CamelPalooza

Camels in Quartzsite!

Camels came to Quartzsite once again. Again you ask? Why yes! The Army once had camels here in the deserts of Quartzsite and a famous Camel driver, known locally as Hi Jolly. Every January there is a parade and camels are brought for the parade and for rides afterwards. Various community groups make floats and a decent number of people gather around to watch the parade. Food trucks and vendors lo rated where the parade ends have many camel themed items for sale.

The camel’s presence is still felt through several local landmarks and events:

The Hi Jolly Monument: Located in the Quartzsite Cemetery, this pyramid-shaped tomb built of local quartz and petrified wood is topped with a metal camel. It was dedicated in 1935 and is a popular tourist stop. CamelPalooza: the town celebrates this history every January with a parade that features live camels, rides, and themed vendors. Feral Sightings: For decades after the experiment, “wild” camels were occasionally spotted in the Arizona desert, leading to legends like the Red Ghost—a massive red camel said to carry a skeleton on its back.

Hi Jolly’s real name was Hadji Ali (born Philip Tedro). He was a Syrian-born camel handler of Greek and Syrian parentage. When he was hired by the U.S. Army, the American soldiers struggled to pronounce “Hadji Ali,” so it eventually morphed into the nickname “Hi Jolly.”

The desert landscape offers a unique and fascinating sight. Observing these resilient creatures in their natural habitat is truly a memorable experience. Their presence adds a touch of the exotic to the arid surroundings. Many visitors find the opportunity to see them quite special. It is a gentle reminder of the diverse life that thrives even in seemingly harsh environments.