Vista Sun Wheel: A Celestial Landmark

The Vista Sun Wheel is a captivating landmark located on the grounds of Vista de la Montaña United Methodist Church in Catalina, Arizona. What makes this site particularly unique is its location: the land was formerly a Titan II missile site during the Cold War. The missile silo has since been decommissioned and filled, but the Sun Wheel serves as a reminder of the site's history, transforming a place of potential destruction into one of peace and contemplation.The Sun Wheel itself is a large circle, 63 feet in diameter, constructed from 28 tons of broken limestone. A central cairn, 11 feet in diameter and 3 feet high, marks the center of the wheel. Stone spokes radiate outwards, aligning with the positions of the rising and setting sun on the solstices and equinoxes. These alignments allow visitors to observe and understand the changing seasons and the Earth's relationship to the sun.The Vista Sun Wheel was built over a period of two years by Jim Bleess, who modeled it after Native American medicine wheels. These wheels were traditionally used as astronomical tools and sacred structures, highlighting the passage of the seasons. The Vista Sun Wheel continues this tradition, inviting visitors to connect with the natural world and reflect on the passage of time. Visitors are welcome from first light until twilight hours. Check in at the church office as a courtesy if it is open.