25 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Arizona (We Love #14!)

We've seen so many lists that cover the things you didn't know about Arizona. Our state has a rich history and some curiosities you won't find in any other state.

While there are a lot of little trivia facts about Arizona, you probably know, we found some real gems that you might want to add to your knowledge base. Dazzle your friends with this Arizona Trivia.

First, we start with some of the things you probably already know about Arizona.

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The First Drive Thru was Created in Sierra Vista, Arizona

Just about everyone knows that the first McDonald's drive-thru opened in Sierra Vista, Arizona, on January 24, 1975.

But did you know the reason why? Sierra Vista is a small community next to Fort Huachuca. The town is next to the Army installation, and most of the local economy is tied to the base.

In 1975, soldiers were required to follow a new regulation: they were prohibited from being seen in public wearing their uniforms while off-duty.

 

This meant that active-duty military personnel in uniform couldn't leave their cars to run into a restaurant to grab fast food.

McDonald's franchise owner David Rich had a simple idea, and it turned out to be brilliant. Rich cut a hole in the wall of the McDonald's restaurant and put in a sliding glass window and an intercom. The drive-thru was born right here in Arizona.

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Kartchner Caverns Were Kept Secret

Gary Tenen and Randy Tufts discovered Kartchner Caverns, but kept them a secret for more than a decade.  They found the pristine, untouched cave system in the Whetstone Mountains in Cochise County and realized they had discovered something extraordinary.

They kept their discovery hidden to prevent uncontrolled tourism or vandalism, and to preserve the delicate ecosystem inside until 1978, when they told the landowners, the Kartchner Family, about the find.

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They worked with the Arizona Park System to preserve the caves, officially opening them to the public in 1999.

Arizona has the Sunniest City on Earth

You probably already know that Yuma, Arizona, is the sunniest place on earth, getting about 4,015 hours of sunshine every year.

But do you know the rest of these Arizona fun facts? We were so delighted to learn about number 14!! We don't know why anyone would want to hurt these cute animals, anyway.

And number 23! How could something so delicious be an accident? Decide for yourself. How many of these things did you already know about Arizona? 

Sources: Kartchner Caverns State Park | Wikipedia | The Fact File