# Oracle State Park > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Oracle_State_Park > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Oracle_State_Park.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_State_Park > Source revision: 1355132400 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Historic place in Pinal County, Arizona}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox park | name = Oracle State Park | image = | image_caption = | image_alt = | image_size = 280 | map = USA Arizona | map_caption = Location in Arizona | map_size = 280 | relief = 1 | map_label = Oracle State Park | map_label_position = | location = [Pinal County, Arizona](/source/Pinal_County%2C_Arizona), United States | coordinates = {{coord|32.3360 |-110.44865|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coords_ref = | area = 3948 | elevation = {{convert|4500|ft|m|abbr=on}} | established = 1985 | free_label = | free_data = | administrator = [Arizona State Parks & Trails](/source/Arizona_State_Parks_%26_Trails) | visitation_num = 8,904 | visitation_year = 2024 | visitation_ref = | website = {{Official website}} | module = {{Infobox NRHP | embed = yes | name = Kannally Ranch | nrhp_type = nrhp | image = Exterior of Kannally Ranch House.JPG | caption = The Kannally Ranch house | location = Mt. Lemmon Hwy, E of Oracle | nearest_city = [Oracle, Arizona](/source/Oracle%2C_Arizona) | coordinates = {{coord|32|36|35|N|110|44|1|W|display=inline}} | area = Less than one acre | built = 1929 | architecture = [Spanish Colonial Revival](/source/Spanish_Colonial_Revival_architecture) | added = March 28, 1996 | refnum = 96000307 | mpsub = | governing_body = }} }} '''Oracle State Park''' is a [state park](/source/state_park) of [Arizona](/source/Arizona), United States, preserving {{convert|3948|acre|ha}} in the northeastern foothills of the [Santa Catalina Mountains](/source/Santa_Catalina_Mountains). The park is named after the nearby town of [Oracle](/source/Oracle%2C_Arizona) and serves as a [wildlife refuge](/source/wildlife_refuge). The park has more than {{convert|15|mi|km}} of hiking trails, including {{convert|7|mi|km}} of the [Arizona Trail](/source/Arizona_Trail).{{cite book | last = Laine | first = Don & Barbara | title = New Mexico & Arizona State Parks: A Complete Recreation Guide | publisher = The Mountaineers | year = 1998 | pages = 236–237 | isbn = 0-89886-559-X}} ==History== Starting in 1902, the area that is now the park was owned and operated as a cattle ranch by Neal Kannally and his family. Kannally journeyed from his home in Illinois to a tuberculosis health resort in what is not Oracle. As Neal's health improved, his brother Lee joined him in Arizona and purchased a 160-acre ranch nearby.{{Cite web |last=Naylor |first=Roger |date=May 11, 2020 |title=A century before coronavirus, Arizona was a haven for people fleeing another fearsome disease |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/travel/arizona/road-trips/2020/05/11/arizona-tuberculosis-history-sunnyslope-sanatoriums-doc-holliday/3101543001/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=The Arizona Republic |language=en-US}} At its largest, the ranch encompassed 50,000 acres, most of which was eventually sold off to mining companies. The remaining property was occupied until Neal's last remaining sibling, Lucile, bequeathed it to the [Defenders of Wildlife](/source/Defenders_of_Wildlife) organization in 1976,{{cite news |last=Kreutz |first=Doug |title=Kannally House at Oracle park a Mediterranean oasis |newspaper=[Arizona Daily Star](/source/Arizona_Daily_Star) |location=Tucson, Arizona |date=August 13, 2006}} and ten years later, the land was donated to the state of Arizona to create a wildlife refuge. In October 2011, Arizona State Parks agreed to reopen Oracle on a limited basis with a $40,000 budget if the park's [Friends group](/source/Cooperating_Associations) can raise $21,000 in additional funds.{{cite news | title = Oracle State Park could open part-time in February 2012 | url = http://explorernews.com/news/article_30ba3430-eed5-11e0-81af-001cc4c002e0.html | newspaper = The Explorer | location = Tucson, Ariz. | date = 2011-10-05}} In 2014, the [International Dark-Sky Association](/source/International_Dark-Sky_Association) designated Oracle State Park as a Dark Sky Park.