviewing Ayers’ book, I learned something I had not previously known about the river on virtually every page. It has been my distinct pleasure and honor to get to know Steve Ayers.”
While working on a story about the Verde Formation, Ayers met Ranney. “I met Wayne when I was working for Verde Valley Newspapers. We have remained friends ever since.”
In detail, Ayers covers the prehistoric cultures, conquistadors, schemers, travelers, soldiers and settlers surrounding the Verde River along with the more recent efforts to cage it, corrupt it, kill it and even save it.
According to the Friends of the Verde River website, the Verde River encompasses almost 6% of Arizona’s land area and supports a wide variety of native plants and animals. “I’m so happy to see a comprehensive history of the Verde River written, and I can’t think of a better person than Steve,” said W. David Gressly, executive director of Friends of the Verde River. “We must continue to work to preserve and protect our river. It’s very fragile and we need to continue to monitor the river as it is an important habitat for man, aquatic mammals, birds and more.”
“There are a lot of people to thank for helping me write this book,” said Ayers. “Ken Zoll at the Verde Valley Archaeology Center helped me get it to print. I had no idea how to do this. The Camp Verde Library helped me dig up very obscure and scholarly studies that were not generally available. I also acquired information from the Arizona State Library, The NAU Cline Library and of course Wayne.”
Born in Tucson but raised around the world with his military father, Ayers is an avid hiker and credited with the development of many of the hiking and cycling trails in the Verde Valley. He serves on the board of Forever Our Rivers, a Colorado-based nonprofit working to improve the health and vitality of rivers and is currently vice president of the Camp Verde Historical Society. He also served on the founding board of the Verde Valley Archaeology Center and co-authored Images of America: Camp Verde with the Camp Verde Historical Society.
Living in Camp Verde for more than 30 years, Ayers and his wife Susan enjoy hiking with their dog, Noodles. They have one daughter, who lives in Switzerland.
The River of the Kings can be found at several outlets, including Clemenceau Heritage Museum in Cottonwood; Friends of the Verde River in Cottonwood; Clarkdale Historical Society and Museum; Verde Historical Society Museum; Verde Valley Archaeology Center; Camp Verde Heritage Museum; Sweet Pea Antiques in Camp Verde; Udderly Divine in Camp Verde; and Candy’s Cottage in McGuireville.
Best Advice
Find a job doing what you love. You’ll care about what you do, so you’ll be good at what you do, and every day will be a vacation.
Where I Go to Rest
As much as I love the river, my go-to place to reset is the mountains. Almost any mountains will do, but my favorite since I was a child has been the White Mountains.
Favorite Hobby
Homebrewing. It has opened doors, built friendships and given me a creative outlet for more than 40 years.
My Superpower
I believe in myself.
Celebrity I Resemble
I’ve been told I look like Ted Danson, but I’m not so sure. VVBN
By V. Ronnie Tierney, VVBN
Photo by V. Ronnie Tierney, Fresh Focuses Photography: Ayers holds a copy of The River of the Kings: A History of Arizona’s Verde River, a comprehensive account of the river’s natural history, prehistoric cultures, settlement, conflict and modern conservation.