[https://www.darksky.org/arizonas-oracle-state-park-named-worlds-twentieth-international-dark-sky-park/ "Arizona’s Oracle State Park named world’s twentieth International Dark Sky Park"] ==Flora and fauna== ===Plants=== The most common plants in Oracle State Park are [prickly pear](/source/opuntia) and [cholla cactus](/source/Cylindropuntia), [scrub oak](/source/Quercus_turbinella), [mesquite](/source/mesquite), many wildflowers, and the occasional [piñon](/source/pinon_pine) and [juniper](/source/juniper). A solitary [saguaro cactus](/source/saguaro_cactus) is located in the park. The original ranch house, which was converted to be the park headquarters, has some [cypress trees](/source/Cupressaceae) nearby. ===Wildlife=== Bird species include [red-tailed hawks](/source/red-tailed_hawks), [golden eagle](/source/golden_eagle)s, [prairie falcon](/source/prairie_falcon)s, [black-throated sparrow](/source/black-throated_sparrow)s, [Gambel's quail](/source/Gambel's_quail), [cactus wren](/source/cactus_wren)s, [pyrrhuloxia](/source/pyrrhuloxia), [northern mockingbird](/source/northern_mockingbird)s, [northern flicker](/source/northern_flicker)s, [common poorwill](/source/common_poorwill)s, [northern cardinal](/source/northern_cardinal)s, and [great horned owl](/source/great_horned_owl)s. Many [mammals](/source/mammals) inhabit the park, such as [ringtails](/source/Ring-tailed_cat), [javalinas](/source/Collared_peccary), [cougar](/source/cougar)s, [rock squirrel](/source/rock_squirrel)s, [desert cottontail](/source/desert_cottontail)s, [black-tailed jackrabbits](/source/black-tailed_jackrabbits), [mule deer](/source/mule_deer), and [white-tailed deer](/source/white-tailed_deer). [Reptile](/source/Reptile)s and [amphibian](/source/amphibian)s found in the area include the [western box turtles](/source/Terrapene_ornata), [Arizona alligator lizards](/source/Elgaria_kingii), [Colorado River toad](/source/Colorado_River_toad)s, [bull snake](/source/bull_snake)s, and [western diamondback rattlesnakes](/source/Crotalus_atrox). ==Kannally Ranch House== The Kannally Ranch House is a historic house museum with original art and historic photos. The four-level adobe home was constructed between 1929 and 1933, features [Mediterranean](/source/Mediterranean_Revival_architecture) and [Moorish](/source/Moorish_Revival_architecture) architectural influences and is listed on the [National Register of Historic Places](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places). The ranch house is open for self guided tours during park hours. ==Center for Environmental Education== The purpose of the park is to "protect the designated wildlife refuge and act as an environmental learning center. The park offers [natural history](/source/natural_history) and [environmental education](/source/environmental_education) programs for school and adult groups, including trail walks, workshops, presentations and special events. ==References== {{cite web |url=https://azstateparks.com/oracle |title=Oracle State Park |publisher=Arizona State Parks & Trails |access-date=October 18, 2025}} {{cite web |url=https://azstateparks.com/oracle/explore/maps |title=Oracle State Park Maps |publisher=Arizona State Parks & Trails |access-date=October 18, 2025}} {{cite web |url=https://azstateparks.com/oracle/explore/park-history |title=History of Oracle State Park |publisher=Arizona State Parks & Trails |access-date=October 18, 2025}} {{cite web |url=https://tourism.az.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/State-Parks-July-2025.pdf |title=Monthly State Parks Visitation Report |date=July 2025 |publisher=Arizona Office of Tourism |access-date=October 18, 2025}} ==External links== *[https://azstateparks.com/oracle/ Oracle State Park] Arizona State Parks & Trails *[http://friendsoraclestatepark.org/ Friends of Oracle State Park] *[https://www.darksky.org/our-work/conservation/idsp/parks/oracle/ Oracle State Park] International Dark-Sky Association {{Portal bar|Arizona|Museums|NRHP}} {{AZ Parks}} {{authority control}} Category:State parks of Arizona Category:Protected areas established in 1985 Category:1985 establishments in Arizona Category:Historic house museums in Arizona Category:Museums in Pinal County, Arizona Category:Parks in Pinal County, Arizona Category:Santa Catalina Mountains Category:Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Arizona Category:National Register of Historic Places in Pinal County, Arizona Category:Tuberculosis in Arizona --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Oracle State Park](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_State_Park) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_State_Park?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.